Acid versus Alkaline - What's Your pH?

A poor choice of nutrition can mean you dig your own grave with your teeth.

We've all heard about acid or alkaline foods, but what's it all mean? Which foods are acid or alkaline, and what are their effects?

If a food is acid or alkaline, this doesn't refer to what it contains or how it tastes, but the 'residue' it leaves in our bodies after digestion.

An acidic body environment creates mucus and congestion. An overly-acidic body is prone to acidosis, a magnet for sickness, cancer and premature ageing, and shown to be a common denominator in more than 150 diseases!

Acidosis can begin with mild symptoms such as cold hands and feet and work up to migraines, and even Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

The typical western diet includes disproportional amounts of acid forming junk foods, sugary snacks and animal proteins. An alkaline diet contains minerals that can help remove waste from the body, and can help prevent these conditions and leave you feeling energised.

As with acidic foods, stress and sickness can both result in an imbalance in the body and its pH. When you are stressed or sick, your body changes to an acidic state, causing lower absorption of food nutrients and vulnerability to even more diseases. Therefore it is wise to err on the side of alkaline.

A healthy body's fluids are slightly alkaline at pH 7.35. Below or above this signals disease symptoms. So consider what goes in your mouth and choose lots of alkaline forming foods. It's easy!

• Stick to leafy greens, fruits and whole grains
• Cut back on sugary foods, pre packaged foods and animal proteins
• Introduce more seeds, nuts, legumes and versatile foods such as quinoa, to replace lost protein
• When in doubt, fill your plate with lots of vegetables

Many alkalising foods are rich in the vitamins and minerals that have a cleansing, detoxifying effect to help our bodies.

Choose these Alkalising Foods Wherever Possible

• lentils
• cauliflower
• cayenne pepper
• flaxseed oil
• beetroot
• carrots
• garlic
• almonds
• white navy beans
• avocado
• tomato

Avoid These Acid Forming Foods

• processed cheese
• sweetened fruit juice
• coffee
• beer
• beef or veal
• artificial sweeteners
• mayonnaise
• soy sauce
• margarine
• ice cream

Super Speedy Chickpea Curry

Sauce

• 1 medium eggplant, chopped
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 cup water, as needed
• 1 tablespoon salt
• dash of cayenne pepper

Dish

• 1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
• 2 cups chopped broccoli and cauliflower
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce: Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender to a puree

Dish: Saute chickpeas and oil in a large skillet over medium high heat until chickpeas are golden

Add broccoli, cauliflower and tomatoes and continue sauteing for 10 minutes.

Pour sauce over the mixture and simmer for 10 minutes.