Really Easy No-Bake Cookie/Candy

NO BAKE OATMEAL COOKIES
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal
Waxed paper
Directions
In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened.— with Shelia Houchins.

This is a recipe posted in Facebook by Shelia Houchins.  Years ago I made these kind of cookies every year around the holidays.  They are easy and everyone always likes them.  Best of all is you do not need to use the oven.  This year I had left-over chocolate chip morsels from my traditional holiday candy.  So...instead of using this recipe to the letter I used the chocolate chips (Herseys, but any will do I suppose) and made the cookie/candy.  

I had dark chocolate chips (dark chocolate is so much better for you than milk chocolate) and peanut butter chips.  In a large bowl I melted the two together - one half bag of each is plenty.  To temper the chocolate add 1/4 cup milk and  melt it at for 2 to 3 minutes stirring once every minute.  When you can stir them easily they are melted just right. Add a little milk when you stir if the mixture is too thick to stir.  If the chocolate can't be stirred easily you will not be able to mix the other ingredients effectively.  The candy will set up quickly so you need to work fast. Don't over cook them or the chocolate will become bitter.  Quickly mix in your cookie ingredients.  I used 2 cups of quick oats, 1 cup of shredded coconut and about 1/2  cup of raisins.  You could add nuts or whatever sounds good to you.  Mix until all of the ingredients are covered with chocolate.  Spoon the mixture onto parchment (or wax or foil paper) into the size pieces you want.  These will not spread out and will harden in about 15 minutes.  They keep really well and really taste good.  Nutrition and calorie wise it will depend on what you add.  There is plenty of sugar in the chocolate chips so adding anything sweet will most likely make them too sweet.

During the holidays I do the same thing but add cashews or other nuts.  It is best to use unsalted nuts. They look like you slaved over a hot stove but the whole thing takes only minutes.

Quick oats are the best to use as they will set up nicely and are tastier because they are thinner.  Also, if you are using peanut butter, something like Jiff is best rather than the healthier brands as the cookie/candy will set up better with Jiff or the like.  I keep the cookie/candy in an air-tight tin (Christmas tin works nicely and it is ready to give as a gift).  If you do use peanut butter then the peanut butter chips are not necessary.  Replace these with more chocolate (maybe mix milk and dark chocolate chips). This year I used 12 oz milk chocolate chips, 2 1/2 cups oatmeal, 1/2 cup Jiff peanut butter.  Probably the more ingredients you add the less oatmeal you would need.  The mixture should look well balanced.  Personally I think the chocolate is more important than the oatmeal but you may feel differently.  Let your ingredients speak to you.  Enjoy!

EASIEST  FUDGE EVER!

Now that you have  your chocolate chips out, why not make a pan of fudge.  It takes minutes!  
This image is from Phillsbury.com and this is their recipe as they have it posted.

Ingredients

1

package (12 oz) dark chocolate baking chips

1

can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)

1

tablespoon milk 

1

teaspoon vanilla

Directions

• 1Line 8-inch square pan with foil; spray with cooking spray.
• 2In large microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips, sweetened condensed milk and milk uncovered on High 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every minute, until smooth.
• 3Stir in vanilla until well blended (mixture may be thick). Spread evenly in pan. Refrigerate at least 2 hours until firm. Cut into 6 rows by 6 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

I have made this fudge for many years now and everyone loves it, even more than the kind that is cooked and tricky to make.  The only difference is step 3 where you blend in the vanilla at the last minute.  This year I will try this.  Also, I have always just buttered a glass baking dish but using the foil may just be a good idea as you can lift it out of the pan, flip it over and cut it without the baking dish getting in the way.  I would make sure the foil is spread out really smoothly in the pan or the fudge will have strange creases when it sets.  Their way of melting the chocolate chips sounds even easier then my defrost cycle tempering but I am quite sure it is imperative to stir it often.  This is a great candy.  Nice texture, not too sweet but sweet enough to be decadent!  

