Vegetables that naturally balance pH in the body
It's not only important to eat a balanced diet, but to also eat foods that help balance your body's pH. Stress and allergic reactions can create a buildup of acids in your body that can ultimately damage your immune system and increase your risk for disease. Neutralizing those with the right foods can help keep you healthy.
To combat the acids produced on a daily basis, most natural health practitioners and groups recommend a diet that includes approximately 65-75% alkalizing foods and 25-35% acidifying foods.
Vegetables, fruits, proteins, oils, grains, sweeteners and spices can all be categorized as alkaline, acidic or neutral in pH. There are over 50 fruits and vegetables, more than 10 different nuts/seeds and all culinary herbs fall into the alkaline category.
If you are looking to increase the number of alkaline vegetables in your diet, here is a sample of that can help neutralize acidic body fluids:
- Beets
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Peppers
- Spinach
- Squash
Look for these fresh vegetables not only at your grocer, but also at a local farmers' market. Local vegetables tend to be fresher and contain higher nutrient contents than those that have been sitting on a grocery store shelf for days or weeks.