The Top 7 Most Alkaline Foods on the Planet

   

 

What I love about educating the public about the alkaline lifestyle is opening peoples’ eyes to the fact that there’s an abundance of foods made by mother earth that can actually make your body work better, stay healthier, and live longer.

 

It’s an amazing gift that we live in a time when we can go to the grocery store and pick up all kinds of ingredients from all over the world that can heal us when we’re sick, give us more energy when we need it, and make our overall quality of life better.

 

So today I want to talk about 7 of the most alkaline foods available to us, why they’re so good for you, and how you can use them more in your cooking and eating.

 

Just one note before we get started… With all of these foods, organic is best.

 

That’s how you’re going to get the most vitamins and minerals packed in, and of course, the least toxins and pollutants.

 

In fact, you need to DEMAND ORGANIC!

 

I know it’s more expensive, but this is your health we’re talking about. Your health is your most valuable asset, and without it, you don’t have anything.

 

So let’s jump right in!

 

1. Green Grasses Such as Wheatgrass

 

This alkaline, detoxifying herb is so potent, you can actually gain health benefits from soaking in a bath with it! Some experts even say that having wheatgrass in your home will enhance oxygen in the air. You can even do an enema with wheatgrass!

 

It contains a very high amount of chlorophyll and it’s chocked full of vitamins and minerals, not to mention antioxidants and phytonutrients.

 

In fact, out of the 102 minerals found in soil, guess how many wheatgrass has? 102!!

 

For instance, it has more vitamin C than oranges and more vitamin A than carrots!

 

Wheatgrass has been shown to:

• Stimulate thyroid hormone production
• Increase red blood cell count, which cleanses the blood and organs
• Reduce gastro-intestinal issues like acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, and even ulcers
• Lessen the side effects of radiation because of an anti-inflammatory compound
• Cleanse the liver
• Neutralize toxins and environmental pollutants in the body

 

There are a couple of caveats to know about wheatgrass however. It should be consumed in moderation – no more than a couple of ounces per day. Beyond that, regular wheatgrass drinkers can develop a distaste for it or it can even make them sick if used excessively.

 

Also, it can grow mold easily so make sure it comes from a good, organic source.

 

How to enjoy more wheatgrass: The best way to work more wheatgrass into your diet is to include it in green juices and smoothies. You can buy wheatgrass powder the same way you buy protein powder.

 

Did you know that the #1 ingredient in Alkamind Daily Greens is organic wheatgrass? So by taking your Daily Greens first thing every morning, you’re getting a dose of the most alkaline food on the planet!

 

And one more thing, for anyone reading who may thing that they are drinking ‘wheat’ or ‘gluten’ when they are having wheatgrass – don’t worry! It’s a COMPLETELY different animal!

 

Even though it is a wheat-based plant, it has not yet developed the sprout that contains gluten. The good news is you can enjoy all the incredible health benefits of wheatgrass, even if you’re gluten sensitive!

 

2. Organic Greens Like Spinach, Kale, Watercress, & Swiss Chard

 

You might remember that watercress topped the list of the 41 most powerful foods you can eat at #1. Spinach, kale, and other vibrant leafy greens weren’t far behind, and for good reason.

 

Organic greens are loaded with vitamins A, C, K, and B, as well as minerals like manganese, copper, calcium, potassium, iron, folate, and more.

 

Studies have shown leafy greens to:

• Protect against certain types of cancers
• Limit inflammation
• Lower cholesterol, improve blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease
• Boost the immune system, protecting you from all sorts of diseases
• Keep blood sugar levels stable, which helps prevent Diabetes
• Prevent deterioration of the eyes, skin, and bones
• Slow the aging process

 

How to enjoy more kale, spinach, watercress, and Swiss chard: Add greens to smoothies and fresh, green juices. If you don’t like the texture of greens in your smoothies, try blending them first with the liquid you’re using, like coconut milk, then add the other ingredients. Enjoy them raw as salads, lightly sauté or steam them as a side dish, or add them to your sauces. Kids won’t even notice the pureed spinach you add to dishes you make for the whole family.

 

Recipe to try: Kale Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

 

3. Cucumbers

 

There are SO many reasons to enjoy more cucumbers in your daily diet. These alkaline veggies (well, it’s actually a fruit that everyone calls a vegetable) are packed with many of the same vitamins and minerals as the greens above, but because they are a member of the squash, pumpkin, and melon family, they are made up of 95% water, enough to actually help keep you hydrated.

 

Cucumbers can:

 

• Reduce your risk of certain cancers, thanks to protective polyphenols and phytonutrients
• Promote brain and memory health
• Manage stress, due to the many B vitamins they contain
• Reduce unwanted inflammation
• Keep your digestive track working well, thanks to so much fiber and water
• Support a healthy heart

 

How to enjoy more cucumbers: Juiced or included in smoothies, cucumbers serve as a natural base because they have so much water, so you can always add several slices if you are looking to boost the alkaline factor in your green drinks. Serve sliced with hummus as a snack, include thin slices in your burrito bowls, salads, and quinoa bowls.

