Acid-Base Balance
To function properly, the human body needs to maintain balance. It does this by maintaining pH, also called as acid-base balance. Your diet plays a major role in maintaining the acid-base balance.
Fruits and Vegetables
Most fruits and vegetables are base foods, meaning they have an alkaline effect on your body when consumed. Some foods are more alkaline than others. For example, bananas are more alkaline than watermelon. The exception in this category are lentils and peas, which have an acidic effect on the body.
Grains and Grain Products
All grains and foods made with them have an acidic effect on the body. This includes whole-meal and refined bread, white and brown rice, amaranth, millets, oats etc.
Seafood and Meat
All animal flesh has an acidic effect on the body. Some of the most acidic foods in this category are shellfish, sardines, prawns, trout, duck, liver, rabbit and processed meats.
Dairy and Eggs
With a few exceptions, milk and milk products are acidic. Eggs are acidic, but the yolks are far more acidic than the whites. Whey, the liquid left over after milk has been curdled and strained, is base.
Other Foods
Butter is acidic because it's made from dairy. Margarine is base, and olive and sunflower seed oils are neutral -- meaning they have neither a base nor acidic effect on the body. Most nuts are acidic, except for hazelnuts, which are base. White sugar is neutral, and brown sugar and honey are base. Herbs and vinegar are all base foods.
Beverage Choices
Because they're made with fruit, most fruit juices are base. The same thing goes for vegetable juices. Tea, coffee, cocoa, mineral water, red and white wines are all base. Sugary sodas are acidic, as are some types of beer and alcohol.