Acidic and Alkaline Foods

Balancing acidity and alkalinity in the body is essential for maintaining good health and preventing illness.

Why This Balance Matters

Modern diets—often rich in processed foods, meat, and sugar—can disrupt the body’s natural pH balance, leading to increased acidity. Over time, this can cause fatigue, inflammation, digestive issues, and a higher risk of chronic disease.

The good news? By choosing and combining the right foods, we can support the body’s natural ability to maintain optimal pH levels, protect our health, and prevent imbalances.

What Are Acidic and Alkaline Foods?

All foods can be classified into three groups:

1. Acidic

2. Alkaline

3. Neutral

Ideally, the body should be slightly alkaline. However, modern eating habits often make our blood and tissues more acidic—creating an environment that favors illness.

A healthy diet should be mostly based on foods that neither cause excessive acidity nor extreme alkalinity. Highly acidic or alkaline foods should be balanced with their opposite group and eaten in moderation.

Lists of Acidic and Alkaline Foods

Strongly Alkaline (Yang)

• Celery

• Figs

• Herbal teas

• Melon, watermelon

• Lemon

• Mango, papaya

• Parsley

• Seaweed

• Skinless grapes

• Watercress

  
  

Mildly Alkaline (Yang)

• Olives, olive oil

• Artichokes, eggplant

• Millet, buckwheat

• Cherries, tangerines, chestnuts

• Fresh coconut

• Cucumbers, Brussels sprouts

• Honey (raw)

• Leeks, mushrooms, radishes, tomatoes

• Sea salt, onions, oranges

• Homemade pickled vegetables

• Sesame seeds, soy

These foods are particularly valuable for people struggling with fatigue, inflammation, or low immunity.

Neutral Foods

• Sour cream, cow’s milk, yogurt, whey, butter

• Oils (except olive oil)

Neutral foods sit in the middle of the pH scale and are best consumed in moderation—especially when paired with strongly acidic or alkaline dishes.

Slightly Acidic (Yin)

• Eggs

• Red beans, pumpkin seeds

• Barley, spinach

  
  

Moderately Acidic (Yin)

• Pasteurized honey

• Blueberries, bran, cheeses

• Dried coconut, fish

• Whole grain pasta and cereals

• Most legumes (except soy)

• Nuts (except almonds)

• Rye, ketchup, mustard, plums

• Popcorn, peeled potatoes, prunes, rice

  
  

Strongly Acidic (Yin)

• White bread, pastries from white flour

• Chocolate, coffee, alcohol

• Soft drinks, sweetened juices

• Beef, pork, chicken, refined grains

• Cranberries, ice cream

• White pasta, peanuts, white rice

• Seafood, black tea, walnuts

Strongly acidic foods should be limited as they can trigger inflammation, fatigue, and digestive problems.

Balancing in Daily Life

Alkaline meals:

• Cucumber, parsley & olive oil salad with cooked buckwheat

• Fruit salad with figs, papaya, and melon

• Celery root soup with leeks and Brussels sprouts

Balancing acidic foods:

• Whole grain pasta with vegetables and fresh herbs

• Fish with spinach and lemon juice

• Legume soups with leeks

Pairing acidic foods with alkaline ones (like vegetables and lemon) helps neutralize acidity and maintain balance.

A Gentle Approach Works Best

You don’t need to eliminate acidic foods entirely—just balance them. Even small changes, like swapping white bread for buckwheat or adding lemon to your water, can make a big difference in energy, digestion, and overall health.

💡 At meal.plans.by.olivia, we create personalized meal plans that naturally balance alkaline and acidic foods—helping you boost energy, improve digestion, and support long-term wellness without extreme restrictions.