A Brita Can NOT Filter This...

A Better Solution to  Filtered Water 

 

We all drink water every day…

 

But did you know that the water in your town or city could contain Fluoride, Heavy Metals, and Prescription Drugs?

 

Over 205 million Americans are drinking contaminated water…and chances are you’re one of them.

 

I know it may sound scary but these nasty chemicals have been linked to bone disease, hip fractures, lower IQ…and even cancer in some cases.

 

…Worst of all, the EPA doesn’t even deny that these exist!

 

Thankfully there is a little-known breakthrough device that eliminates these hazardous chemicals from your water in just seconds.

 

You can see a live demo of it in action here:

 

 

P.S - With the recent popularity of these devices I can't guarantee that you'll be able to get one if you don't act now. Click here to ensure your water is safe to drink

7 DAY DIET WEIGHT-LOSS SOUP (Wonder Soup)

Courtney Luper's  Wonder Soup

 
INGREDIENTS

½ head of cabbage, chopped
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup white or yellow onion, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken broth
14 oz can basil, oregano, garlic diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
few shakes of black pepper
½ teaspoon salt (optional)

***********************************

INSTRUCTIONS

. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
. Add celery, onions, bell peppers, and carrots.
. Saute until slightly tender.
. Stir in garlic.
. Pour in chicken broth.
. Stir in tomatoes and cabbage.
. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat.
. Cook until cabbage is tender.
. Stir in oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, black pepper and salt (if using)
. Taste broth and adjust seasoning if needed.
. Serve and enjoy!

OK so let’s talk about the 7-day diet!! It’s an old diet that has been around for YEARS and revised over and over again. You are likely to find several different version online. Lately these 7-day diets have become really popular. Even Dr. Oz has one.

I NEVER thought I’d like this soup, but it’s so good!

On the 7-day diet you follow a certain eating plan everyday. Along with eating these specific foods you are allowed to have cabbage soup aka wonder soup aka weight loss soup aka miracle soup aka weight watcher soup whenever you’d like. This is what drew me to the 7-day diet because I love that I can eat this soup in unlimited quantities. I HATE being hungry and I will not stick to any kind of diet if I’m hungry. Point. Blank. Period. Don’t forget you MUST drink 8 glasses of water each day. My results vary if I slack on water, but 8-10 pounds is what I usually lose.

Now about this weight loss Cabbage Soup (Wonder Soup), the website (my7daydiet.com) says you should boil the vegetables in water, uh…no ma’am!! I’ve always used chicken broth or vegetable broth with seasoned canned tomatoes and it has never hindered my weight loss. There is NO WAY I would be eating this soup everyday if I made it according to the recipe on the site. Yuck! Throughout the diet I also use salt, pepper, lots of herbs & seasonings, olive oil, and a tad of butter. These changes have never affected my results.

***********************************

So here is a brief overview of the 7 Day Cabbage Soup diet plan.

Remember: This diet should only be followed for 7 days at a time, with at least two weeks in between.

Day One: Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (except bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. For drinks- unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water. (I had coffee, no cream or sugar).

Day Two: Vegetables: Eat until you are stuffed will all fresh, raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. Try to eat leafy green vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas and corn. Eat all the vegetables you want along with your soup. At dinner, reward yourself with a big baked potato with butter. Do not eat fruit today.

Day Three: Mix Days One and Two: Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you want. No Baked Potato.

Day Four: Bananas and Skim Milk: Eat as many as eight bananas and drink as many glasses of skim milk as you would like on this day, along with your soup. This day is supposed to lessen your desire for sweets.

Day Five: Beef or Chicken And Tomatos: Ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six fresh tomatoes. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once this day. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of beef (but absolutely no skin-on chicken). If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for beef on one of the beef days (but not both).

Day Six: Beef and Vegetables: Eat to your heart’s content beef or skinless chicken and vegetables this day. You can have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with leafy green vegetables. No Baked Potato. Eat your soup at least once.

