There are many websites touting claims that a diet rich in alkaline foods can all but eliminate our chances for cancer. I wanted to find out; is this true? What is alkaline, and what alkaline recipes can help (or harm) me? Let’s find out!
What is alkaline?
The idea behind this popular diet trend is that if you eat less acidic foods, then you can change your body’s pH levels. This change then leads to a decreased chance of getting many types of cancers. Sounds great, right?! Well… unfortunately it’s not that simple. See, food really doesn’t actually change the pH level of blood in a healthy body, whose kidney as well as lungs are functioning as they should.
Then why do some people following this diet feel better?? That’s a great question, and an easy one to answer. Most of the foods that are recommended in an alkaline diet are fruits and vegetables… so once you start eating more plants, you probably gain more energy, sleep better, maybe lose weight, have better skin, and so on. I’m all for eating more plants (have you met me?), yet I’m also for a balanced diet. Focusing on a limited number of foods isn’t the healthiest (or most manageable) approach to a healthy body. So look at these alkaline recipes as a great way to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your meal times, not a new strict diet to adhere to until you fall off the bandwagon again.
A note for cancer fighters
One reason alkaline foods are so trendy, is the cancer fighting claim. Yes alkaline foods often have cancer fighting properties, and it’s not really because they’re alkaline. It’s because they are nutrient dense foods loaded with vitamins + minerals to help the body fight as well as heal. So definitely consult with your physician about adding these nutritious foods to your diet, yet make sure they are part of a balanced diet, and not the only foods you’re eating.
Alkaline foods
Acidic foods include meat, poultry, dairy, fish, eggs, and grains, as well as alcohol. Basic foods include starches, sugars, and also naturally occurring fats. Alkaline foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Here are the most alkaline plants:
| Almonds | Avocado |
| Bananas | Basil |
| Bell pepper | Broccoli |
| Cayenne pepper | Celery |
| Citrus fruits | Cucumber |
| Kale | Root vegetables |
| Sea vegetables | Spinach |
| Watermelon |
While many of these foods make sense, I did a double take at citrus fruits. I’ve always been told that citrus is acidic! And… that’s true. Yet they also have a low potential renal acid load, which is a fancy way of saying the kidney doesn’t have to work as hard to process that food. Alkaline foods are known to have a low PRAL.
Now, let’s talk about how to incorporate these plants into some delicious alkaline recipes.
Alkaline recipes
If the foods on the list above aren’t part of your current eating habits, or you’re looking for a bit of help in the bone health department, then I’ve got some great recipes for you to try:
Avocado-licious
Almond forward
Banana loaded
Root vegetable party
Watermelon-y deliciousness
Cucumber fresh
The recipe you’ll find below for smoothie cubes is another great one, because it combines multiple alkaline veggies!
What about alkaline water?
A study done in Japan showed that daily intake of alkaline electrolyzed water improved overall health and exercise capacity in healthy participants. While many scientific studies were inconclusive on the positive effects of drinking alkaline water, one study showed the potential for alkaline water to help with acid reflux symptoms.
Alkaline smoothie cube recipe
Many people have experienced health benefits by increasing the amount of alkaline foods as well as water in their diets. While scientific research shows that food doesn’t do a whole lot to change the pH levels in the blood streams of healthy people, that research also shows that alkaline foods are often missing in a balanced diet. So increasing intake can lead to a happy + healthy body.
This recipe combines several alkaline veggies with alkaline water. Blend it all together, then pour into a freezer tray. Once frozen, toss these cubes into a freeze bag until ready to use.
If you’re ready to blend up these cubes, then swap in 4 cubes as the leafy green part of your next smoothie. While it might make that smoothie a little ‘healthier’ tasting, it also adds in some great nutrient-dense foods.
Alkaline Vegetables Smoothie Cubes
Ingredients
- ¾ cup lime juice
- 1 cucumber peeled if desired, cut into chunks
- 3 cups kale tough stems removed, chopped
- 3 cups collard greens tough stems removed, chopped
- ½ cup fresh parsley leaves and tender stems
- alkaline water⠀ for blending
Instructions
- Add ingredients to the jar of a blender in the order listed, except for alkaline water. Pulse a few times, then turn onto high and blend until smooth. If needed, add a little of the alkaline water for easier blending.
- Scrape down sides of blender and look to see how much liquid there is. Add enough alkaline water to fill to the 4 cup (32-ounce) line. Blend again.
