When it comes to certain fruits and vegetables, a lot of people believe that they are acidic and not alkaline. Citrus varieties often get mistaken for acidic, in addition to other fruits and vegetables. Here’s the thing…fruits and vegetables aren’t always as they seem. Determining whether a food is acidic or alkaline comes down to the mineral and sugar content.
Alkaline foods are high in minerals, but low in acid. Most all vegetables, for example, are alkaline because they are so low in sugar. If you haven’t guessed by now, sugar equals acid. After you ingest sugar, it starts to ferment inside your body, and it ultimately turns into acid, which can clog your digestive system.
Grapefruit, limes, lemons, and oranges contain citric acid and are acidic outside of the body. Lemons and limes are 2% sugar, grapefruit are 5% sugar, and oranges are about 12% sugar. The lemons, limes, and grapefruit are on the low end of the sugar spectrum, meaning they are very alkaline. When you ingest these citrus varieties, they have an alkalizing effect on the body and actually work to nourish your cells and flush toxins from your body.
Since oranges do have a little more sugar, you should only have one every once in a while if you are worried about your acid levels. Bacteria feed on sugar, which is why you should never drink orange juice when you are sick. When you are sick, the last thing you want to put into your body is sugar.
The Top Alkaline Fruits Include:
- Lemons
- Limes
- Grapefruit
- Avocado
- Tomatoes
- Coconut
- Pomegranate
The Top Alkaline Veggies Include:
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Celery
- Endive
- Garlic
- Alfalfa Sprouts
- Parsley
- Kale
- Spinach
Another alkaline food that often gets pegged as acidic is the avocado. Avocados are incredibly alkaline, and they are extremely versatile. Avocados are rich in nutrients and contain over 20 vitamins and minerals. Don’t worry about the fat content in avocados either; this is why people think they are acidic. They have tons of monounsaturated fats that work to help your body burn fat when digested. Additionally, avocados have an anti-inflammatory effect on the cardiovascular and digestive systems.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
