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• 8 Alkaline Foods You Should Include In Your Daily Diet

8 Alkaline Foods You

Should Include in Your
Daily Diet
Plavaneeta Borah | Updated: March 26, 2018 17:01 IST
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If you have paid close attention to your chemistry lessons during school, you

will be familiar with the concept of acid and alkali. If not, then here's a quick

brush up: Acids are basically aqueous solutions that have a pH level of less

than 7.0 whereas alkalis have a pH level of more than 7.0, water being the

neutral component with a pH of 7.0. In simpler terms, acids are sour in taste

and corrosive in nature, whereas alkalis are elements that neutralise acids.

During the process of digestion, our stomach secretes gastric acids, which

help in breaking down food. The stomach has a pH balance which ranges

from 2.0 to 3.5, which is highly acidic but necessary for the process

of digestion. However, sometimes, due to unhealthy lifestyle and food habits,

the acidic level in the body goes haywire, leading to acidity, acid refluxes and

other gastric ailments. If you review the daily diet of most urban dwellers, it
contains large amounts of acidic foods such as burger, samosa, pizza,

rolls, cheese sandwiches, sausages, bacon, kebabs, colas, doughnuts,

pastries, etc - which in the long run can hamper the acidic balance in the

stomach. These foods when broken down leaves behind residues that are

referred to as acid ash, the main cause of your tummy troubles.

Ingredients that are acidic in nature when digested by the

body are meats, dairy products, eggs, certain whole
grains, refined sugars and processed food items. It is
important to note that an ingredient's acid or alkaline forming
tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH of
the food itself. Citrus fruits are acidic in nature, but citric acid
actually has an alkalising effect in our body.
Alkaline foods are important so as to bring about a balance.
Like all experts and doctors have been saying for years, we
should have a balanced meal with a good mix of everything,
rather than restraining ourselves to have only a certain
category of food items. Alkaline foods therefore help in
countering the risks of acidity and acid refluxes, bringing
some sort of relief. Most traditional Indian meals contain
alkaline food items to create a balanced diet. If you have ever
tried a typical Assamese lunch, it always starts with a dish
called Khar. Khar also refers to the main ingredient in the
dish, which is an alkali extracted from the peels of a banana
varietal known as Bhim Kol. The peels are dry roasted and
preserved, and before preparing the dish, are soaked in warm
water to obtain a brownish filtrate which is then used in
cooking. The dish can be made with different ingredients, but
the one made with raw papaya is most cherished, known as
Amitar Khar. If raw papaya isn't available then cabbage or
squash is used as well. Sometimes, a fried fish head is
scrambled into the dish during the later stages of the cooking
process. Khar is believed to be good for the stomach, easing
digestion.

Alkaline Foods for Your Daily Diet

If you have been indulging in excessive red meat, processed

and junk food, it's about time you included some alkaline food
in your diet. Here's a list to get you started -
1. Green Leafy Vegetables

Most green leafy vegetables are said to have an alkaline

effect in our system. It is not without reason that our elders
and health experts always advise us to include greens in
our daily diet. They contain essential minerals which are
necessary for the body to carry out various functions. Try
including spinach, lettuce, kale, celery, parsley, argula and
mustard greens in your meals.
2. Cauliflower and Broccoli

If you love sautéed broccoli in Asian spices or gobi matar,

they are both good for you. They contain several
phytochemicals that are essential for your body. Toss it up
with other veggies like capsicum, beans and green peas and
you have your health dose right there.
3. Citrus Fruits

Contrary to the belief that citrus fruits are highly acidic and
would have an acidic effect on the body, they are the best
source of alkaline foods. Lemon, lime and oranges are loaded
with Vitamin C and are known to help in detoxifying the
system, including providing relief from acidity and heart burn.
4. Seaweed and Sea Salt

Did you know that seaweed or sea vegetables have 10-12

times more mineral content than those grown on land? They
are also considered to be highly alkaline food sources and are
known to bring about various benefits to the body system.
You can tip in nori or kelp into your bowl of soup or stir-fries or
make sushi at home. Or just sprinkle some sea salt into your
salads, soups, omelette, etc.

