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What is an Alkaline Diet?

KD Morgan
KD Morgan

An alkaline diet helps to maintain and balance our body’s natural pH (potential hydrogen) ratio. For optimal functioning, the body’s pH should remain between 7.33 and 7.4. The majority of pH imbalances are the result of acidity; therefore, the majority of people need to consider an alkaline diet.

Anything we consume or metabolize will release either an alkaline or an acidic base into the bloodstream. Our blood, saliva and urine chemistries keep a tight regulation that is slightly alkaline. Keeping our body within an acceptable pH range allows our body to function in a way that it protects us from bacterial, viral or fungal invasions.

People who are on the alkaline diet typically avoid eating foods that contain sugar.
People who are on the alkaline diet typically avoid eating foods that contain sugar.

Acidic environments invite these invasions into our systems. For example, with a free-range chicken egg, the yolk has a slightly acidic pH of 6.5 while the white is highly alkaline with a 9-pH factor. This alkaline white shields and protects the baby chicken.

If the pH becomes too acidic, the body will find an internal source of alkalinity in which to borrow. The neutralizing minerals can include calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium. Calcium pulled from bones is a primary cause of osteoporosis. Plaque is a primary consequence of acidity and comes in a range of forms from plaque on the teeth to plaque in the arteries.

People on an alkaline diet often buy pH testing strips to check the pH of their urine and saliva.
People on an alkaline diet often buy pH testing strips to check the pH of their urine and saliva.

The majority of modern diets are acidic in nature. This imbalance causes both short term and long-term damage to the system. Some bodies can continue for years with this undetected condition. However, the damage is being done, even while our body’s intelligence tries to maintain the pH balance by using any resources available.

Acidic diets create yeast or candida colonies that grow and expand in the system. They first appear in the digestive tract, and then they break through the intestines and into the bloodstream and eventually can invade any part of the body with a myriad of consequences. An alkaline diet initiates the same protective shields as the egg white does for the baby chicken.

A nutritious alkaline diet should stress the consumption of plenty of fresh vegetables.
A nutritious alkaline diet should stress the consumption of plenty of fresh vegetables.

A healthy diet that is alkaline consists of fresh vegetables, legumes, nuts, roots, tubers and grains. While fruit is acceptable, it should not be eaten in excess as it is glutinous in nature and will be processed as any sugar. Fruit is best eaten cooked and should be eaten alone or before a heavy meal. If fruit is eaten at the end of a heavy meal, it will ferment while waiting its turn to digest and become acidic, causing gas and other digestive discomforts.

An alkaline diet is often recommended for the prevention of kidney stones.
An alkaline diet is often recommended for the prevention of kidney stones.

An easy rule for this diet is to avoid yeast and sugar. This includes any processed or fermented foods. Yeast needs sugar to thrive. It is important to recognize that when you switch to this diet, the yeast begins dying and you will start craving sugar. When the yeast is not fed, you will experience flu-like symptoms as the withdrawal continues. This can last for a few days to weeks but in time will subside.

Meats and other proteins are typically considered to be acidic foods.
Meats and other proteins are typically considered to be acidic foods.

Any chemical food, such as Splenda®, NutraSweet®, Equal®, or any aspartame are very acid forming and should be avoided in an alkaline diet. Antibiotics also can create an acidic environment. It is always best to follow them with a series of probiotics to replenish and rebalance the system.

Conventional medicine often does not recognize benefits of the alkaline diet. However, most agree that an alkaline diet is recommended for the prevention of kidney stones, osteoporosis and the degeneration of muscle tone. It is important to note that anyone suffering from chronic kidney failure should not initiate an alkaline diet without first consulting your physician.

Indigestion is believed to be a possible symptom of an overly acidic body.
Indigestion is believed to be a possible symptom of an overly acidic body.

Strips to test pH are available in most health food stores and pharmacies to check your body’s urine and saliva pH. It is important to also recognize that excessive alkalinity can create physical problems like cramping, drowsiness, hive-like itching, indigestion, sore muscles and joints.

Discussion Comments

cookalkaline

The alkaline diet has improved my heath in many ways. My bone health is better,I lost weight, and in general I'm in great health. I blog recipes that are 80 percent alkaline and 20 percent acid.

yournamehere

If you're starting on an alkaline diet plan, make sure that you get some good alkaline diet food suggestions and alkaline diet recipes in the beginning to keep yourself from backsliding. There are a ton of recipes online, but here is one of my stand-bys.

A good set meal is about a cup of brown rice, a portion of green vegetables (kale, etc), a portion of broccoli pan-fried with carrots and water chestnuts, and a raw salad of beetroots, and sprouts topped with raw honey.

It's a nice balanced meal, with a little something extra for your sweet tooth. I like to drink a cup of apple ginger tea with it, but that's just me.

Best of luck, alkaline dieters!

gregg1956

My wife went on the alkaline diet, and I don't know whether she was really acidic, but the alkaline diet seemed to work really well for her.

She had about two weeks when she felt just terrible, but after that she dropped weight like crazy, and she said that she felt great. So far she's kept the weight off, and her doctor says that she's very healthy.

So for what it's worth, that's one good experience that someone's had with the alkaline balance diet.

pharmchick78

Although I personally am not a huge fan of the alkaline diet (I think it's very easy to become unbalanced in your nutrition if you don't follow the alkaline diet menu very, very carefully), I do applaud you for telling people a lot of detail about it, and advising them to get their acidity and alkalinity levels checked before starting on something like this.

You wouldn't believe the amount of people that just start on an alkaline diet plan without even checking to see whether their bodies are acidic or not first! If you already eat a lot of alkaline foods, it could be that your body is already in balance and you would only be harming yourself by following an alkaline food diet.

So if you are really jazzed about this diet, just remember to get checked first, and tell your doctor before you start. Something like this can do a lot of harm to your body if it's not done right, so just be careful.

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    • People who are on the alkaline diet typically avoid eating foods that contain sugar.
      By: bit24
      People who are on the alkaline diet typically avoid eating foods that contain sugar.
    • People on an alkaline diet often buy pH testing strips to check the pH of their urine and saliva.
      By: Max Tactic
      People on an alkaline diet often buy pH testing strips to check the pH of their urine and saliva.
    • A nutritious alkaline diet should stress the consumption of plenty of fresh vegetables.
      By: Serghei Velusceac
      A nutritious alkaline diet should stress the consumption of plenty of fresh vegetables.
    • An alkaline diet is often recommended for the prevention of kidney stones.
      By: p6m5
      An alkaline diet is often recommended for the prevention of kidney stones.
    • Meats and other proteins are typically considered to be acidic foods.
      By: MSPhotographic
      Meats and other proteins are typically considered to be acidic foods.
    • Indigestion is believed to be a possible symptom of an overly acidic body.
      By: Innovated Captures
      Indigestion is believed to be a possible symptom of an overly acidic body.
    • A lack of potassium, calcium or magnesium -- all important minerals in an alkaline diet -- can cause leg cramps.
      By: stryjek
      A lack of potassium, calcium or magnesium -- all important minerals in an alkaline diet -- can cause leg cramps.
    • Excessive alkalinity in the body may cause hive-like itching.
      By: uwimages
      Excessive alkalinity in the body may cause hive-like itching.