by Mariah Jones
In a world of having access to information at our fingertips we can become easily influenced. There seems to be a big push towards an alkaline diet. Some of the benefits reported are “blood pH balance, and body detoxification”, but are the claims true? What is an alkaline diet? What actual health benefits does it offer?
The term “alkaline diet” refers to foods that tend to be more basic on the pH scale. The pH scale is broken into 3 parts. Acidic = 0-6.9, Neutral = 7, and Alkaline (Basic) = 7.1-14. The alkaline diet gained buzz when popular celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Tom Brady shared their success using this “new diet”. The question is, what makes this diet special?
The simple answer is nothing. Most “alkaline diet” plans encourage the same advice. Less processed foods and an increase in greens and veggies. The truth is acidic foods are just as important as alkaline foods. However, in hopes of a balanced diet it is encouraged to limit your acidic intake and avoid processed wheat and dairy. The interesting thing is this advice can be found in almost every “health” article.
But will it change the pH of your body? No. In theory if your diet only consists of acidic foods, then over time you could increase the stress in your organs. But there is no current research that diet alone can change the pH of your body. Your kidneys work with other organs to maintain your body’s pH. So, yes, it is possible for the kidney to become stressed and not be as efficient at regulating. However, there is no need for you to spend $10 on a bottle of water or change your diet to fit an aesthetic.
The key to health is BALANCE. An alkaline diet without “acid forming proteins”, could do more damage. Our bodies are engineered well to maintain homeostasis and adjust when need be. The best thing you can do for your health is, understand what you are consuming and make attempts to have a balanced diet. Of course, depending on your health condition, this balance may vary from person to person. So much of our health is specific to our bodies, as we are all unique. Do what is best for you and your health. So, is that $10 bottle of water necessary? No, but indulge if you please!
