From the moment celebrities started to create a fuss about the alkaline diet, most people begin to follow it. With various researches claiming about this diet, it is crucial to learn more about this diet.
The Concept behind the Alkaline Diet
The alkaline diet has many other terms, like the acid-ash, alkaline-ash, and acid-alkaline diet. According to alkalinenaturals , this diet is based on the theory that there are foods that affect the body’s acidity level. Since the blood is considered an alkaline with pH levels between 7.35-7.45, the food intake must be filled with alkaline-forming foods to match this need.
The process of food metabolism involves a slow yet controlled burning of food, which leaves a so-called ash residue. This residue can be either acidic, alkaline, or neutral, causing excellent or adverse effects on the body’s health. According to its proponents, the acidic ash causes the body to become more prone to disease. On the other hand, the neutral ash gives no effect, while the alkaline residue provides better protection to the body.
Furthermore, the alkaline diet claims that consuming foods like dairy, egg, meat, grains, and processed ones can lead to more health diseases and complications. To resolve this, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are recommended to be taken instead.
The Human Body and its pH Levels
The body always needs to maintain the normal pH levels, somewhere between 7.35-7.45, to function well. Unbalanced pH levels can lead to problems that can affect health.
Various body parts affect the over-all system’s pH level. The stomach has the highest acidity due to the acids and enzymes needed for digestion. Moreover, the skin has 6.5, while the blood should have a controlled pH level of 7.4 to survive.
The Effect of pH Levels to the Body’s Health
The body has its way of adapting to the changes in the environment to maintain a well-balanced pH. Moreover, the kidneys and lungs are accountable for managing the acid load of the body. The kidneys filter the excess acid and send it to the bladder to be removed from the system through urine. Meanwhile, the lungs are in-charge of filtering the carbon dioxide taken from the body’s environment.
Two things happen when the body is too alkaline or too acidic. Alkalosis occurs when the fluids in the body, even the blood, becomes too much alkaline. It leads to low levels of oxygen, electrolyte loss, liver, and lung disease. Its symptoms include dizziness, confusion, and seizures.
On the other hand, the acidosis occurs when the body’s fluids are too acidic. Usually caused by too much consumption of animal-based foods and less of fruits and vegetables, its symptoms involve fatigue and confusion.
Is Alkaline Diet Effective?
Because it promotes healthy food consumption, the alkaline diet is healthier compared to other diet types. Its effectiveness contributes to its concept of eating more foods that are nutrient-dense and plant-based and discourages processed foods.
However, if the goal is to neutralize the body’s pH balance, it must be remembered that any food can never influence the body’s pH levels.