We’ve undoubtedly heard about the importance of pH balance, alkaline versus acid foods, but where’s the list?  Maintaining an appropriate pH level for the human body has many benefits.  Obviously we are most concerned about the associated benefits of lower acid production relating to those afflicted with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and painful acid reflux symptoms.  Below you will find suggestions for alkaline foods you can eat in three categories; high alkaline, middle alkaline and low alkaline.

High Alkaline Foods List

Vegetable juices (except tomato), broccoli, parsley, raw spinach, celery and garlic are good vegetables to incorporate into your daily vegetable intake.  For fruits, keep snacks like dried figs and raisins on hand.  Herbal teas (not black tea) and lemon water are high alkaline beverages to enjoy.  Sweeteners are usually bad news, but Stevia is considered a high alkaline sweetener as the natural plant derivative is maintained during processing.

Middle Alkaline Foods List

The middle-of-the-road alkaline foods list offers a little more variety than the previous.  Carrots, green beans, lima beans, beets, lettuce, zucchini and carob are good sources of alkaline vegetables.  Again, the fruits list gets a little bigger as well:  Dates, grapes, papaya, kiwi, berries, pears and especially apples.  Hazelnuts and raw almonds are good for snacks in this category.  Green tea is a nice beverage to gulp up, especially when made with mineral water.  Sweeteners still don’t get much notice in the middle category but maple syrup and rice syrup top the list. 

Low Alkaline Foods List

Of course this list is the biggest, and just because they are on the low end of alkalizing foods doesn’t mean they are the worst.  Alkaline is alkaline.  Add in some fresh corn, mushrooms, olives, soybeans, asparagus and squash to your vegetable intake.  Cauliflower and peas are good veggies too.  Increasingly popular tofu is included in the low alkaline foods vegetable list as well.  The fruits list gets better and better!  Enjoy pineapple, avocado, strawberries, mango, watermelon, oranges and cherries for your daily fruit consumption.  Also in the low alkaline list are wild rice, lentils and buckwheat for the grains.  Generally dairy products are more acidic, but if you stick with soy cheese, soy milk, buttermilk and whey you’ll still be on the alkaline side.  Snacks could include chestnuts, Brazils and coconut.  Olive oil, canola and flax seed oil are the best on the low alkaline foods list.  As for sweeteners, finally we can add in raw sugar and raw honey. 

While the foods may not seem like they will be easy to add into your daily intake, keep in mind this is a balancing act.  Don’t try to eat only alkaline foods the balance will be off kilter again.  In general, try to stay away from high cholesterol foods and fatty meats.  In addition, a healthy body needs high protein foods and other nutrients to operate efficiently.  Keeping about a 40% alkaline foods diet is a good idea to avoid acidosis and overproduction of acid often resulting in heartburn and acid indigestion symptoms related to GERD and acid reflux.