Alcaline with Raw Food Diet

[GayleH]

I have been doing raw for one week now. I had someone tell me today that raw food diets can be very unhealthy due to all of the fruit you eat. According to this specialist you should only be eating a very small amount of fruit or your system will become much to acidic. Please help as I am very confused - I thought I was doing something really good for my body - now I am wondering if this is in fact making me acidic.

[rawstrength]

The raw food diet is very alkalizing, as it contains no meat and grains. Meat and grains are the most acidic foods.

You can eat as much fruit as you want and still be sufficiently alkaline. Just make sure that you balance that fruit with ample amounts of green leafy vegetables and herbs. Greens are the most alkaline of all foods.

Some fruits are slightly acidic and some fruits are slightly alkaline. As a whole, fruits are a neutral food group (neither acidic nor alkaline).

[Alina]

I agree with RawStrength that you have to balance the fruit out with lots of greens (and I would add sprouts to that).

If you are going to eat a lot of fruit, make sure:

1. you do not have candida
2. you exercise daily to burn excess sugar
3. you rinse your mouth after fruit meal to get sugar off your teeth to prevent tooth decay

Fruit is great but it can cause some sugar imbalances. Listen to your body and see how it reacts to various fruit (try mono meals for better results).

I've met people who thrive on tons of fruit and I also met people who can't eat more than one fruit a day, so it's all about what works for your body.

[raven]

I agree with what Alina said. The raw diet can be acidifying depending on what foods you consume. If you eat a lot of nuts, fats and starches, that's not alkalizing. Whoever gave you the advice about becoming acidic apparently has little understanding. Although you can remain acidic on a raw food regimen, I doubt there is anyone switching to raw who isn't overly acidic already, whether following a sad diet or even a vegan diet. A predominantly raw diet, carefully planned, would be the most alkalizing.

Suzy

[Pistachios]

Fruits - not including citrus or fruits that are normally acidic - can be somewhat acidic if not allowed to ripen enough before being picked or eaten. If properly ripened, they should not be a problem.

[Raene]

I've read though that apple cider, carob, and other raw things are still acidic in the body. Is this not correct...do they mean the cooked versions?

[rawstrength]

I've read though that apple cider, carob, and other raw things are still acidic in the body. Is this not correct...do they mean the cooked versions?

Yes, some raw foods are acidic in the body. Just because they are acidic in the body doesn't mean that they are bad for you. We need the correct balance between acidity and alkalinity.
Usually all of the focus is on becoming more alkaline, because most people are way too acidic from eating so much grains and meat in their SAD days.
But it isn't good to be too acidic or alkaline. We must have a balance. So, some acid-forming foods are absolutely vital, in moderation.

[raven]

Acid/alkaline balance is a complex subject which can't be easily explained in a few sentences. There are many good, understandable books available, including a few by Dr. Robert O. Young. While it's possible to become overly alkaline, this condition would be rare and most people are far too acidic. How alkaline a diet you choose to follow would depend on what type of health condition you're trying to correct. There are ways of eating which will buffer the acidity of foods and you can food numerous charts in Dr. Young's book. I would urge anyone embarking on a raw diet to read and study as much as possible, as well as visiting this forum and others where we share our experiences and offer support.

Suzy

[Revvell]

Fruits - not including citrus or fruits that are normally acidic - can be somewhat acidic if not allowed to ripen enough before being picked or eaten. If properly ripened, they should not be a problem.

Citrus fruit turns alkaline in the body.

[rawstrength]

Allow me to let you in on a little secret: Although I am only 18 years old, I've done the SAD thing, the vegetarian thing, the vegan thing and the raw thing long enough to know from personal experience that even the most acidic raw diets are more alkalizing than the best of cooked diets. A raw vegan eating lots of nuts, seeds and conventionally grown hybridized, sugary fruits will be more alkaline than a vegan eating cooked, organic whole foods. Think about it; one large bowl of brown rice is more acidic than a week's worth of raw nuts. It would probably take a gallon of green juice to cancel out the acidity of one diet coke.

By the way I feel on raw, even when I am lacking my greens (this happens more often than I would like to admit) I can tell that I am much more alkaline than I was on a vegan diet. I feel so energized, yet relaxed!

Also remember that laughter, love, sex, meditation, relaxation, slow, gentle rhythmic excersize (such as walking, yoga or long distance running), deep breathing and being outside surrounded by lots of plants are all alkalizing activities.

Anger, arguments, high intensity excersize, stress and being indoors under fluorescent lights, looking at a computer screen, are all acidifying activities.

[petitoiseau]

Yeah, just as every thought you have is a form of energy, so does every emotion. That energy accumulates in our body, its frequency depending on whether it is "good" or "bad" energy.

I agree that what we do (or experience) has a great impact on our own vibrations. Acidic or alkaline is a good indicator of how our energy affects our body, own frequency.

How we feel goes beyond how we eat.. although I still credit my live food lifestyle for making me feel extra good and rely on a good balance of fruit:greens etc in my diet :)