Day Seven: Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables: Again stuff, stuff, stuff yourself. Be sure to eat your soup at least once this day.

Stick With The Cabbage Soup Diet For 7 Days…And Look Amazing Later, Too!

Be sure to eat your soup at least once to day.

No bread, alcohol, or carbonated beverages, not even diet soda.

Valentine's Day Romance

These are the official Directions

Insert toothpicks into tops of strawberries.
Melt chocolate and shortening in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Holding strawberries by toothpicks, dip into chocolate mixture.
Turn strawberries upside down and insert toothpick into Styrofoam or simply place strawberries on a sheet of wax paper. Allow to cool completely.

Ingredients
Original recipe makes 3 cups

1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves

8 ounces milk chocolate chips

1 tablespoon shortening

However, I like to do things a little easier and don't have a double boiler so I use the microwave and temper the chocolate by melting it for about 4 minutes at defrost or 50%, stir, and finish melting until the chocolate is very soft (another couple minutes). I also use dark chocolate morsels as they are a little healthier. The chocolate sets up very quickly so you can zap it again (30 sec) if you work too slow. Just saying.

 

Common Foods You Eat Every Day Carb List

The following are foods that you eat on a regular basis with their calorie count, carb count and portion size.  Using this list can make planning a healthy, balanced meal much easier.  Counting the carbs is more important than counting the calories.  Both are listed here with the portion size to give you the best idea of better food choices.

COMMON FOODS
GRAINS	CALORIES	CARBS	SERVING SIZE
bagel	78	15g	¼ lg. Bagel
bread (wheat)	69	13g	1 slice
bread (white)	67	12g	1 slice
cereal (all bran)	81	23g	½ cup
cereal (corn flakes)	76	18g	¾ cup
crackers (graham)	99	18g	3 small rectangles
grits	71	16g	½ cup
pasta	62	13g	1/3 cup
popcorn (butter, popped)	97	11g	3 cups
rice (cooked, brown)	71	15g	1/3 cup
rice (cooked, white)	69	15g	1/3 cup
rice (fried)	150	22g	1/3 cup
tortilla (corn)	52	11g	1 medium
tortilla (flour)	112	19g	1 medium
VEGETABLES	CALORIES	CARBS	SERVING SIZE
broccoli (cooked)	33	7g	½ cup
carrots (raw)	50	12g	2 medium
cauliflower (cooked)	17	4g	½ cup
cauliflower (raw)	25	5g	1 cup
collard greens (cooked)	26	6g	½ cup
corn (cooked)	66	16g	½ ear
cucumber (raw)	16	4g	1 cup
green beans (cooked)	22	5g	½ cup
iceberg lettuce	7	2g	1 cup
McDonald's french fries	231	30g	1 small fries
onions (raw)	67	16g	1 cup
pea (frozen)	62	16g	½ cup
potato (baked)	79	18g	3 oz
potato (mashed with milk)	85	19g	½ cup
summer squash (cooked)	18	4g	½ cup
tomato	32	7g	1 tomato
Wendy's baked potato	440	70g	1 potato
yam (cooked)	79	19g	½ cup
zucchini (cooked)	14	4g	½ cup
FRUITS	CALORIES	CARBS	SERVING SIZE
apple	54	15g	1 small apple
applesauce (unsweetened)	52	14g	½ cup
banana	72	19g	1 extra small
blueberries	62	16g	¾ cup
cantaloupe	56	14g	1 cup
dates	69	19g	3 dates
grapefruit	53	13g	½ grapefruit
grapes	60	15g	17 grapes
orange	62	16g	1 medium
peach	57	14g	1 medium
pineapple	56	15g	¾ cup
raisins	54	14g	2 tbsps
strawberries	57	13g	1 ¼ cup
watermelon	57	14g	1 ¼ cup
DAIRY	CALORIES	CARBS	SERVING SIZE
American cheese (processed)	68	2g	1oz
buttermilk (low-fat)	98	12g	1 cup
cheddar cheese (fat-free)	45	2g	1 oz
cottage cheese (1%)	41	2g	¼ cup
cream chee4se (low-fat 2%)	54	1g	1 ½ cup
cream cheese (regular)	51	1g	1 tbsp
milk (fat-free)	90	13g	1 cup
milk (1%)	110	13g	1 cup
milk (2%)	130	12g	1 cup
milk (whole)	150	12g	1 cup
sour cream (regular)	62	1g	2 tbsps
sour cream (light)	61	3g	3 tbsps
yogurt (low-carb, plain)	70	28g	1 container
yogurt fruited (non-fat)	150	28g	1 container
MEAT, FISH & BEANS	CALORIES	CARBS	SERVING SIZE
bacon	85	0g	2 slices
beans (baked)	78	17g	1/3 cup
beans (black)	114	20g	½ cup
beans (lima)	99	18g	½ cup
beans (pinto)	122	22g	½ cup
chicken wings	441	0g	6 wings
chicken (roasted)	58	0g	1oz
cod (cooked)	30	0g	1 oz
egg	74	1g	1 egg
ground beef (extra-lean cooked)	57	0g	1 oz
hamburger	503	39g	1 hamburger
hot dog (beef/pork)	70	6g	1 hot dog
pork (baked or broiled)	57	g	1oz
refried beans	100	17g	½ cup
prime rib (roasted)	83	0g	1oz
salmon (baked or broiled)	61	0g	1oz
sausage (smoked)	40	3g	1oz
Taco Bell soft shell beef taco	210	21g	3 12 oz
tofu	80	2g	½ cup
turkey breast	38	0g	1 oz
veal	64	0g	1oz
OILS/FATS	CALORIES	GRAMS	SERVING SIZE
almonds (dry roasted)	48	2g	6 almonds
butter (salted)	34	0g	1 tsp
Canola oil	40	0g	1 tsp
cashews (salted)	52	3g	6 cashews
margarine	24	0g	1 tsp
mayonnaise	33	0g	1 tsp
olive oil	40	0g	1 tsp
olives (black)	40	2g	8 olives
peanut butter	48	2g	1 ½ tbsps
pistachios (roasted, salted)	64	3g	16 kernels
walnuts (halves)	52	1g	4 halves
salad dressing	69	2g	1 tbsp

