Acid/Alkaline Forming Foods
SOURCE
For optimal bone health, you don’t want to eat only alkali-forming foods. It’s important to have a balance
between both acid forming and alkali forming. The problem is the typical American diet has become more acid
forming and doesn’t contain enough alkali-forming foods.
It’s also important to keep in mind that a food’s acid or alkali-forming effect is not the same as the actual pH of
the food itself. For instance, we all know that citrus fruits are acidic, but they produce alkali in the body once
they’re digested.
All of the following foods cause the body to produce alkali that will compensate for the acid-forming proteins
from meat, cow’s milk, and high-protein legumes:
High Alkali-Forming:
Asparagus, Onions, Parsley, Raw Spinach, Broccoli, Lemons, Watermelon, Limes, Grapefruit, Mangoes, and
Papayas
Moderate Alkali-Forming:
Okra, Squash, Green Beans, Beets, Celery, Lettuce, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes, Dates, Figs, Melons, Grapes,
Papaya, Kiwi, Berries, Apples, Pears, and Raisins
Low Alkali-Forming:
Carrots, Tomatoes, Fresh Corn, Mushrooms, Cabbage, Peas, Cauliflower, Turnips, Olives, Soybeans, Tofu,
Oranges, Bananas, Cherries, Pineapples, Peaches, Avocados, and Potato Skins
And, of course for the best in health, you should try to eat organic forms of these foods to cut back on the
consumption of pesticides.
The following acid-forming foods aren’t necessarily bad for you, but you should try to balance your
consumption of them with the alkali-forming foods listed above:
Low Acid-Forming:
Cooked Spinach, Kidney Beans, String Beans, Plums, Processed Fruit Juices, Whole Grain (brown) Breads,
Brown Rice, Liver, Oysters, Venison, Cold Water Fish, Cream, Eggs, Butter, Yogurt, Buttermilk, Cottage
Cheese, Corn Oil, Sunflower Oil, Margarine, Lard, Tea, Cocoa, Processed Honey, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame
Seeds, and Sunflower Seeds
Moderate Acid-Forming:
Potatoes (without skins), Pinto Beans, Navy Beans, Lima Beans, Sour Cherries, Rhubarb, Canned Fruit, White
Rice, Corn, Buckwheat, Oats, Rye, Turkey, Chicken, Lamb, Raw Milk, Pecans, Cashews, Pistachios, Coffee,
Wine, White Sugar, Brown Sugar, Molasses, Jam, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard, and Vinegar
High Acid-Forming:
Blueberries, Cranberries, Prunes, Sweetened Fruit Juice, White Bread, Pastries, Biscuits, Pasta, Beef, Pork,
Shellfish, Wheat, Cheese (especially sharp or crumbly cheeses), Homogenized Milk, Ice Cream, Custard,
Peanuts, Walnuts, Beer, Liquor, Soft Drinks, Artificial Sweeteners, and Chocolate
For optimal bone health, you don’t want to eat only alkali-forming foods. It’s important to have a balance
between both acid forming and alkali forming. The problem is the typical American diet has become more acid
forming and doesn’t contain enough alkali-forming foods.
It’s also important to keep in mind that a food’s acid or alkali-forming effect is not the same as the actual pH of
the food itself. For instance, we all know that citrus fruits are acidic, but they produce alkali in the body once
they’re digested.
All of the following foods cause the body to produce alkali that will compensate for the acid-forming proteins
from meat, cow’s milk, and high-protein legumes:
High Alkali-Forming:
Asparagus, Onions, Parsley, Raw Spinach, Broccoli, Lemons, Watermelon, Limes, Grapefruit, Mangoes, and
Papayas
Moderate Alkali-Forming:
Okra, Squash, Green Beans, Beets, Celery, Lettuce, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes, Dates, Figs, Melons, Grapes,
Papaya, Kiwi, Berries, Apples, Pears, and Raisins
Low Alkali-Forming:
Carrots, Tomatoes, Fresh Corn, Mushrooms, Cabbage, Peas, Cauliflower, Turnips, Olives, Soybeans, Tofu,
Oranges, Bananas, Cherries, Pineapples, Peaches, Avocados, and Potato Skins
And, of course for the best in health, you should try to eat organic forms of these foods to cut back on the
consumption of pesticides.
The following acid-forming foods aren’t necessarily bad for you, but you should try to balance your
consumption of them with the alkali-forming foods listed above:
Low Acid-Forming:
Cooked Spinach, Kidney Beans, String Beans, Plums, Processed Fruit Juices, Whole Grain (brown) Breads,
Brown Rice, Liver, Oysters, Venison, Cold Water Fish, Cream, Eggs, Butter, Yogurt, Buttermilk, Cottage
Cheese, Corn Oil, Sunflower Oil, Margarine, Lard, Tea, Cocoa, Processed Honey, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame
Seeds, and Sunflower Seeds
Moderate Acid-Forming:
Potatoes (without skins), Pinto Beans, Navy Beans, Lima Beans, Sour Cherries, Rhubarb, Canned Fruit, White
Rice, Corn, Buckwheat, Oats, Rye, Turkey, Chicken, Lamb, Raw Milk, Pecans, Cashews, Pistachios, Coffee,
Wine, White Sugar, Brown Sugar, Molasses, Jam, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard, and Vinegar
High Acid-Forming:
Blueberries, Cranberries, Prunes, Sweetened Fruit Juice, White Bread, Pastries, Biscuits, Pasta, Beef, Pork,
Shellfish, Wheat, Cheese (especially sharp or crumbly cheeses), Homogenized Milk, Ice Cream, Custard,
Peanuts, Walnuts, Beer, Liquor, Soft Drinks, Artificial Sweeteners, and Chocolate