 

Recipe to try: Chilled Avocado, Cucumber, and Watercress Soup

 

4. Avocados

This is the only food on my list that contains a lot of good, healthy fat in addition to vitamins and minerals. For that reason, you could eat an avocado every day (like my son, Brayden, does) and it would be a great addition to your daily diet.

 

If you’re looking to lose weight, don’t be afraid of the fat. In fact, if you’re looking to lose weight, its so important that you incorporate MORE fat into your diet – but it’s gotta be the healthy kind!

 

Remember, there are fats that HEAL, and fats that KILL!

 

Avocados are rich in vitamins K, C, B5, and B6 as well as key minerals. In fact, they contain more potassium than bananas without all of the sugar. They’re also surprisingly high in fiber, so they help maintain digestive health. And they contain two antioxidants that keep eyes healthy and prevent aging’s effects on your eyes.

 

With more than 77% of an avocado’s calories coming from monounsaturated fat, this is one of the highest fat foods that grows in nature, and that’s a good thing because this type of fat, oleic acid, reduces inflammation and has been shown to have heart disease and cancer-preventing effects.

 

How to enjoy more avocados: Add avocado in chilled soups and smoothies, toss some on salads and quinoa bowls, or indulge in the avocado toast trend.

 

Recipe to try: Avocado Chocolate Mousse

 

5. Broccoli

 

Your mom probably told you to eat your broccoli when you were a kid, and she was right. This is an alkaline, cruciferous vegetable, which means that it’s in the same category as cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, can benefit:

 

• Digestion, due to the high amount of fiber
• The body’s detoxification process, thanks to phytonutrients
• Eye health
• The reduction of unwanted inflammation
• Blood sugar levels
• The fight against allergies
• The skin and effects of aging
• Heart health by preventing thickening of the arteries

 

How to enjoy more broccoli: I like to enjoy raw broccoli with hummus and it can be added to fresh juices. You can toss it into chilled or hot soups, add florets to salads, or include them in quinoa bowls.

 

Recipe to try: Spiced Up Veggie Detox Soup

 

6. Celery

 

Like cucumbers, celery is full of water and fiber in addition to all of the vitamins and minerals it packs in. It’s particularly high in vitamins A and K, as well as folate and potassium.

 

Benefits of celery include:

 

• Decreasing inflammation due to specific anti-inflammatory antioxidants
• Lowering both total cholesterol and particularly LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Preventing high blood pressure
• Reducing or preventing ulcers in the digestive tract
• Improving liver function, helping the liver to fully cleanse blood
• Decreasing water-weight bloating
• Fighting and preventing infections, thanks to anti-microbial properties
• Protecting against certain types of cancer

 

How to enjoy more celery: Juicing celery is especially effective for gleaning all of its nutrients, but there are many ways to enjoy celery raw. Remember ants on a log from your childhood? Enjoy celery as a ‘celery boat’ with raw almond butter and replace the raisins with flax or chia seeds. Toss chopped celery on salads and add it to your veggie soups.

 

Recipe to try: Skin & Hair Detox Salad

 

7. Sprouts

 

Sprouts are 30X more nutritious than their vegetable counterpart – need I say more!

 

Like all sprouted seeds, nuts, and grains, alfalfa sprouts and mung bean sprouts come from germinated plants, bringing out both the health benefits of the base plant as well as enzymes created from the process of sprouting, making sprouts one of the healthiest, most nutritious foods you can eat.

 

Loaded with vitamins and minerals, sprouts have been shown to:

• Reduce the risk of breast cancer due to phytoestrogens and antioxidants
• Lessen symptoms of menopause and menstruation
• Keep bones strong and prevent osteoporosis
• Lower blood glucose levels, reducing the risk of Diabetes
• Support the immune system, thanks to a high amount of vitamin C
• Fight high levels of cholesterol

 

How to enjoy more sprouts: Sprouts make a great topping for salads or burrito bowls, and can even be mixed into homemade guacamole to add a crunchy texture.

 

What I love about sprouts, is they are SO easy to grow! We live in NYC, where there are no outside gardens, and sunlight is minimal. Well, here’s the good news about growing sprouts – they require NO sunlight at all….in fact, I grow them on my kitchen counter and ALWAYS have a continuous supply ready to go!

 

Check out my awesome guide to Sprouting At Home.

 

As you can see, there are so many benefits to eating these top alkaline ingredients in addition to the fact that they help you GET OFF YOUR ACID!

 

Many of them reduce your risk of heart disease, obesity, and even cancer. If that’s not a reason to eat more of them, I don’t know what is.

 

One more great way to sneak more of these foods into your diet might just blow your mind… Alkamind Daily Greens contains 6 of the foods listed above! It also has 21 other organic, alkaline superfoods that are all filled with nutrients that will increase your energy, fight diseases, and help you live your healthiest life.

 

Stock up on Alkamind Daily Greens today!