So you have decided that you want to alkalize and you have gone and read all there is to read on the subject. The chances are that you are now committed but confused!

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the alkaline diet is not trendy sounding, or particularly sexy and coveted by celebrities we need to communicate the science behind it to achieve buy-in and help people understand the principles and how it works.

However, the bottom line is this - alkalizing is simple and following it only involves doing those things you already know are good for you!

The basics are:

- eat the foods you know that are good for you (fresh veg, salads, nuts, seeds essential oils (omegas)

- drink the things you know that are good for you (clean, pure water, herbal teas, 'green drinks')

- avoid the foods you know are bad for you (dairy, meat, sweets, ice cream, saturated fats, fried food, refined food)

- avoid the drinks you know are bad for you (coffee, sugary drinks, cola, alcohol, milkshakes etc)

If you took a poll of 50 people on the high street, most of them would cite those foods and drinks if you asked them what was healthy and what was unhealthy. Thats really all there is to it. Its easy when you put it like this isnt it?

As a reference, alkaline foods include:

Vegetables

Asparagus
Artichokes
Cabbage
Lettuce
Onion
Cauliflower
Radish
Swede
Lambs Lettuce
Peas
Courgette
Red Cabbage
Leeks
Watercress
Spinach
Turnip
Chives
Carrot
Green Beans
Beetroot
Garlic
Celery
Grasses (wheat, straw, barley, dog, kamut etc.)
Cucumber
Broccoli
Kale
Brussels Sprouts

Fruits

Lemon
Lime
Avocado
Tomato
Grapefruit
Watermelon (is neutral)
Rhubarb

Drinks

'Green Drinks'
Fresh vegetable juice
Pure water (distilled, reverse osmosis, ionised)
Lemon water (pure water + fresh lemon or lime).
Herbal Tea
Vegetable broth
Non-sweetened Soy Milk
Almond Milk

Seeds, Nuts & Grains

Almonds
Pumpkin
Sunflower
Sesame
Flax
Buckwheat Groats
Spelt
Lentils
Cumin Seeds
Any sprouted seed

Whereas acidifying foods include:

Meats

Pork
Lamb
Beef
Chicken
Turkey
Crustaceans
Other Seafood (apart from occasional oily fish such as salmon)

Dairy Products

Milk
Eggs
Cheese
Cream
Yoghurt
Ice Cream

Convenience Foods

Sweets
Chocolate
Microwave Meals
Tinned Foods
Powdered Soups
Instant Meals
Fast Food

This is just a sample to show you actually how simple it is. It is almost just following the advice your parents gave you all those years ago - eat your veggies and stay away from the candy!

Click here for a full list of alkaline foods and for a great introduction to alkalizing.

Energise for Life is a great free resource for anyone serious about alkalizing and achieving an acid/alkaline balance.