Meal Planning that Will Help You Loose Weight

Portion control is as important as food choices.  You can make educated guesses to portion sizes by using a simple gauge.  A cup of food is about the size of your closed fist.  An ounce of nuts is a hand full and the size of protein should be about the size of your open palm.  Use nothing larger than a 9" plate and leave a border around the food.  Your meal should be divided as the plate shown here.  One half needs be made up of non-starchy vegetables, one quarter should be lean protein and one quarter should be starchy foods and grains.

EATING CHOICES TO AVOID:

Fried foods...instead choose baked, roasted, grilled or broiled
No added breading
Avoid fast foods
Avoid lunch-meats
Do not add salt unless absolutely necessary...use salt substitute like Mrs. Dash instead
No added sugar...be careful to check labels of foods that say they are sugar-free.  Some may have no or less sugar but are full of unwanted carbs
Keep portion sizes under control
Eat balanced meals
Coke or soda pop is loaded with sugar...sugar free is loaded with really bad additives that can actually make you gain weight
NEVER, EVER, consume Aspartame


The recommended daily requirement for each meal with one carb serving equaling 15 grams of carbohydrates.  For each meal there should be between 45 and 60 grams of carbohydrates for women and between 60 and 75 for men.  Counting carbs is more important and easier than counting calories.  Keep the carbs down and the calories will follow naturally.  Snacks for men should be under 200 and for women no more than 120 calories.  