- Fill two standard 16-well ice cube trays with the pureed greens. Tap the trays gently on the counter to remove any air bubble and place in freezer. Freeze for several hours, preferably overnight, until solid. Pop out of ice cube trays and store in a freezer-safe, airtight container.
How to use smoothie cubes
- To use smoothie cubes, add 4 cubes to your favorite smoothie to replace of in addition to the leafy greens. Four cubes is roughly equal to 3/4 cup packed fresh greens.
Notes
- Lemon juice can be substituted for the lime juice, as can raw apple cider vinegar.
- Use any leafy green to substitute the ones listed above, keeping in mind that cruciferous vegetables have more of the detoxifying and alkaline properties. Bok choy, Brussels sprouts, broccoli or cauliflower, cabbage, and other cruciferous veggies are great substitutes.
- For those worried about consuming raw leafy greens, the greens can be lightly steamed or blanched before blending, and will lose a bit of volume. Add more water or increase the amount of greens to equal the 4 cups of liquid.
- Cucumber can be substituted with celery, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, radish, bell pepper, or another alkaline vegetable or fruit.
I have a Kangen Water machine, which makes alkaline water. Easier, but way more expensive. There’s a You Tube video out there that says drinking that water will prolong a pet’s life. My cocker spaniel is 15 1/2 years old and while she’s blind and deaf, she’s still going strong- totally healthy, except for that. We both drink it, but she gets it exclusively. I drink it if I’m getting a drink from the kitchen (which is where most of my water comes from), but I’m not so hung up on it that I’ll go to the kitchen, just when I’m brushing my teeth!
Love that you’ve incorporated alkaline water this way and even for your sweet puppy! What a good pet mama you are!
I love the idea of adding these as the ‘green part’ of a smoothie and getting more than just one green!
It’s a total power rawkstar move Olivia!
It is a popular argument against this diet that alkaline foods do not affect blood pH. This is true, the body will do whatever is needed to keep the blood pH in the 7.2-7.4 range, including starving the rest of the body of calcium, potassium and magnesium. The goal of the diet is to effect the intra-cellular pH. Changes in intracellular pH can potentially affect virtually all cellular processes, including metabolism, membrane potential, cell growth, movement of substances across the surface membrane, state of polymerization of the cytoskeleton and ability to contract in muscle cells. Cancer occurs when the metabolism of a cell shifts from aerobic glycolysis to anaerobic glycolysis – a shift far more likely to occur in cells stressed by low pH environments which stress the oxygen available to a cell for glycolysis. This gets further exacerbated as the shift from aerobic to non-aerobic glycolysis changes the output of the cycle from 36 ATP to 2 ATP + Lactic acid, leading to acidosis. All of this information is readily available via PubMed to anyone willing to look.
Yes the body will do as you say! However; what condition is “that” body in??? Extremely unhealthy ppl or deficient people or blood diseased ppl?? Whole other conversation. N I hate to say it but that’s a lot of ppl.
Absolute heaven better than any shop prepared drink..
.so so easy
Just try it and see for yourself
So glad you loved them as much as we do, John!
This is so cool! Can’t wait to make a batch.
Can’t wait to try these!
I love having these smoothie cubes on hand for an easy alkaline boost!
Alkalizing the body is so important— thank you for sharing these with us!
After learning the health benefits of alkaline foods, this is my go-to boost when blending!
These are so interesting! I noticed some people from the Smoothie Challenge FB group saying they use these in a pinch when they don’t have leafy greens. Just froze some, can’t wait to try them!
Yes, these are such a convenient way to keep that green in your smoothie when you’re out of fresh leaves of your fave green stuff. Let us know what you think after you give these cubes a blend!
Do you think that these cubes can be thawed into regular water instead of blended into a smoothie once made? Thanks!
Do you mean thawed into water to drink? I think you could probably do that if you’re looking to make a green juice.
I thought your smoothie we’re already super green— but this takes it to a whole new level! I just made a batch of these to have on hand in my freezer if I’m ever out of fresh spinach. What are you guys gonna think up next?!
I love these and they’re so clutch to keep in the freezer for those days!
what do you do if you are vitamin K sensitive due to heart medication???
You will definitely want to speak with your doctor or healthcare provider regarding a diet/medication conflict.
Wow!! This is so cool!! Always heard of alkaline water and its benefits, but would much rather be adding plants + veggies!
I have to agree 🙂