The alkaline diet is claimed to help you lose weight, slow down aging, and help control chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and even cancer. Is that claim true? Check out the following review.
Alkaline diet or acid-base diet is a diet method with dietary regulation to balance the pH in the body, i.e. by consuming more alkaline foods (bases) every day. The basic theory of an alkaline diet is that the body is susceptible to illness if it consumes acidic foods. The theory of the alkaline diet states that foods that are acidic such as meat, wheat, refined sugar, and processed foods will trigger the body to produce acids that are not good for health. Conversely, foods that are alkaline or alkaline are considered as protective, and by emphasizing diet with alkaline foods can maintain body health.
How to do an Alkaline Diet
The alkaline diet is carried out by regulating the recommended diet, which is 70% alkaline food, and 30% acidic food every day. As for foods that produce bases, such as fruits and vegetables, soybeans and tofu, and several types of nuts, seeds, and peas. While foods that are acidic include milk, eggs, meat, and processed foods (canned or packaged). In addition, you should also avoid consuming drinks containing alcohol and caffeine.
Alkaline Diet and its Relation to Body pH Balance
Our blood needs acid-base balance in order to function properly. This acid-base balance refers to the mechanism used by the body to keep the liquid close to neutral pH (not acidic and not too alkaline). Acid and base levels are measured on a pH scale ranging from 0 to 14. PH 0 is very acidic, while pH 14 is very alkaline. The neutral pH is on the 7th pH scale. The pH level in some parts of the human body varies greatly.
Blood is slightly alkaline, with a normal pH between 7.35 and 7.45. The stomach is loaded with hydrochloric acid and is very acidic, with a pH of 3.5 or lower, which is needed to digest food. If the acid level in the blood is too high, this condition is called acidosis. Meanwhile, if too alkaline is called alkalosis. Disturbances in blood pH balance can occur if the body experiences lung and kidney organ disorders, or in severe complications of diabetes such as diabetic ketoacidosis.
Alkaline diet is claimed to help the body to maintain blood pH levels. But in reality, this alkaline diet will not change the pH of your blood substantially. Because, the body naturally maintains blood pH levels between 7.35 and 7.45. Blood pH levels may not be influenced by diet. However, diet or food menu can indeed change the pH value of urine. But urine pH cannot be used as a benchmark to assess a person's general health condition or body pH level.
However, alkaline diet recommendations do have some health benefits for your body, but this diet will not change the pH level in the body. Other health benefits of an alkaline diet include:
- By consuming more fruits, vegetables, drinking lots of fluids, and limiting consumption of sugar, processed foods, drinks containing alcohol and caffeine, good for weight loss.
- A diet low in acid-producing foods, such as meat and cheese, is thought to help prevent kidney stones, keep bones and muscles strong, improve heart health and brain function, reduce low back pain, and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- The alkaline diet emphasizes you to consume fruits and vegetables with high calories, and avoid fast food that often contains sodium and saturated fat. This is very good for heart health, because it helps reduce blood pressure and cholesterol which are the main risk factors for heart disease.
- Several studies have shown that an alkaline diet can slow the rate of bone loss, thereby reducing the risk of osteoporosis as we age.
The essence of an alkaline diet is to consume fruits and vegetables that are useful for weight loss and maintaining a healthy body. And no special supplements are needed to support this alkaline diet.
Some studies have found that alkaline or alkaline environments can make certain chemotherapy drugs more effective or non-toxic. But there is no evidence that an alkaline diet can help prevent cancer. So, for those of you who have cancer, it is advisable to continue to consult with doctors and nutrition experts related to nutritional needs before starting any diet.
Some people find it difficult to follow or practice an alkaline diet, the article, many of your favorite foods will be limited when doing this acid-base diet program. Protein intake is also limited to only vegetable sources such as beans and tofu. Especially if you are traveling for work and have a busy schedule. Fast food will usually be an emergency choice for these conditions. However, the best way to lose weight is to exercise regularly for 30 minutes per day. You can support it by eating healthy foods.
For those of you who have certain medical conditions, it is advisable to consult a doctor and nutritionist before going on an alkaline diet.
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