List of Foods for Alkaline Diet

The alkaline diet, sometimes called the alkaline acid diet, focuses on eating foods that leave an alkaline residue in the body. These consist of fresh vegetables, legumes, nuts, grains, roots, tubers and a limited amount of fruits. Although it's classified as a diet, the purpose of an alkaline diet is not to help you lose weight--it's intended to help balance the potential hydrogen (pH) in your body and to improve your overall health.

Vegetables

Fresh vegetables are an important part of an alkaline diet. There is no limit to the amount of vegetables that you can eat. Add the following to your meal plan: asparagus, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, green beans, spinach, peas, lettuce, turnip greens, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, garlic, eggplant, squash, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, mustard greens and legumes.

Beverages, Fats, and Protein

Beverages, seeds, grains, nuts, oils, and fats also can help make up an alkaline diet. Limit your drinks to fresh vegetable and fruit juices, herbal tea, organic milk, green tea, distilled water, soy milk, vegetable broth, ginseng tea, mineral water, almond milk and lemon water.

Almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, lentils, flax seeds, sesame seeds, buckwheat and tempeh are sources of protein you should include. Yogurt, another source of protein is acceptable, but consumption of other dairy products should be limited because of their sugar content. Eat yogurt that is low-fat or fat-free.

Other Alkanizing Foods

Other foods that you are allowed to eat as part of an alkaline diet include hummus, tahini, hemp, avocado, olive, coconut oil, wheat grass, barley, mustard, cinnamon, ginger, sea salt and all herbs. For a sweetener, Stevia may be used in place of sugar. Meat, eggs and most dairy products are not recommended. To experience the full benefits of an alkaline diet, most of the food that you eat should be raw; eat more salads to enjoy vegetables in their raw form. Finally, drink eight or more cups of distilled water per day.

Fruits

Unlike most diets, fruits play a small role in the alkaline diet. In fact, it is recommended that fruits not be eaten in excess and that they only be consumed alone or before a large meal; they should never be eaten right after a large meal, because fruits have a naturally high sugar content and become acidic once digested.

Fruits that are acceptable as part of an alkaline diet are: apples, apricots, berries, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, kiwi fruit, lemons, limes, mango, melons, oranges, pears, pineapples, tomatoes, dates and raisins.