5. Root Vegetables

Root vegetables like sweet potato, taro root, lotus root, beets
and carrots are great sources of alkali. They taste best when
roasted with a little sprinkling of spices and other seasonings.
Most often, they are overcooked which makes them lose out
all their goodness. Pay attention while cooking and you will
fall in love with root veggies as you learn to include them in
soups, stir-fries, salads and more.

6. Seasonal Fruits
Every nutritionist and health expert will tell you that adding
seasonal fruits in your daily diet can prove to be beneficial to
your health. They come packed with vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants that take care of various functions in the body.
They are good alkaline food sources too, especially kiwi,
pineapple, persimmon, nectarine, watermelon, grapefruit,
apricots and apples.

7. Nuts

Love to munch on nuts when hunger pangs kick in? Besides

being sources of good fats, they also produce an alkaline
effect in the body. However, since they are high in calories, it
is important to have limited quantities of nuts. Include
cashews, chestnuts and almonds in your daily meal plan.

8. Onion, Garlic and Ginger

Among the most important ingredients in Indian cooking,

onion, garlic and ginger are great flavour enhancers too. You
can use them in numerous other ways - garlic to spruce up
your morning toast, grated ginger in your soup or tea, freshly
sliced onions in salads, etc.

0COMMENTS
Now that you have this list of alkaline food sources, try and
include them in your diet to make the most of their incredible
benefit.

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Doctor's Ayurvedic Advice:-

Frequent burps is commonly seen with acidity. It is also triggered by
swallowing more air while eating and hence it is necessary to eat
slowly. Ayurvedic medicines can be taken to improve the
metabolism, promote the downward movement of vata and hence it
will help to relieve the symptoms.
Ayurvedic medicines like Gandharvahastadi Kvath - 15ml with 60ml
of warm water before food twice daily, Sooktyn for Hyperacidity and
Agastys Rasayanam - 1tsp before food twice daily can be taken for a
month and reviewed.
Include healthy cooked food, goose berry, turmeric, fenu greek,
spinach, cumin, carrot, berries and liquorice. Reduce excess caffeine,
carbonated beverages, raw foods, excess oil, hot spices, sugar and
salt. Eating smaller meals more frequently will be
beneficial. Yogasanas like Navasana, Trikonasana,
Pavanamuktasana, Padmasana, Vajrasana, Shavasana, Siddhasana
and Dhanurasana are beneficial.
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Doctor's Ayurvedic Advice:-
Hello, Thanks for your inquiry. Mucus is a part of digestive process as
it works as a lubricant to help food and waste to move through your
body normally. Small amounts of mucus in stool is normal. If you have
large amounts of mucus in stool in clear,yellow or white, it indicates
inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. In case of Irritable Bowel
Syndrome, UlcerativeColitis, Crohn's disease,anal
fissure,constipation, Salmonella and other infections. the mucus
amount will be more. If you want to rule out these diseases,
Sigmoidoscopy or Colonoscopy can be done. If the mucosa layer is
not damaged in this test, the reason will be most probably Irritable
Bowel Syndrome which can be corrected by herbal supplements and
life style modifications. You can start with- (1)Organic Bowel Care
Capsules-2 caps twice daily after meals. (2)Hinguvachadi churna-1
tsp with half glass buttermilk or warm water twice daily half an hour
before food.
Avoid much spicy and fried foods.Easily digestible foods are to be
taken. Wheat bread,cereals can be taken.
Stress is a major contributing factor. Yoga and meditation will help to
relieve stress.
Thanks and regards.
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Alkalize your body
Supriya Sharma| TNN | Updated: Jul 12, 2017, 11:09 IST

102

It is easy to get lost in the whole health-food

terminology and discourse on clean living. One
can’t really tell where healthy stops and unhealthy
begins! One major factor in determining the
healthfulness of a food can be by looking at it from
an alkaline or acidic point of view. The more
alkaline it is, the better. “Alkaline diets have
gained more importance from the cancer world, as
many research studies are now showing an
obvious connection between acidic diets and rise
in cancers,” says Dr Anjali Hooda Sangwan,
consultant – obesity, metabolic medicine and
clinical nutrition.

