List of Alkaline Foods

At the top of any list of alkaline foods will be leafy greens and those fruits that are highly alkaline, like figs, oranges, and olives, but before I get to it, I think it’s important to cover a few idiosyncrasies of the list. Most natural foods have both acid and alkaline forming minerals in them. The dominance of either in a specific food determines whether it is an alkaline or acid forming food. Sometimes this can be confusing; for example, citrus and some tomatoes often taste acidic, but actually leave an alkaline ash, so are classified alkaline. Most nuts and seeds are considered acid unless they’re sprouted; however there are some that are neutral or just slightly alkaline such as almonds, Brazil nuts, and sesame seeds.

You’ll see many green leafy vegetables on the list of alkaline foods, which is why I try to consume them at every meal. A green smoothie in the morning is an easy way to load up on your greens and get alkalized right off the bat. Green juices are another fabulous source of alkalizing minerals, which is what we’re really talking about when we say alkalizing. Alkaline minerals include calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron and sodium.

Controversy over Fruit

Generally speaking most fruit is alkalizing; however for some people it can be acidic. They either don’t process it very well, the fruit is not ripe, or they are just eating too much. One symptom of this is high uric acid levels (gout), which can show up as red, tender/painful, and perhaps swollen toes. Along these lines there is some controversy over whether fruits are acidic or alkaline. Dr. Robert Young feels that most fruits ferment with digestion and produce acidity in the body and so are acid-forming. His exceptions are low sugar fruits like lemon, lime, and grapefruit. Long term raw fooder Dr. Gabrial Cousens disagrees and gives this explanation, “Almost all vegetables and fruits that are ripe are alkaline-forming. Fruits and vegetables grown in inorganic, commercially prepared soils are less alkaline forming because they are grown in mineral-depleted soils. Most fruits which are not ripe are acid-forming.”

All fast food, processed, preserved, canned, packaged, refined, microwave meals, dairy, and meat are acid forming foods and should be avoided like the plague if you plan to remain healthy or regain your health.

It is important to note that the list of alkaline foods below is for ripe foods in their raw state unless otherwise noted. Cooking or removing skins or peels can change a food from alkaline to acid. The condition of one’s digestive system can also effect whether a food is alkaline or acid. If the digestive system is weak, or the food was taken quickly or not chewed properly, then even alkaline foods can have an acid affect on the body. Mineral content of the soil where the food is grown will change the mineral content of that food and possibly change its designation of acid or alkaline. 

To learn about the alkaline detox diet


List of Alkaline Foods


Very Alkaline Forming

Alfalfa grass (lucerne)

Barley grass

Beet greens

Bok choy

Chard

Collards

Dandelion greens

Figs

Green juices

Kale

Lemons

Limes

Leafy greens (most)


Spinach

Watercress

Miso

Olives

Oranges

Papaya

Parsley

Seaweed

Sea vegetables

Watermelon

Wheatgrass juice

Wild greens


Alkaline forming Foods

Most vegetables

Most fruits

Apples

Apricots

Avocado

Bananas

Beet root

Bell pepper

Berries (most)

Blackberries

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carob

Carrots

Cauliflower

Cayenne pepper

Chlorella (some)

Celery

Cherries

Chive

Cilantro

Corn (sweet)

Cucumber

Currants

Dates

Daikon

Eggplant

Endive

Garlic

Ginger root

Grapes

Grapefruit

Green beans

Green herbs

Guava


Kohlrabi

Kiwi fruit

Leeks

Lettuce

Mango

Mangosteen

Melons

Mustard greens

Nectarines

Okra

Onions

Parsnip

Passion fruit

Peaches

Pears

Peppers

Persimmons

Pineapple

Prickley pear

Pumpkin

Raisins

Raspberry

Rutabaga

Sapote

Spirulina (some)

Sprouts

Strawberries

Squash

Sweet potato

Tangerines

Taro root

Tomato

Turnip

Young coconut

Zucchini


Slightly Alkaline Forming

Almonds

Amaranth

Artichoke

Brussel sprouts

Buckwheat (sprouted)

Flaxseeds

Lentils (sprouted)

Millet

Mushrooms

Olive oil


Potato (with skins)

Pumpkin seeds

Quinoa

Sesame seeds

Sprouted grains (possibly neutral)

Sprouted seeds

Sunflower seeds

Wild rice


Acid Forming Foods

Cranberries (slightly)

Blueberries (slightly)

Plums (slightly)

Prunes (slightly)

Unripe fruit

Most nuts and seeds

Fermented foods

Processed fruit juices (store bought)


Peanuts

Soft drinks

Alcoholic beverages

Dairy

Meat

Most grains

Most beans

Processed foods


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