Read your labels.  Make sure that you are eating portions according to the suggested serving size on the label.  Labels are based on a 2000 calorie a day intake.  A product may contain 20 servings but each serving may only be 1/4 cup.  If you eat 1/2 cup you have doubled your carbs and calories.  If one serving equals 60 grams in a 1/4 cup then eating 1/2 cup puts you way over your requirement for the meal. Watch the labels on the 100 calorie packages for dieters.  The sugar may be low but the fat content, cholesterol, may make the carbs too high.

Keep your carbs spread out over the day.  Eating no carbs at one meal and the next meal heavy in carbs is too hard on your body and can have a very negative effect.  This will make your blood sugar spike, your heart work harder.  Not a good idea.  Also, some carbs are slow carbs and some are fast carbs so it depends what types of foods you eat to make your sugar levels even.  Even sugar levels means a better acting metabolize.  

Foods that are high in carbohydrates are considered fast acting carbs.  The sugar is dumped on the body to digest very quickly making your body work hard to keep things level.  High carbohydrate foods are starchy vegetables, grains, fruit, dairy and sweets.  Stay away from anything white like white bread, white rice and so on.

Eating high fiber foods is always a good idea for appetite control, sugar levels and digestion.  It is best to eat 25 to 30 grams of high fiber foods each day.

Drinking alcohol will lower your sugar levels.  It is best to limit alcohol consumption and you should never drink alcohol on an empty stomach.  Your blood sugar can drop without warning and very suddenly.  This can cause serious health problems.

Healthy substitutions for better choices in eating can be instead of eating a candy bar have a piece of fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth or a snack bar (be sure to check the label first).  Instead of french fries you can eat a backed potato with a tablespoon of low-fat sour cream or margarine substitute.  Instead of fried rice you can eat 1/2 cup brown rice with 1/4 cup black beans.  Instead of fish sticks you can eat 3 oz of grilled salmon.  Instead of fried chicken you can eat 3 oz of baked chicken.  Instead of your sugary cereal you can have a cup of whole grain cereal with fruit added or plain oatmeal with a little raw honey added.

If you do follow these simple guidelines you will find you loose weight naturally plus making your body stronger and healthier.  Check out my food lists to better understand your food choices.



This book makes eating healthy easy...not just for diabetics but for anyone who wants a healthier lifestyle or seriously wants to prevent the onset of diabetes...

Diabetic Living Diabetes Meals by the Plate A visual guide to meal planning using the Plate Method, a simple graphic that divides the plate into three portions to show how to enjoy a full plate of food that is carb- and calorie-balanced. With 90 meals, each fully photographed showing the portion sizes for vegetables, protein, and starches (plus extras), eating healthy is easy: just fill your plate!

LIST OF FOODS CONNECTED TO HEADACHES

One of the main ways food can cause headaches is when your body experiences low blood sugar levels, becomes dehydrated or you diet has a sodium content that is too high.  There are foods which you can consume that will help to bring your off-balance levels back into balance and therefore eliminate headaches cause by the imbalance.  

1.  CANTELOPES AND POTATOES
Both of these foods are rich in potassium which will help when your body is suffering from a headache due to dehydration and high sodium levels.   Most fruits contain a lot of water and melons as well as potatoes have a high content of potassium. Cantaloupes also have about about 16 percent of the daily recommended requirement for magnesium.  In those individuals who are not diabetic can benefit from the magnesium in cantaloupes as it will help to regular high sugar levels and bring the body back into balance.  This will correct the headache it caused.  Because potatoes re full of potassium they will help with any problems caused by dehydration.  If potatoes are not on your diet parameters you can try eating bananas which are nearly as good for dehydration as the potato.

 2. NAVY BEANS, BANANAS, SPINACH, APRICOTS, AVOCADOS, ALMONDS
Blood vessels are known to cause headaches.   These headaches can be relieved with the intake of foods that are rich in magnesium like the cantaloupes.  Navy beans, along with bananas, spinach, apricots, avocados and almonds, all have high levels of magnesium.  The magnesium will help to stop any muscle spasms which cause the blood vessels to constrict and cause headaches.