Alkaline balance
In order for your blood to effectively act as a
medium of oxygen and absorb vital nutrients, your
body’s pH (potential of hydrogen) balance needs
to be maintained. This equilibrium is essentially
the body’s alkaline-acid balance, which is ensured
by healthy kidneys. Our packaged-food living
makes us consume too much acid apart from
already acidic dairy, grains, meats, and sugar.
This puts too much load on the kidneys and they
start accumulating the acid in our tissues. It also
means that the body’s mineral reserves such as
calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium can
run dangerously low. One needs to minimise the
acid generation by eating more alkaline foods.

The bigger picture

The pH of our body is 7.4 and anything that alters
the pH will make the body’s immune defence go
down and obviously open up the door for diseases.
“Sodium and sugar rich diets from processed
foods can cause an upheaval in pH and lead to a
disturbing health condition called acidosis,” adds
Dr Sangwan. Dr Robert Young, in his book The pH
Miracle, says, “Health depends on an internal
alkaline environment. He discusses the importance
of regulating your body’s acid/alkaline chemistry
and how it can result in weight loss, increased
stamina and strength, and a stronger immune
system.” Mind you, it’s not just the food we eat that
can cause an acidic environment, our
body also creates acid by overusing muscles,
breathing,
and digesting certain foods. Other factors can be
stress, toxins, air pollution, tobacco, lack of sleep,
or medications.

Eating right
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All foods have the ability to change your pH levels.

Acidic foods are the culprit, but one can’t and
needn’t just eat alkalizing foods. “Consuming good
fats like avocado, nuts, ghee and coconut oil are
better than saturated fats. Processed animal
protein, wheat and some grains increase the pH of
the body, so the servings shouldn’t cross more
than two a day,” says Dr Sangwan, adding, “A
balance of 80% alkaline-forming food and 20%
acidic-forming food is ideal.”

Chewing is an easy first step to make your food

alkaline. Chew 30-40 times a bite. Be careful not
to overeat and overload your system.
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 Yastimadhu: Licorice Benefits, Usage, Research,
Remedies, Side Effects
https://easyayurveda.com/.../licorice-benefits-medicinal-qualities-
complete-ayurveda-d...
1.
2.
Dec 8, 2012 - Licorice benefits are known to Indians since thousands of years. ... Tamil
and Teluguname – Atimadhuram, Irattimadhuram .... if recommended dose of a herb is
say 3g/day, I assume itmeans if the powder itself is ingested.

18 Time-Tested
Ayurvedic Solutions
For Acid Reflux
Date: August 24, 2017

Share
According to Ayurveda, acid reflux is caused when the heat
energy within our cells, known as Pitta, becomes
imbalanced. Pitta is located in the stomach and is
symbolized as a sharp, intense, hot and acidic energy.
When an individual consumes pitta aggravating foods like
vinegar, citrus juices, tomatoes, chilies, onions, garlic,
alcohol and fried foods, it leads to heartburn. Consuming
caffeine and sodas also aggravates the pitta. Stress,
irregular eating patterns, sleep deprivation and taking
painkillers as well as antibiotics also increases production
of heat toxins which leads to heartburn. Let’s find out more
about acid reflux treatment in ayurveda.

18 Ayurvedic Solutions For Acid

Reflux
According to Ayurveda, since heartburn is caused due to
excessive heat in the body, it’s best to eat cooling, soothing
foods that alleviate symptoms.

1. During the Pitta period, i.e., between 10 a.m. and 2

p.m., the digestive fire burns the strongest and
 digestive enzymes are most activated. This is the best
time to eat your main meal, as the body is better able
to digest and assimilate nutrition from the food.

