The alkaline diet advocates eating alkaline and acidic foods in a 4:1 ratio. According to diet advocates, this promotes the best pH balance within the body.

Having followed this dietary protocol for two months, I certainly agree that it benefits overall health and well-being. The alkaline diet is very close to what most people would simply consider a healthy diet. The acid/alkaline terminology is one possible explanation for why it is good to increase alkaline foods in our diet.

There is conflicting information about what is and is not an acidic food. It may not be 100% accurate to believe that all fruits and vegetables are alkaline foods while almost everything else is an acidic food. However, it is a direct guide to follow. The alkaline diet is not specifically a vegetarian or vegan diet. It simply advocates increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in our diet.

Eating an alkaline breakfast is a great way to start the day by getting plenty of nutrition and giving your body an alkaline boost. If we take our definition of alkaline foods as fruits and vegetables, an alkaline breakfast is a breakfast loaded with fruits and vegetables.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 report recommends 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. An alkaline breakfast puts you well on your way to achieving this goal. 9 servings may seem like a pretty high number. When I started my alkaline diet, my goal was 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. In my opinion, the best way to greatly increase your intake is to make your own fruit and vegetable juices. Two juices a day with a minimum of 3 pieces of fruits and vegetables gives you a minimum of 6 servings. Then it’s easy to reach double figures with a couple of pieces of fruit and a few vegetables at mealtimes.

Here are some examples of alkaline breakfasts:

• Carrot (3) and ginger juice followed by a banana or two.
• Grapefruit (1 or 2) and a large glass of water.
• Apple (1 or 2), spinach (20+ stalks), and ginger juice with scrambled egg whites.

Even without a fruit and vegetable juicer, it’s easy to have an alkaline breakfast. One option is to grate a couple of carrots and add a squeeze of lemon juice.

As a transition to an alkaline diet, starting with just one meal is an easy way to go. I started with breakfast and as I started to feel the benefits, particularly in my energy levels, I gradually increased the amount of fruits and vegetables in my other meals.

If you feel like eating healthier and improving your physical well-being, from personal experience, I recommend starting the day with an alkaline breakfast.