How the Alkaline Diet works in the body:

The alkaline diet is based on “The Acid-Ash Hypothesis” that claims that acid producing ash foods, such as meat, poultry, cheese, fish, eggs, and grains, will make the blood pH more acidic.

As such, the alkaline ash is mainly produced by fruits, nuts, legumes and vegetables that would make the blood pH more alkaline. 

It is important to understand that the food impact on blood acidity or alkalinity is not related ...

Alkaline Diet misconceptions: 

There are many misconceptions and wrong ideas revolving around the alkaline diet. These are even being shared by many health care experts. That’s why it’s important to clarify the following:

A- “Acidic food” versus “acid producing” food: the Potential Renal Acid Load  “PRAL”

There’s a common false belief thinking that eating acidic foods in nature, results in turning the blood pH acidic.

While this can be true for certain foods, yet there are many food types ...

Alkaline Diet program structure:

The alkaline diet suggests consuming 80% of the food we eat from alkaline forming food, and 20% from acidic forming food.

When the pH balance of the blood begins to improve and you reach the targeted level, the consumption of the alkaline forming food can be lowered to 65%, and the acidic forming food can be raised to 35%.

There is no specific time frame in which the alkaline diet should be followed. However, it is ...

Alkaline Diet food criteria:

It is important to understand that the food impact on blood acidity or alkalinity is not related to the food type itself but it is related to the metabolic wastes or ashes that the food produces.

Therefore, if the food produces acidic metabolic wastes or ashes, it will influence the blood’s pH to become more acidic. The same mechanism happens with foods that are more alkaline ash or metabolic waste producing. 

In this regards, it’s ...

Alkaline Diet recommendations:

- Consume organic foods: focus on organic foods that are naturally grown, and free from pesticides and other chemicals. This is recommended because these chemicals can influence the blood pH and make it more acidic, even if you are consuming vegetables.

- Differentiate between “acid food” and “acid forming food”: it’s important to understand the difference between acidic foods and acid forming foods. For instance, while lemons are acidic foods, however when they are consumed, they promote alkalinity in ...

Alkaline Diet benefits:

The alkaline diet is considered a diet that focuses on foods rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, and omits products that are highly processed and produce acidic wastes.

Hence, by all means, it is a healthy diet regimen by itself, and thus can provide tremendous gains for the human body and health.

Supporter of the alkaline diet state several benefits from following a lifelong alkaline diet as it can be quite effective for weight loss. 

It can be ...

Alkaline Diet precautions:

This diet recommends removing major healthy sources of proteins that are considered acidic such as eggs, meat, fish, and walnut. These foods are major sources of omega 3 and omega 6 which should be a part of a healthy and balanced diet. 

The decrease in consumption of these types of foods would lower satiety and might contribute to more hunger, brain fogginess associated with forgetfulness, mood changes, and risk of depression. This would be something to ...

Alkaline Diet side effects:

The alkaline diet is of limited side effects because it is mainly focused on fruits and vegetables.

However, due to the high concentration of fibers, which contributes to more bulk and a decrease in transit time through the digestive tract, it might be best if avoided in cases of diarrhea, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), acid reflux, and in some periods of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).