2. Eat fresh foods, preferably local produce that is

seasonal and organic. Eat mindfully; Ayurveda
suggests that when we savor the taste of food, it
ignites the digestive fire so that food is better digested.

3. Avoid all pitta aggravating foods, which includes

grapefruit, orange, tomatoes and tomato sauce,
spinach, raw onions, cheese (especially aged cheese
like blue cheese, mature cheddar and feta), vinegar,
alcohol, cayenne, jalapeno peppers, chilies, radish and
beets.

4. Eat on time and avoid skipping meals. A healthy

eating pattern is crucial to keep heartburn at bay.

5. Avoid stress and anger, as these emotions aggravate

the pitta dosha. Do not watch TV, read a book or have
a heated conversation during meal times.
6. Make sure you get sufficient sleep. But keep a gap of
at least 2 hours between meal time and bed time.
7. Ashwagandha is excellent for those who suffer from
acid reflux. It helps balance the mind, promote a
peaceful night’s sleep and keeps anxiety at bay.

8. For quick relief from acid reflux, drink 200-500ml of

fresh tender coconut water twice every day. Aloe Vera
juice, particularly the fresh gel taken straight from the
leaf, helps in balancing pitta.

9. Baked fennel seeds do an excellent job of soothing the

stomach. Eat ¼ teaspoon thrice daily, in between your
meals.

10. Fresh pomegranate juice helps balance pitta and is

good for GERD sufferers.

11. Brew a tea using coriander, dried ginger and

snakeguard leaf. Take 14 to 28 ml twice every day.

12. Drink warm water throughout the day. Refrain

from drinking chilled water and using ice. The best
 time to drink a tall glass of water is 30 minutes before
your meal. However, don’t drink water with your meal
or up to 30 minutes after you finish your meal.

13. Another popular Ayurvedic remedy for acid reflux

is to add a teaspoon of ghee in a glass of milk and
drink this before a meal. This concoction coats the
stomach lining to protect it against acid attack.
14. Drink peppermint tea or take a peppermint oil
capsule after meal to prevent gas and bloating.
15. According to Ayurveda, adding sweet, bitter and
astringent foods to your diet helps bring relief from
acid reflux. Add watermelon, split moong dal, green
leafy vegetables, banana and cucumbers to your diet.
16. Ayurveda believes in using natural herbs to cure a
variety of ailments, and acid reflux is no exception.
Adding these herbs to your diet can help:
• Holy Basil: Known as Tulsi, holy basil comes from
the mint family and helps reduce excess acid
production. If you feel an acid attack looming, chew
 on some fresh holy basil leaves to find relief from the
pain and burning sensation accompanied by reflux.
• Amla: An Ayurvedic herb, Amla or Indian
Gooseberry can cure a variety of digestive ailments.
You can have it in the raw form, mix amla powder in
water and drink the concoction or opt for juice.
• Coriander: This herb helps neutralize stomach acids
and can easily be added to a variety of dishes. You can
use the fresh leaves of the herb, or use coriander
powder in your curries. Ayurvedic practitioners also
recommend adding 1 tablespoon of coriander juice to
half cup of buttermilk for relief from acid reflux.
• Licorice: A strong Ayurvedic medicine for treating
acid reflux, licorice root can be brewed into a tea that
is effective at neutralizing stomach acids.
17. Try yoga and meditation for hyperacidity. According to
Ayurveda, some yoga poses gently massage the abdominal
organs to boost digestive fire and also improve blood flow
to this area. The best yoga poses for acid reflux include
Halasana, Ushtra asana, Pawana muktasana, Marjariasana,
Vajrasana, Trikonasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana and
Virabhadrasana II.
18. Meditation is one of the best stress-management
techniques to promote tranquility and keeps anxiety at bay.
Regular practice of meditation alongside yoga will bring
about a sense of balance in Pitta for smoother, more
effective digestion.

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of healing offers a

variety of natural, non-invasive treatments and medicines to
treat acid reflux. These are best discussed with a certified
Ayurveda physician, since they are best taken under
medical supervision.
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