Is Alkaline Diet Good For You?
To maintain perfection, balance is essential. Balance is what keeps the order and perfect functioning of anything. When we talk about the human body, everyone knows how crucial balance is to maintain perfect harmony. When we get strictly physical, such a balance needs to strike in the pH level of the human body. Following an alkaline diet is a simple way to strike this balance.
pH stands for the power of hydrogen ions. If the pH is above 7, it is considered basic or alkaline, and a lower is considered acidic. The human body’s ideal pH level should be between 7.35 and 7.45, a little towards the basic/alkaline end. One of the best ways to do so is by following an alkaline diet.
The alkaline diet mostly got recognition when celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Jenniffer Aniston, and Kate Hudson advocated for it. The alkaline diet is credited with helping in losing weight and even fighting off cancer. While it is said that acidic foods increase the risk of these and many more such diseases, essential foods’ pH can help in balancing out your body’s pH levels.
In this blog post, we will be discussing all that you need to know about the alkaline diet.
What is the alkaline diet?
The alkaline diet, popularly known as the alkaline ash diet, propagates the theory that eating certain foods can change your body’s pH levels. Foods like meat, poultry, and dairy are acidic, whereas organic foods like fruits and vegetables are basic/alkaline. It states that eating more acidic food can cause harm to the body, while basic food can benefit us.
The alkaline diet promotes the intake of whole and organic foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. However, it calls for a stop to the consumption of acidic foods like meat, poultry, dairy, etc. the history of this diet dates back to the mid-19th century when claims were made that consuming acidic or basic foods left their respective ashes behind when the food metabolizes in the body. This theory is known as the ‘dietary ash hypothesis’.
Proposed benefits of the alkaline diet
While research is still underway for an alkaline diet, there have been studies that have stated the proposed benefits of the alkaline diet. Listed below are some of the benefits of the alkaline diet.
1.Aids in weight loss
One of the most popular proposed benefits of the alkaline diet is weight loss. The basic science behind weight loss is that you burn more calories than you consume. Moreover, you need to get enough physical activity in.
The alkaline diet works, in this case, because it is a low-calorie diet. It mainly involves consuming fresh fruits and vegetables rich in nutrients but not necessarily calories.
2. Helps in resolving kidney-related issues
Getting rid of the acidic content through urine is the body’s natural way of detoxifying itself. An alkaline diet can help lower the acidic content in your body, which would put less pressure on your kidney.
Patients with severe kidney diseases are advised to eliminate all sorts of protein like milk, meat, cheese, etc., from their diet. Following an alkaline diet might help.
3. Preventing cancer
While research is still ongoing, some studies have suggested that eliminating meat and consuming more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can reduce cancer risk. Moreover, foods rich in vitamin A, C, and fibre are also claimed to prevent cancer, found abundantly in fruits and vegetables.
Since an alkaline diet is all about consuming fresh fruits and veggies, this is one of the best options.
Final thoughts
Research is still in progress regarding all the benefits that can be reaped from following an alkaline diet. An alkaline diet for beginners can be a little challenging. The key lies in taking it one day at a time. (click here to read which basic/alkaline foods to include in your diet).
