In terms of dietary acidity, there are a few things you can do. The main pillar is a balanced diet and, if necessary, a change in diet or dietary supplementation. Alkalizing foods come from the plant-based diet. These include fruits, vegetables, potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, herbs (including herbal teas). Acid-forming foods include meat, fish, sausage, cheese, cottage cheese, cereal products and sweets. A list of foods, sorted by their acidity of urine, can be found here.
The food table reflects only the primary effects on acid-base balance. That is, only the influences that the food exerts on our organism due to its chemical composition are taken into account.
Consider secondary factors
However, in the case of some foods, especially stimulants, other effects are also added, which can vary from individual to individual and also depend on the quantity. For example, coffee is one of the alkaline donors in the table due to its high potassium content. However, it has been shown that coffee consumption has an acidifying effect on the urine. The reason for this could be that coffee – at least in larger quantities – causes a kind of stress reaction that can lead to acidity.
The data for sugar, jam and honey seem equally contradictory. Primarily, these foods do not lead to acid load. However, too much of the sweets can negatively affect the intestinal flora, which secondarily can again contribute to acid load.
On the food of the acid-forming group one should do in no case completely without. With them also valuable vitamins, minerals and proteins are taken up, without which the organism cannot get along also. As with many things, the same applies here: It all depends on the balance! To compensate for an excess of acidity resulting from 200 g of beef, the consumption of about 250 g of kohlrabi, 1.6 kg of fresh peas or 400 g of cauliflower is necessary.
