Alkaline Diet for Weight Loss

Alkaline diet is for people who are not able to benefit out of low-carb diets or fad diets. This diet is extremely helpful for people who lead a stressful life, or suffer from acidity. Alkaline diet for weight loss consists of 75% to 80% alkaline foods and only 20% to 25% acidic foods. The acidic level of any solution is measured on a 'power of hydrogen', scale abbreviated as pH scale, and the average pH level of blood being 7.4.

The pH levels in internal fluids affects every cell. If this pH level is altered, it can be harmful to the normal functioning cells, tissues and organs. In case of an unbalanced diet high in acidic foods, there can be pressure on the body's regulating systems which help to maintain pH neutrality. This acid is removed from the body with the use of some vital organs, helping the pH to get neutralized. Below mentioned are tables of alkaline foods for weight loss and acidic foods to avoid while adhering to an alkaline diet plan.

Alkaline Diet for Weight Loss: Foods to be Consumed and Foods to be Avoided

	Foods to be consumed on an Alkaline Diet
	Foods to be avoided on an Alkaline Diet

Category	Alkaline Foods	Acidic Foods
Vegetables	Vegetable Juices, Parsley, Raw Spinach, Broccoli, Celery, Garlic, Barley Grass, Lima Beans, Zucchini, Carob, Asparagus, Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Courgette, Cucumber, Grasses (eg wheat, barley), Green Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Radish, Alfalfa, Dandelions, Edible Flowers, Eggplant, Fermented Veggies, Greens - Chard, Collard, Mustard, Kohlrabi, Mushrooms (Maitake, Reishi and Shitake), Nightshade Veggies, Parsnips (high glycemic), Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Rutabaga, Spirulina, Living Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Watercress, Sea Veggies (Kelp, Kombu, Nori and Wakame Seaweed)	Pickled Vegetables, Pinto Beans, Navy Beans, Corn, Olives, Winter Squash
Fruits	Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Berries (inclusive of Blackberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Goji Berries), Dates, Dried Figs, Cherries (sour), Fresh Coconut, Raisins, Purple and Red Grapes, Nectarine, Banana, Peach, Pear, Lemon, Lime, Pineapple, Orange, Melon (Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Musk, Watermelon), Tomato, Rhubarb, Umeboshi Plums, Tropical Fruits	Prune, Cranberries, Canned or Glazed Fruits
Eggs and Dairy Products	Breast Milk, Cottage Cheese	Parmasan, Processed Cheese, Eggs (Less acidic if natural feed), Camembert, Hard Cheese, Butter, Ice Cream, Ice Milk
Grains and Meat	Seeds (Pumpkin, Sprouted Sunflower - Millet), Buckwheat Groats, Cumin, Flaxseed, Lentils, Sesame, Spelt, Sprouts/Sprouted Seeds Fresh & as Pastes (Soybeans, Alfalfa, Mung Bean, Wheat, Little Radish, Chickpea, Broccoli, Hummus, Tahini Sunflower), Tofu (fermented), Tempeh (fermented), Whey Poison, Yogurt (Plain), Chicken Breast	White Rice, White Bread, Pastries, Biscuits, Pasta, Bran, Kamut, Macaroni, Cornstarch, Oatmeal, Oats (rolled), Rice, Rice Cakes, Spaghetti, Noodles, Quinoa, Rye, Corned Beef, Lamb, Sausage, Pork, Bacon, Turkey, Rabbit, Venison, Fish (Carp, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, Pike, Haddock, Cod), Shellfish (Lobster, Oyster, Scallops, Shrimp, Clams, Mussels)
Nuts and Seeds	Almonds, Chestnuts, Hazelnuts	Peanuts, Walnuts, Pecans, Cashews, Pistachios, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Tahini
Condiments and Sweeteners	Stevia, Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup	Artificial Sweeteners, Sugar, Milk Chocolate, Brown Sugar, Molasses, Jam, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard, Vinegar, Corn Syrup
Beverages	Lemon Water, Tea (Dandelion, Essiac, Green Tea, Herbal Tea, Ginseng Tea, Kombucha), Fresh vegetable juice, Wheat Grass Juice, Pure water (distilled, reverse osmosis, ionized), Alkaline Antioxidant Water (Mineral Water), Vegetable broth, Non-sweetened Soy Milk, Almond Milk, Organic Milk (unpasteurized)	Black Tea, Cocoa, Coffee, Beer, Liquor, Soda/Pop, Spirits, Wine (Red wine is healthy - skip the white wine), Soy Sauce, Distilled Vinegar
Others	Apple Cider Vinegar, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Pepper, Sea Salt, Miso – Tamari, All Herbs, Molasses (blackstrap), Butter (unsalted), Marine Phytoplankton	Asprin, Drugs - Prescribed Medication and Street Food Additives, Tobacco, Herbicides and Pesticides

There are many alkaline diet plans that you can adhere to, using a combination of these alkaline foods for weight loss. Till date, there has been no 100% assurance of the effectiveness of these alkaline diets for weight loss. Most of the doctors conclude that consumption of salt, meat and grains is beneficial to the human body in different ways, and that highly acidic foods alone do not result in any severe illness. While some doctors have the exact opposite views of the same, and are in support of an alkaline diet plan. You can also read more on alkaine foods for acid reflux. Following is a sample diet plan for weight loss which can be altered according to your preferences:

Alkaline Diet for Weight Loss: Diet Plan
There are no rigid diet plans when on an alkaline diet. You can use the foods mentioned above and design your own diet plans for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The main thing to be remembered here is to completely avoid acidic foods.

Breakfast: You can have a glass of veggie juice or a cup of ginger tea, veggie scramble (consisting of 1 or 2 eggs per person, spring onions, tomatoes, bell pepper, etc.), 1 pear or 1 oz. baked pumpkin seeds.

Lunch: Lentil soup, olive oil salad on steamed vegetables is another good diet plan. Hard boiled eggs (sliced and sprinkled with salt and pepper), celery or carrot sticks, Almonds in little quantity is also preferred.

Dinner: Steamed zucchini with garlic and olive oil, fresh Parmesan, meat (any from the above mentioned) with sweet potato and mixed green salad.

Alkaline Diet for Weight Loss: Lentil Soup Recipe
This lentil soup example for alkaline diet for weight loss will take approximately 45-50 min to prepare, and will provide 6-7 servings.

Ingredients
1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed
1 cup finely chopped onion
½ cup finely chopped celery
½ cup finely chopped carrot
½ tsp freshly ground grains of paradise
½ tsp freshly ground toasted cumin
½ tsp freshly ground coriander
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp olive oil

Procedure
Place the olive oil into the oven and set over medium heat. Once the oil turns hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt. Stir till the onions turn golden-brown. Add the lentils, tomatoes, vegetable broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and mix well. Bring to boil by increasing the heat. Reduce the flame and simmer until the lentils are tender (may take 30-40 minutes). Use a stick blender to puree it according to your preference and serve immediately. For some soup recipes read more on:

• Broccoli Soups and Recipes
• Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe
• Healthy Soup Recipes

Alkaline diet for weight loss will work as a miracle only if you maintain a balanced approach in your diet, preferably a vegetarian diet, and that too supplemented with a healthy lifestyle. And to summarize the whole article with some beneficial tips, avoid foods containing preservatives and artificial sweeteners, keep cut veggies and soaked nuts handy for frequent usage in your diet. Consuming water that contains high pH (mineral water) for a long period of time, is one of the best tips which will help you create the balance between the acid and alkaline levels in the body.