We’re going back to basics on this one. Many of you have asked what makes an alkaline diet. So I thought I would give you some of the basics in this post.
The first thing you need to understand is what an alkaline food item is. These are foods that, once digested, leave behind an ash that has a basic pH rating of seven or higher. Rather than use this as cooking information, followers of the acid alkaline diet use this combustion as a comparison to how the body breaks down and uses food as a fuel source.
These foods leave behind minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc when they are consumed by fire. Foods that leave this kind of residue include low-glycemic index fruits and vegetables, citrus fruits, tubers, roots and nuts. Switching your diet to solely these food items, it is believed, will help keep the body’s overall pH balance at a slightly alkaline level, which is thought to be a natural and healthy state. Foods to avoid on this plan include animal proteins, processed foods, unnatural sugars, and stimulants like caffeine.
One of the benefits of following a raw diet plan is that it is inherently alkaline in nature!
A diet rich in alkaline foods is also thought to reduce the body’s reliance on stored pH balancers such as the calcium in bones. Some studies have even shown that an alkaline-rich diet, or a regular use of supplements, can increase the amount of bone mass and muscle mass in older people, helping to offset conditions like osteoporosis in women and degenerative muscle wasting in the elderly. And while many say that more research is needed on the benefits of an alkaline diet, there have been studies done that show that the formation of kidney stones is largely prevented with an alkaline-rich diet.
Followers of an alkaline diet say that their food consumption is closer to what our ancestors would have originally eaten. They say that, before the onset of Western civilization, a typical human diet was unprocessed and uncooked plant matter. Grains were not edible until the discovery of tools like the mortar and pestle, and meats were an uncommon addition, depending on the hunting prowess of the tribe, rather than domestication of meat-bearing animals. Instead, people had to rely on the plants, fruits and vegetables that could be eaten without problematic preparations.
Proponents of an alkaline diet may do so to alleviate symptoms that they believe are due to larger amounts of acidic foods in the modern diet. Practitioners say that people suffering from frequent illnesses and headaches, or an overall lack of energy, and women who have ovarian and benign breast cysts might benefit from an alkaline diet, or at the very least, a reduction in the amounts of red meat and processed grains that a person consumes.
Hey Yuri
Nice synopsis. The only thing I’d add is that you don’t have to eat ‘strictly’ alkaline – you should aim for an 80/20 balance (or 70/30 to begin with).
Good work though, it’s good to see someone else spreading the word.
Have a great day
Ross
I agree Ross. That’s what I personally aim for – 80/20. Balance is key. Thanks for posting.
I disagree…I think that if we aim, or maintain an alkaline diet, that this is where are bodies are suppose to be naturally. If its too acidic, then disease becomes apparant, so being 100% alkaline is a good thing, I think!!~ (:
Yuri,
I’ve never really understood what people mean by an alkaline diet – The body has natural acid/base buffers in the lungs and kidneys that correct any pH imbalance so that your body can function properly. Acidosis or alkalosis are both unnatural states brought about by disease, when the acid/ base buffers cannot correct the imbalance any more and they lead to organ systems not functioning properly. Any attempt to ‘alkalinise’ or ‘acidify’ is just going to be corrected back to a physiological pH by the buffers in a healthy person.
I’m not sure that the diets of our prehistoric ancestors (life expectancy 30) is something to aim for, although you could argue that we were meant to run after our food before we caught and ate it.
PS: I am a big fan of your workouts.
Thanks for your input Andrew. There are several positions one can take when it comes to any topic. Personally, I just provide the information that I know works for me. At the same time, I ensure that it is scientifically (and anecdotally) validated. The best way to experience the effects of an alkaline diet is to simply eat more alkaline-forming foods. When you feel the difference, that’s the only thing that really counts.
i also thing the 80/20 it’s the right procent. and in general reducing the amount of red meat it’s real healthy and also trying more green vegetables and fruits.