Alkaline Diet - How Does It Help?

Introduction

Alkaline Diet, also known as Alkaline Acid Diet, is a diet based on consumption of food such as fruits, vegetables, roots, nuts, and legumes but avoid dairy, meat, grains and salts. Recently, this diet has gained popularity among diet and nutrition specialists and authors. It is still in debate on the efficiency of alkaline diet because there is no concrete evidence that alkaline diet can reduce certain diseases.

As aforementioned, fruits, vegetables, roots, nuts, and legumes are part of alkaline diet. This is because these food released alkaline after being digested, absorbed, and metabolised. On the other hand, dairy, meat, grains and salts produce acid after the processes. Food is categorized as acid-producing or alkaline-producing based on their pH (power of Hydrogen) values, where pH 0 - 6 is acidic, pH 8 - 14 is alkaline and pH 7 is neutral (water). Hence, alkaline diet refers to the diet of having more of alkaline-producing food.

Alkaline Diet

Our blood has a pH between 7.35 and 7.45, which is slightly alkaline. Alkaline diet is based on this pH level of our blood and any diet that is high in acid-producing food will disorganise the balance. When the body tries to revitalize the equilibrium of pH in the blood, the acidity of the food will contribute to the loss of vital minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium. The imbalance will make people susceptible to illness.

Unfortunately, Western diets are more acid-producing and they consume little fresh fruits and vegetables. Due to the advent of alkaline diet, the standard of Western diet has changed considerably.

Some diet and nutrition practitioners believe that acid-producing diet may cause some chronic illness and following symptoms such as:

~ headache

~ lethargic

~ frequent flu and cold, and excess mucous production

~ anxiety, nervousness

~ polycystic ovaries, ovarian cysts, benign breast cysts

Although some believe the above conditions are the result of acid-producing diet, and consumption of fruits and vegetables is beneficial to health, some doctors think that acid-producing diet does not cause chronic disease. Other than that, there are proofs shown that alkaline diets helps to prevent the formation of calcium kidney stones, osteoporosis, and age-related muscle wasting.

Balance diet

Although alkaline diet is preferred, it is not recommended to have extreme diet (eat all alkaline-producing food). It is healthier to strive for a balanced middle ground of both types of food. Just remember to take note of the pointers above and consult a practitioner/doctor before you want try a new diet.

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Ron Lin is a full time writer about weight loss, diet, nutrition and fitness. He serves to help people to lose weight and maintain healthy lifestyles in many different ways though his web: "Ultimate Diet Solutions --> the Diet Solution Pilot, your guide to weight loss & diet". Through the web, you will be looking at solutions to these problems.