Water Count

Make Water Count

Understanding the Alkaline Diet – What Drinks Are Alkaline?

By Rehan Iqbal   

While medical science is still undecided on all the benefits of an alkaline diet, there are many who swear by the wellness and positive results that they have experienced after trying this controversial diet. The alkaline, or ash diet is as much about what we eat as what we drink.

Glass of Lemon Water

A lot has been written about alkaline foods, but the drinks have not received as much attention. To help you fully master the alkaline diet, I’ve compiled a list of alkaline drinks, as well as neutral or mildly acidic drinks, and the acidic drinks that you should avoid.

Many fruit juices are alkaline, as well as certain teas. Dairy alternatives, like almond and soy milk are also healthy neutral to high-PH drinks. For more information about alkaline drinks, keep reading. I’ll be providing the full lowdown on which drinks are best, which are okay in moderation, and which drinks are acidic, making them potentially hazardous.

What are Alkaline Drinks?

The basis for the alkaline diet is to avoid acidic food and drink. The natural PH of our bodies is around 7.4. Anything above PH 7 is alkaline, less than PH 7 is acidic. This means that alkaline drinks all have a PH of 7 or more.

It is the function of our lungs and kidneys to regulate the PH of our blood. Since the ideal PH is slightly alkaline, it seems logical to try consume food and beverages that have a higher PH. This helps maintain a healthy PH balance.

Most of the food we eat tends to be more acidic. The same can be said for the beverages we drink. A lot of sugary sodas will make your blood extremely acidic. This means that your kidneys have to work really hard to try normalize the body PH.

Continuous daily consumption of acidic food and drink can lead to kidney disease, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions. By drinking healthy beverages with a high PH (7.4 or more), you will be improving your chances of leading a long and healthy life.

What Drinks are Alkaline?

If you’re ready to start drinking your way to a healthier body, grab a cup of whatever makes you feel good and get ready for the complete guide to alkaline beverages.

Water

Nothing beats good old H₂O for a healthy body. All doctors, nutritionists, and health gurus agree that good hydration is essential for all of us. This means drinking around 11 to 15 cups of water per day, depending on your body mass.

The EPA recommends that public drinking water should have a PH of around 7 to 7.4. This is neutral and in keeping with the natural PH of the human body. However, in some areas, certain minerals in the water make it acidic. Though tap water and most bottled water is generally neutral. This means it is okay to drink as much water as you want without disturbing the PH balance of in your blood.

Carbonated (fizzy) water will be more acidic. CO₂ used to create those delightful bubbles in the water also produce carbonic acid, causing a reduced PH of around 4.9 to 5.5. In general, all carbonated drinks should be avoided if your aim is to only consume alkaline drinks.  

Alkaline diet purists recommend drinking alkaline water, with a PH of 8 or more. There has been quite a few medical tests conducted to determine whether alkaline water has any real health benefits. While more research is needed, there is enough evidence to prove that drinking alkaline water has some significant health benefits. These include:

  • Lower blood viscosity, reducing the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and certain types of heart disease.
  • Improved blood glucose levels in people with diabetes.
  • Treatment for acid reflux and other stomach disorders.
  • Treatment for kidney disease that results in acidosis. Note that for some kidney diseases, alkaline water can be dangerous. Always consult a doctor before choosing alkaline drinks if you have any type of kidney disease.
  • Improved immune system.
  • Weight loss.
  • May reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Though more research is needed in this field.

Considering the numerous proven benefits of drinking alkaline water, it seems like an obvious choice for a healthier lifestyle. Investing in a water alkaline machine is a good idea is you’re interested in reaping these benefits. In the long run, it’s a lot cheaper than buying bottled alkaline water.

Fruit Juice

Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are a staple of any healthy diet. However, not all fruit (and vegetable juices) are alkaline. Some are great, others are neutral, and there are a few juices that are downright acidic. Lemon juice is an exception that needs a discussion all of its own.

Alkaline Fruit and Vegetable Juices:

  • Banana
  • Chard
  • Kiwi
  • Celery
  • Cucumber
  • Kale

Acidic Fruit Juices:

  • Apple
  • Cranberry
  • Citrus – orange lemon and lime

Lemon Juice

The anomaly in the list of alkaline vs acidic drinks is most certainly lemon juice. Other citrus fruits (like orange and lime) have similar benefits, but lemon juice is the one acidic juice that is wholly recommended as part of a healthy alkaline diet.

Despite its low PH (2 – 3), which makes it extremely acidic, lemon juice actually helps normalize the PH in our bodies. By stimulating our natural mechanisms for controlling body PH, lemon juice causes a rapid decrease in blood acidity.