3.  LOW-FAT MILK
Dehydration is one of the biggest causes of headaches so drinking low-fat milk will help to keep the body hydrated.  Alcohol and foods that are high in sodium will cause dehydration.  Keeping hydrated will keep headaches at bay.  Lo-fat milk is an excellent source of calcium as well as potassium that will correct the bad effects of a diet with a high sodium content.  Research has proven that not enough milk in the diet can bring on migraines.  Blood pressure is also improved with the consumption of the daily 3 servings of dairy.  This reduces the risk of obesity as well as diabetes.  If you have an intolerance to cow's milk you can drink  any milk that is produced for lactose intolerance. 

4.   FATTY FISH
The occurrence of headaches may be reduced by consuming foods that are rich in vitamins B, B6, B12 and folic acid.  Fatty fish like tuna and salmon are high in vitamins especially vitamin B12.  Even a small piece of smoked salmon added to your meal can make both your head and your stomach better.  The anti-inflammatory properties of the omega-3 fatty-acid found in fatty fish, especially salmon, can also significantly help decrease or eliminate headache pain.     

5. CHERRIES OR BEETS

Actually any kind of fruit is high in water content so if the headache is due to dehydration these foods will help correct this condition.  Cherries especially have compounds that convert to nitric oxide in the blood which is known to prevent headaches.  Beets or some say beetroot, also have the same qualities.   

6.  DRINK WATER
Water is a beverage but just as important for the health and well being of your body as the best foods.  Dehydration can cause several and very serious conditions that are life-threatening and painful, like headaches or migraines.  Dehydration can cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously low plus other problems.  Keeping yourself hydrated is extremely important. Being that dehydration is one of the biggest causes of headache pain drinking enough water every day is so important.

8.  EATING REGULAR MEALS
Eating sensibly is another way to prevent the onset of a headache.  If you are diabetic or have a sensitivity to blood sugar spikes then eating small meals on a regular basis can be extremely helpful.  These meals need to consist of healthy food choices.  Eating junk food does nothing to help  your body beside making it fatter.  East every 3 to 4 hours to keep your metabolism even.  Small portions will help in the digestion of the foods you eat and will help  your body function better.  Headaches are often indicators that there is an imbalance of some sort in your body.  Keep your body in balance with lots of fresh water and healthy foods to prevent headaches.



More on Headaches:
• 8 Reasons Why You Still Get Headaches
• 9 Things You Didn't Know About Headaches
• Quick Fixes to Hold Off Your Next Headache

LIST OF FAT BURNING FOODS

Most people are aware that some foods burn more calories than they contain.  But, which foods are they?  these foods will act as metabolism boosters.  They can also make you feel very full and help you eat less.  Eating less means eating fewer calories. Your body has an internal furnace that burns up stored fat as well as the calories you are taking in as you consume foods.  These foods help to literally melt away calories. How great is that?

Here are ten foods that nutritionists credit with helping you burn fat…

FOODS THAT BURN FAT
FOODS	REASON	COMPOUND	SUGGESTION
hot peppers	speeds metabolism	capsaicin	can take Cayenne Caps
green tea	antioxidant that stimulates the body to break down stored fat cells	norepinephrine	sweeten with raw honey
oats	burns up twice as many calories during the digestion process, can suppress appetite also	very high fiber	add to other foods
grapefruit	helps your body dissolve fat and cholesterol	belly-filling pectin fiber	eat ½ for breakfast
turkey or chicken	digestion sends metabolism into overdrive	high thermogenic effect	eat often
lentils	takes the body longer to digest so burns fat faster, also fills you up so you consume fewer calories	high in potassium	add to other foods
fatty fish	reduces your risk of heart disease, reduces cholesterol, and can help relieve arthritis and joint inflammation symptoms	high in omega-3 fatty acids	eat often
berries	help keep your blood pressure down. This reduces your risk of heart disease and heart attacks	antioxidants	add to other foods, eat fresh
apples	safe way to elevate your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels	rich in antioxidants	great snack
black coffee	provides a big metabolic boost	caffeine	use in moderation

Cayenne 180 Caps 40000 H.U.. Certified 450 mg. Considered as Dietary Supplement. Guaranteed 0.25% Capsaicin. Premium Herbal.

