By Reiki Master Marie-Dominique Rail

Foods are considered acid-forming or alkalizing depending on the final effect they produce in the body. It is not only their taste or appearance that matters, but their energetic and mineral imprint after digestion and assimilation.

When the nutrients of a food are used by our cells, a “metabolic ash” remains: either acidic or alkaline. This imprint depends mostly on the mineral composition of the food.

• Foods rich in acid-forming minerals (phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur) leave an acidic trace, forcing the body to draw from its precious alkaline mineral reserves to restore balance.
• Foods rich in alkalizing minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, natural sodium) leave a light, life-giving imprint, supporting cellular regeneration and the free flow of energy.

An excess of acid-forming foods burdens the body. In its wisdom, the body seeks to protect its cells by neutralizing this overload. To do so, it may even pull calcium from the bones, weakening their structure. Over time, this can contribute to conditions such as osteoporosis or scoliosis. The body may also create other protective mechanisms, such as cholesterol deposits or water retention, to shield its cells from acid damage.

Thus, moving toward an alkaline way of eating is not a trend, but a return to natural harmony: it is giving the body the chance to breathe, to repair itself, and to vibrate in its true state of balance.

Acid-forming foods to limit

• All animal meats
• Most grains and grain products (wheat, rice, oats, rye, breads, pasta, pastries)
• Processed and refined foods
• Legumes (beans, lentils, peanuts, tofu)
• Dairy products (milk, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt, eggs)
• Industrial snacks (candies, chips, chocolate, cookies, pretzels)
• Carbonated and alcoholic beverages
• Coffee and stimulants
• Processed protein powders

Regarding nuts and seeds:

• Slightly acid-forming: dry almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds.
• More acid-forming: walnuts, peanuts (legumes), pistachios.
• More alkalizing (or neutral depending on sources): soaked almonds, chestnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds.

Alkaline foods, allies of light

These are the foods that bring clarity and vitality into our cells. They ease acidity, nourish our mineral reserves, and raise the vibrational field of our bodies. Among them:

• Leafy green vegetables (spinach, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, parsley, cilantro): true baths of chlorophyll, oxygenating and mineralizing.
• Root vegetables and crucifers (beets, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips): grounding and strengthening, they provide stability and resilience.
• Fresh fruits (especially lemon, lime, grapefruit, berries, apples, pears, grapes, mangoes, papaya): cleansing, hydrating, and carriers of solar light.
• Dried fruits and sprouts (dates, figs, dried apricots, sprouted seeds, alfalfa, clover, sunflower sprouts): they embody the force of life in expansion.
• Seaweeds (spirulina, chlorella, nori, wakame, kelp): mineral treasures and purifiers.
• Fresh herbs and spices (ginger, turmeric, basil, mint, dill): they awaken circulation and vital energy.
• Natural drinks (pure water, herbal infusions, alkaline teas such as chamomile or verbena).

Why embrace an alkaline diet?

Because an alkaline body is a body at peace.

When the acid–alkaline balance is respected, energy flows freely through all dimensions of being. Cells breathe more easily, inflammation decreases, the immune system strengthens, and the mind finds calm.

This way of eating lightens the body instead of weighing it down, clarifies the mind instead of clouding it, and uplifts the soul instead of contracting it.

Choosing living, alkalizing foods is choosing to walk in harmony with Mother Earth. It is recognizing that every fruit, every vegetable, every sprouted seed is an offering of light, designed to support healing and expansion of being.

A body nourished by alkaline foods becomes like a finely tuned instrument: its vibrations are pure, its radiance grows stronger, and it becomes a clear channel for universal energy.💚