There are numerous other benefits of drinking lemon juice:

  • A rich source of vitamin C.
  • Reduces the risk of certain types of cancer and may even help prevent or assist in the treatment of oral tumors. Numerous studies have indicated that citrus fruits have potential anticancer agents.
  • Detox for healthier skin and body.
  • Prevents kidney stones.
  • Helps regulate blood sugar.
  • Promotes healthy digestion.
  • Softer stool.
  • Aids weight loss.

While it may seem like a crazy contradiction, adding a teaspoon (or two) of lemon juice to a glass of alkaline water has incredible health benefits.

Herbal Tea

Most herbal teas, including green tea are great for an alkaline diet and generally have many other health benefits. These teas range from PH-neutral to slightly alkaline.

Regular black tea, like English and Ceylon teas are acidic (PH 4.9 to 5.5).

Dairy Alternatives

Alternatives to cow’s milk have become increasingly popular. If you are lactose intolerant, you probably drink products like almond or soy milk. These are pretty good for an alkaline diet as they tend toward PH neutral or slightly alkaline.

Slightly Acidic Drinks

There are some drinks that are okay to drink even though they are not, strictly speaking, alkaline. Drinks that have a PH of around 6 – 7 are not particularly hazardous.

Dairy

Whole milk and unsweetened dairy drinks have a PH of around 6.7 to 6.9. This makes them mildly acidic and can be consumed in moderation. The additional health benefits, most particularly calcium for healthy bones and teeth, make dairy products an important part of a healthy diet.

Coconut Water

This is another drink that has numerous health benefits and is only slightly acidic (PH 6.2 – 6.5). It is a very refreshing and healthy drink.

Acidic Drinks

Some drinks really should be avoided if you want to reduce the amount of acid in your diet.

Sodas

A lot has been said about the negative health effects of drinking fizzy drinks with a lot of sugar. No matter how you look at it, sodas are bad for you in every way. The combination of sugar and CO₂ make sodas amongst the most acidic drinks around. For example, Coca Cola has a PH of 2.5.

Coffee

For most of us, waking up in the morning without a cup of coffee is simply unimaginable. While coffee is not as bad as highly acidic soft drinks, it’s not great. At a PH of 5, coffee is about the same as black tea on the scale of acidic drinks.

Do You Really Need to Include Alkaline Drinks in Your Diet?

The jury is still out on the importance of an alkaline diet. It’s true that the body self-regulates its PH to remain around 7.4 regardless of what we eat or drink. However, the modern American diet is highly acidic. Eating a lot of meat and sugar means that the average American is at risk of serious health problems, especially as we grow older.

Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are all consequences of an acidic diet, as is kidney disease and most types of cancer. To maintain a healthy body, it is essential to try obtain a balance in what we eat. Alkaline drinks (particularly alkaline water) are a wonderful way to help restore the balance.

Even if you’re not fanatical about following an alkaline diet, reducing the amount of acid in the food and beverages that you consume will vastly improve your general health and reduce your risk of many chronic illnesses.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Water Filter Guide
water filter guide
 

What are Forever Chemicals?
forever chemicals
 

Whole House Water Filter
whole house water filter
 

What are GenX Chemicals?
GenX chemicals
 

Reverse Osmosis Filter
Reverse Osmosis Filter
 

What is Alkaline Water?
Young Woman Drinking Alkaline Water
 

Water Softener
water softener
 

Alkaline Water Facts
Water with Lemon
 

Under Sink Water Filter
under sink water filter
 

Can You Drink Alkaline Water Every Day?
Lemon Water
 

Water Softener for Well Water
well water softener
 

What is Alkaline Water Good For?
Woman about to Drink Water
 

Water Ionizer
water ionizer
 

Alkaline Diet
Avacado Fruit
 

Salt Free Water Conditioner
water Conditioner
 

Is Recycled Wastewater Safe to Drink?
wastewater
 

Is Reverse Osmosis Safe
clear glass of water
 

Is Bottled Water a Scam?
Bottled Water on a Shelf
 

How Water Filters Work
Home Filtration System
 

Does Reverse Osmosis Filter PFAS?
GenX chemicals
 

Water Count

444 State Route 27  Suite 213
Iselin New Jersey

Phone : (610) 234-7312

________________________________________

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Service

Recent Posts

  • Do You Need to Remove Salt from Softened Water? 3 Methods that Work
  • How to Pick the Right Filter for Your Well Water
  • How Do You Know When You Need a New Water Softener
  • How Long Does Water Softener Resin Last?
  • How Much Salt Does a Water Softener Use?

Affiliate Disclosure

PrimeReviews.org participates in various affiliate programs and we get a commission for qualifying purchases made through our links, at no extra cost to you.

Disclaimer

The information on this site is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advise

Copyright © 2023 PrimeReviews.org