Alkalinizing your diet

The following inforomation regarding an alkaline diet it given to our naturopathic patients in Mississauga.  We hope that this information is helpful for you too! If you have questions, contact us in Mississauga!

Who should try an alkaline diet?

This type of diet is especially recommended for those patients who experience the following symptoms: high acid in stomach (burning), high uric acid in the blood and those who have low pH in their saliva and urine.

However, by following these suggestions, most people will get an overall benefit from eating this way, regardless of their health concerns.

Recommended – 60% ALKALINE and 40% ACID forming foods.  

Try some of the suggestions below to move your diet more towards an alkaline diet:

• Drink the juice of half a lemon or lime in water as a beverage

• Eat lots of vegetables and fruits as most are alkalinizing (except currents, blueberries, cranberries, plums, carob)

• Eat 1 cup equivalent of alkalinizing greens daily (kale, collard, mustard greens) or

• Make blender drinks or juices using green powdered supplements and fruits

• Eat millet and quinoa as an option to the acid forming grains (wheat, brown rice)

• Eat fish and lamb for less acid forming animal protein

• Use olive oil as it is less acid forming than other vegetable oils

• Drink herbal teas

• Reduce intake of red meat, most dairy products, alcohol, sugar, and most nuts (except raw almonds, chestnuts and brazil nuts are alright).

Alkaline Forming Foods

Acid Forming Foods

(Ref: Serammune Physicians Lab. Virginia, 1995).

Things that increase the acidity of urine: 

• Cranberries
• prunes

Things that reduces the acidity of urine:

• Bananas
• melons
• oranges
• milk
• beans
• potatoes

Acid Ash Foods

• Beef, pork, liver, lamb, veal, ham, poultry (all), Fish (most all), Shellfish, Eggs (whole)
• Buttermilk, Yogurt, Natural cheese
• Bran, Wheat Germ, white rice, most whole grains, Cooked prunes (no sugar)
• Most nuts (except almonds and brazil nuts)
• Lentils, soy beans, dried peas, dried beans
• Cooked tomatoes, cooked rhubarb
• Coffee (black only), tea (no sugar)

Alkaline Ash foods

• Dates, figs, raisins, currants
• Honey, molasses, maple syrup
• Pumpkin, Squash
• Fresh tomatoes
• Apples, grapes, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums, melons, bananas, cherries, apricots, cantaloupe, watermoelon
• Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit
• Brown rice, millet, buckwheat
• Almonds, brazil nut, peanuts
• Baked potatoes
• White sugar, brown sugar, jams, jellies, macaroni, oily nuts, white flour, processed cereal, candy, cakes, pastries, ice cream
• popcorn

Bulk Forming Foods (Neutral)

• Asparagus, Celery
• Collards, cabbage, lettuce, beet tops, endives,broccoli, kale
• Water cress, chives, cucumber
• Garlic, onion
• Eggplant, radish, spinach, green pepper, okra, sorrel, leek
• Peppermint, dandelion
• Artichokes, parsley, beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, root celery, mushrooms, brussel sprouts, avocado
• Butter, olive oil
• Cottage cheese

Dr. Kirsten Almon

Dr. Kirsten Almon has a Naturopathic Family Practice in Mississauga at Erin Mills Optimum Health with special interest and training in fertility (helping couples conceive naturally as well as improving outcomes for couples using assisted reproductive technology), pregnancy, birth, postpartum and pediatric care. She loves seeing children for “naturopathic well child visits” and consults on common issues such as food introduction, how to avoid colds, flus and ear infections.  Dr. Almon is the co-author and instructor of a Doula course specifically designed for Naturopathic Doctors and teaches across Canada.