BEVERAGE ACIDITY LIST

BEVERAGE ACIDITY LIST

This is a list of popular drinks and their acid levels. If the beverage is acidic or highly acidic it should not be combined with meals and should be avoided as much as possible. Beverages that are slightly acidic or alkaline can be combined with meals and it is good to drink these freely. Notice that there is a big difference between filtered, purified or bottled water and tap water. Always try to add lemon to water to help with your pH levels.

BEVERAGE	ACIDITY
beer	highly acidic
coffee	highly acidic
juice, fruit (canned or bottled) juice, fruit (fresh)	acidic alkaline
juice, vegetable (fresh)	alkaline
juice, vegetable (canned or bottled)	acidic
liquor	highly acidic
milk, almond	alkaline
milk, cow's, all types	highly acidic
milk, rice	slightly acidic
milk, soy	acidic
seltzer water, club soda	acidic
soda (diet or regular)	highly acidic
sports drinks (all types)	acidic
tea, black	acidic
tea, herbal	alkaline
water (purified, filtered, or bottled	alkaline
water, tap	acidic
wine	acidic

ALKALINE FOOD LIST

Collard and Mustard Greens - Very Alkaline

Eating alkaline foods can help to take away or reduce the acidity of other foods that you eat. This list is slightly alkaline, alkaline and very alkaline. Eating only these foods would be too much of a good thing but combining these foods with more acid type foods should help to produce a good pH balance in your body. The foods go very acidic, acidic, slightly acidic, slightly alkaline, alkaline and very alkaline. Look at the list for acidic foods and compare them with these alkaline foods to get a better idea of how to properly balance your meals.

FOODS THAT HELP REDUCE ACIDITY
SLIGHTLY ALKALINE	ALKALINE	VERY ALKALINE
artichokes	acorn squash	asparagus
avocados	almonds	beet greens
bananas	apples	broccoli
beetroot	beets	Brussels sprouts
black beans	blackberries	collard greens
Brazil nuts	butternut squash	cucumbers
cabbage (all types)	cantaloupe	endive
Canola oil	celery	escarole
carrots	dates	fennel
cashews	figs	garlic
cauliflower	grapes	ginger root
cheese (goat's milk)	green beans	ginger tea
cheese (soy)	herbs, dried & spices	grapefruit
cherries (sweet)	(except salt & curry)	greens (all types)
chestnuts	honeydew	herbs, fresh
cider, apple	kiwifruit	juice, vegetable (fresh)
cinnamon	Lima beans	kale
coconut	maple syrup	leeks
coconut oil	melons	lemons
cod liver oil	navy beans	lettuce (all types)
corn (fresh)	okra	limes
eggplant	papaya	mandarin oranges
flax seeds	pears	mangoes
flax seed oil	pepper, black	mustard greens
fruit juice, fresh	pickles, dill	olive oil
goat's milk	potato (sweet)	onions
granola, unsweetened	raisins	parsley
great northern beans	raspberries	peppers
honey (raw)	rice syrup	radishes
horseradish	soy sauce	spinach
kidney beans	spices, except salt & curry	Swiss chard
lentils	sprouts	tea (ginger)
mushrooms	squash, summer	vegetable juices (fresh)
oats	squash, winter	watercress
oatmeal	strawberries	yellow beans
olives	sweet potato
oranges	syrup (maple)
peaches	syrup (rice)
peas	tea (green)
pineapple	watermelon
pinto beans	yellow squash
potato skins	zucchini
rice, wild
rutabaga
sesame seeds
soy cheese
soybeans (edamame)
tangerines
tea (herbal)
tofu
tomatoes
turnip
wild rice