As we write down our new years resolutions, for many of us, loosing weight will be part of that list. What are the Top 5 Foods to Lose Weight in 2012, and not gaining it back later? Before planing a diet, or making radical, unsustainable changes to the way we eat, let’s stop and think about what some foods can do for us.

What if I told you that with some changes in your diet you could not only burn off unwanted fat, but also boost your immune system, keep your bones and teeth stronger, and maintain your good health? An Alkaline Diet is both a fantastic way to lose weight and at the same time is the natural “anti-aging”, as it protects our cells, and allows them to cure themselves.

Our goal should be to eat a diet that is 70-75% alkaline. If we are able to attain that, in that remaining 25-30% we can consume meat and dairy products, caffeine and sweets. I don’t encourage going to extremes because they are non sustainable, and can potentially be harmful if we go too far. That is why my recommendation is to progressively improve your diet by cutting on extremely acidic foods, and adding more alkaline foods to your daily nutrition. Here are some of my favorite alkaline foods, my Top 5 Foods to Lose Weight in 2012:

In 5th place come the sweeteners and oils;

The most alkaline sweetener is Stevia. Stevia is a South American herb used as a natural sweetener for centuries, and with a pH ranking between 6 and 8, it is a rather neutral food. Much better than using artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet, Equal, Aspartame, and Sweet ‘N Low, that are extremely acidic and detrimental to your health. In between these two extremes, maple syrup or rice syrup, or even raw honey or raw sugar are not as acidic as processed sugars.

Talking about the oils we put in our foods. The right oils offer healthy benefits, but using bad oils has the opposite effect. Extra virgin olive oil is my favorite. Since oils are not water-soluble, their acidity cannot be measured in terms of pH, but their acid content can be measured in terms of percentage of free acidity. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is your best choice, followed by flax-seed oil.

In 4th place we have the seeds and nuts;

Great source of vegetable protein, seeds and nuts can be both alkalizing or acidifying. Nuts like walnuts, hazelnuts and pecans, are slightly acidifying. But others do have an alkalizing effect among other health benefits. My favorites are Chestnuts and Almonds.

In 3rd place let’s talk about what we drink;

The alkaline king and queen are herb tea and lemon water, followed by green and ginger tea. Remember that being dehydrated acidifies our bodies. So make sure you hydrate your body with the right drinks. Water is neutral, but a few drops of lemon in it help alkalize it, increasing its benefits to your health. Lemon has great electrolytic properties and a pH level of 9.0, making it the most alkalizing food in our diet.

As a general rule, drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day, and when you drink acid things like alcohol, soft drinks or coffee, increase your water consumption to balance out their acidifying effects.

In 2nd place we have fruits;

We talked already about lemon. But there are other fruits that offer great alkalizing benefits. Among them are Watermelon, Limes, Grapefruit, Mangoes, Melons, Cayenne and Papayas. These fruits have an alkaline pH level between 8.5 and 9, are nutrient rich, and are great colon and kidney cleansers. Avocados, Bananas, Berries, and oranges rank pretty high in my list because of their pH level of 8, and their dense nutrient content.

And the 1st place goes to vegetables;

Green leafy raw vegetables are the best way of alkalizing our diet. The list is endless, and each if them have some benefits of their own. In general, the bitterer the vegetables, the more alkaline they are. Asparagus, Seaweeds, Onions, Egg Plant, Parsley, Spinach, Broccoli, artichokes and Garlic are at the top of my list. But this doesn’t mean these are the only good vegetables, or the only ones I recommend. Vegetable juices in general are rich in iron and phytonutrients, and are fantastic for detoxifying at a cellular level.

What are your Alkaline Favorites? I just listed my own top 5 foods to lose weight in 2012, but would love to hear which are yours. Did I leave anything out? What would you add to my list?