'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABjAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQcQAAEDBAEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQABRESIQYTFCNBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGEQEAAQQCAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABEQACAwQFIRIxUf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A1G8SZYuLsaa4Lnull5/yENISpzvLBUAhHBICc4+ipP6wvEKdKjC6ykhh5xvVDZ1GisYHsHFKUb2wy7WZvBi9D4d0g408OO1InvFZKsrFp7Wv/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Acidic foods refer to food items that have a pH level of 4.6 or less. Following an alkaline diet or limiting the intake of acidic foods has gained popularity recently, with everyone from health enthusiasts to celebrities praising its benefits.
Various studies suggest that reducing your intake of these foods may potentially lower any kind of chronic pain, boost bone strength, improve hormone levels, and also lower your chances of kidney stones. Additionally, not consuming acidic foods might ease acid reflux as well.
What Are the Most Acidic Foods That You Must Avoid?
Here’s a list of some of the most acidic foods and beverages that shouldn’t be included in your diet:
Trending
1. High-Acid Drinks and Beverages
Drinking packaged fruit juices, coke, energy drinks, or other acidic beverages adds a lot of phosphoric acid to the body, which further leads to an increased acid load. It can even contribute to tooth damage and can harm your health.
2. Processed Meat
Processed meat is also one of the most acidic foods that you should avoid. Eating any type of animal protein, such as poultry, can contribute to the acid load in the body.
3. Dairy Products
Dairy products such as ice cream, cheese, and milk are all high in acidic levels. Various studies also link dairy items with acid-forming properties, such as chloride and sulfur-containing amino acids.
4. Tomato Products
Tomatoes, tomato sauce, hot sauce, and salsa are all acidic foods as they have a high pH level that can contribute to acid reflux and make your symptoms even worse. Hence, they must be avoided or at least consumed in moderation. Compared to tomato products such as sauces and paste, consuming raw tomatoes may be tolerable as they are less acidic in nature.
5. Processed Grains
Refined or processed grains include food items like junk food, baked goods, and white bread. These are all acidic foods, but adding vegetables and fruits to these items can help reduce their acidic load in the body.
6. Acidic Fruits
Some acidic fruits include lemons, oranges, grapefruits, limes, pomegranates, plums, purple grapes, and lemons. While all of them have high pH levels, however, they don’t build up acid in your body when consumed.
These fruits are typically considered reflexogenic foods, meaning they can make symptoms of acid reflux worse. So, if you already have acid reflux, it's best to avoid or reduce citrus fruit intake. Remember that most fruits are acidic, but they are alkalizing, which means that they can actually help prevent acid levels in the body.
Other acidic foods and drinks include:
- processed cereals
- alcohol
- caffeinated drinks
- peanuts
- salt
- artificial sweeteners
- beans
- certain grains
- oilseeds
- starchy foods like oat flakes and brown rice
What to Eat? Low Acid Foods
There are plenty of low acid foods that can help reduce or prevent acid reflux symptoms. Some neutral or alkalizing foods you can add to your diet include:
- soy food items such as tofu, soy beans, and miso
- seeds
- legumes such as lentils
- nuts
- millets and quinoa
- fresh vegetables such as potatoes
- spices and herbs but no mustard, nutmeg, and salt
- herbal teas
- avocados
- olive oil
What Are the Negative Effects of Eating Acidic Foods?
Studies suggest that acidic foods lead to a disruption in the acid-based balance in the body, which can lead to chronic metabolic acidosis in the long run. High acidity can cause predisposition and other health concerns as well.
Acid-producing food items like cheese and animal protein can lead to acidity in the urine and may also cause uric acid stones, generally called kidney stones. Too much acidity can cause muscle and bone deterioration as well.
It is important to note that consuming a moderate amount of acidic foods as part of a healthy and balanced diet is unlikely to cause bone or muscle loss or enhance your chances of chronic illnesses.
Nutritionists too recommend consuming a variety of vegetables and fruits on a daily basis. Although these foods are sometimes acidic, they have alkalizing factors that reduce the negative impact on your body.
Some fruit and veggies that are acidic but can be very beneficial for your health include:
- radish
- plums
- cucumber
- green grapes
- blueberries
- purple grapes
- beetroots
- banana
While the aforementioned alkalizing acidic fruits and veggies are beneficial and good for health, they might lead to gastric problems in people with acid reflux or gastric ulcers. So, before just making any changes to your diet, make sure to consult your doctor to identify all possible risks.
Unless recommended by a healthcare provider, you should always try to consume a nutritious and balanced diet. Keep in mind that consuming a variety of foods in moderation is very important for keeping your body healthy and functioning well.
