About The Diet

Acidosis is a disturbance in the normal Acid/Alkaline balance of the body where the acidity of the body fluids and tissues is
abnormally high. It produces a low bodily pH. It occurs as a result of malfunctions of the body’s acid-base balancing mechanism.

Acidity or alkalinity can be measured using the pH scale: 0 – 7 is acid, 7 is neutral and 7 – 14 is alkaline. Most body fluids should be slightly alkaline (7.4), with the exception of urine, saliva, and vaginal fluids which should
be slightly acid (6 – 6.8).

At least 50% of the diet should be made up of alkaline-forming foods (and 50% of this raw). However, if you suffer from any of the above conditions, it is a good idea to try to eat 70 – 80% alkaline foods to alkalize the system. Acid foods tend to contain sulphur, phosphorus, chlorine, and iodine. Alkaline foods tend to contain more magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, and calcium.

Foods are classified as acid or alkaline-forming, depending on the type of residue they break down into when digested. For example, lemons and ripe oranges, though tasting acid, actually is metabolised to an alkaline residue in the body.
Most fruits and vegetables are alkaline and most animal products and grains are acid-forming. When proteins are eaten, acids such as sulphuric and phosphoric acid are formed, and when carbohydrates and fats are eaten, acetic and lactic acids are formed.

Some foods are classed as neutral and if eaten together, can “neutralise” a more acid meal.

Health Information

Conditions resulting from acidosis:

• Arthritic complaints
• Some kinds of heartburn
• Low energy and lethargy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fluid retention
• Breathing difficulties
• Insomnia
• Palpitations
• Migraines
• Burning in the mouth
• Difficulty swallowing
• Gout (uric acid)
• Muscle pain (lactic acid)
• Alternating diarrhoea and constipation

Acidosis may be caused by:

• Kidney, liver, and adrenal disorders
• High Protein/high acid diets
• Diabetes
• Potassium depletion
• Diarrhoea
• Fasting and malnutrition
• Obesity
• Stress
• Strenuous exercise
• Hyperventilation

Alkaline-Forming Foods

• Most fruits, including ripe citrus fruits and ripe pineapple.
• Most vegetables, including tomatoes if ripe and well cooked.
• Almonds, if soaked.
• Vegetable (potassium) broth – very alkalizing (celery, leafy greens, green peppers, broccoli, sweet potato, potato,
  carrots, pumpkin, parsley, seaweeds)
• Buckwheat
• Millet
• Coconut
• Avocado
• Goats milk
• Juices if vegetable and/or ripe fruit
• Mushrooms
• Olives and olive oil
• Fresh Herbs
• Lecithin
• Soybeans
• Sprouted beans and seeds
• Caffeinated coffee

Acid-Forming Foods

• Animal products eg: all meat, poultry, fish, shellfish (canned, fresh, pressed, processed)
• Dairy products eg: milk, cheese, buttermilk
• Most nuts and seeds, except almonds and sunflower seeds
• Most grains and flours, except millet, buckwheat, and corn
• White rice
• Sugar and syrups
• Chocolate and cocoa
• Instant or decaffeinated coffee
• Citrus fruit and pineapple, if picked unripe
• Raw tomatoes with seeds
• Legumes eg: lentils, dried peas, chickpeas, etc
• Lima and Kidney beans
• Pasta
• Vinegar

Neutral Foods

• Brown rice
• Corn
• Beans
• Raw almonds
• Sea salt
• Sunflower seeds
• Raw honey
• Yoghurt
• Tofu and tempeh
• Raw butter and milk