Acid and Alkaline food

It is essential to balance the acid and alkali levels in our bodily systems.The body has internal mechanism to balance the acid alkaline ratio but it is important to have a balanced acid alkaline food. The pH factor indicates the acidity and alkalinity of the body and plays a vital role in body chemistry. Normal pH value is 7 and under this indicates acidity, while values above 7 are an indicator of alkalinity.

The pH value of saliva and urine is 6 and 6.8 respectively which shows that they are slightly acidic in nature. These are the average values; any value above this would indicate alkaline nature, while anything lower would indicate a more acidic nature. High acidic levels in the body can cause several problems like acidity, heart burn, indigestion, headaches, nervous disorders, excessive hunger and even drowsiness.

Acidosis causes many diseases like high blood pressure, skin diseases, frequent cough, cold and fever, rheumatism, premature ageing and low immunity. Considering these, one would think that a high level of alkalinity is better but one cannot be further from the truth because a high level of alkalinity in the body causes sluggishness, lethargy, water retention, lack of concentration, lack of drive and will power etc. However, studies indicate that people with higher alkaline levels are less prone to diseases and have a stronger immune system.

Acidosis can easily be controlled through a carefully monitored diet. In certain cases where the acidosis is due to a disease has to be handled by treating the disease.A proper diet goes long way in maintaining a good health.

All flesh foods, refined foods like sugars and maida, coffee, grains like wheat, oats, barley etc, pulses and eggs are high in acid content. On the other hand, foods like leafy vegetables, fruits, mushrooms etc are alkaline in nature. Citrus fruits, though acidic in taste, become alkaline when digested and help in restoring the balance of acid and alkali in the body. Foods that contain higher levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium reduce acidity and help in maintaining the alkalinity level.

To balance the acid and alkali levels, 80 percent of the food that we consume should be alkaline, while 20 percent should be acidic. This means that we should incorporate more of root vegetables like yam, beetroot, carrots, radish etc I the menu, while avoiding acid forming foods such as wheat, oat, rice, barley, fish, eggs, pulses etc. Most green vegetables like peas, cucumber, gourds, lady finger, cabbages, onions, beans, cauliflower etc, are also alkaline in nature. Adding fruit juices is a very safe method of adding alkali to the body. Fruit and vegetable juices are extremely beneficial for health.

Leafy green vegetables like spinach, methi, beet greens, spring onion leaves, radish leaves, amaranth leaves are particularly useful while trying to balance the acid-alkali levels and it is advisable to include them in your diet in proper proportions.

Fore More Details on Diet and Nutrition Visit : www.happylivin.com