Alkalizing Your Body For Health – Pseudoscience?
(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. I am not a medical expert, nor am I providing medical advice. Please always check with your Primary Doctor before changing your diet.)
This article explores the popular notion of alkalizing the body to promote overall health.
This article explores the scientific foundation of alkaline diets and their claimed benefits.
It evaluates evidence from studies and expert perspectives.
Through balanced analysis, discern whether alkalizing the body improves health or is a myth.
This article critically examines alkaline foods, pH levels, and their impact on the body’s physiology.
It provides valuable insights for informed dietary and lifestyle decisions.
This meta offers a comprehensive overview of the article’s alkalizing or basifying trend exploration.
It debunks misconceptions and validates claims, informing health-conscious individuals.
Maintaining a balance within the body has gained significant attention in seeking optimal health.
While the body’s natural pH balance is slightly alkaline, the modern diet and lifestyle often contribute to increased acidity.
Basifying the body is believed to have numerous health benefits, including improved energy levels, enhanced immune function, and reduced inflammation.
Although the diet has not been scientifically proven to affect the body’s pH, its focus on plant-based foods can be good for health in general.
Related: The Danger of Food Additives
Is The Alkaline Diet Scientifically Accurate?
The diet is healthy because it focuses on whole and unprocessed foods. However, reliable studies do not support claims that it boosts health by altering pH levels.
A low protein version may benefit those with chronic kidney disease, but no evidence suggests it affects pH levels.
What Is pH?
pH, or “potential of hydrogen,” is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solution, with values ranging from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, while values below 7 are acidic and above 7 are alkaline.
Understanding pH and Body Alkalinity
Before delving into the methods, it’s essential to understand the concept of pH. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 considered neutral. Values below 7 are acidic, and those above 7 are alkaline.
The body’s pH levels vary in different organs and systems, with blood maintaining a slightly alkaline pH between 7.35 and 7.45.
An overly acidic body environment can lead to various health issues, including fatigue, inflammation, and compromised immune function. The goal is to create a more balanced pH environment that supports optimal cellular function and overall health.
Foods That Alkalize the Body
Leafy Greens:
Leafy green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and Swiss chard are rich in chlorophyll, a powerful basifying compound. These greens provide essential vitamins and minerals.
Cucumber:
Cucumbers have a high water content and are an excellent source of basifying minerals. Including cucumber in your diet can help hydrate the body.
Broccoli:
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable. Packed with nutrients like vitamins C and K and fiber, it supports a healthy balance.
Avocado:
Avocados are a delicious addition to meals and contribute. They are rich in healthy fats and potassium, which helps regulate acidity.
Lemons and Limes:
Despite their acidic taste, lemons and limes are alkalizing fruits. They contain citric acid, which is metabolized in the body and leaves behind basifying residues. Starting your day with a glass of warm water and lemon is a popular ritual. However, be careful with citrus because it can irritate the stomach lining.
Alkaline Water:
Drinking water infused with minerals like magnesium and calcium can increase the body’s alkalinity. Consider water sources or add drops to your regular water to enhance pH.
Lifestyle Practices to Alkalize the Body
Regular Hydration:
Staying adequately hydrated is fundamental to maintaining a balanced pH. Water helps flush out acidic waste products from the body, promoting a more basifying environment. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water daily.
Reduce Acidic Foods:
Minimize the consumption of acidic foods, such as processed foods, refined sugars, and excessive amounts of meat. These foods can contribute to acidity and disrupt the body’s natural pH balance.
Alkaline Diet:
Adopting a basifying diet involves focusing on fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole foods while limiting acidic choices. This dietary approach supports a more alkaline pH and provides essential nutrients for overall health.
Regular Exercise:
Engaging in regular physical activity helps improve cell circulation and oxygenation. Exercise also promotes eliminating acidic waste products through sweat and respiration, contributing to a more alkaline state.
Stress Management:
Chronic stress can contribute to acidity in the body. To promote emotional well-being and alkaline balance, incorporate stress-reducing practices such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga.
Adequate Sleep:
Quality sleep is crucial for overall health and plays a role in maintaining a balanced pH. Aim for 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night to support the body’s natural healing and basifying processes.
Supplements:
Green Superfood Powders:
Green superfood powders often contain basifying ingredients such as spirulina, chlorella, and wheatgrass.
Mineral Supplements:
Minerals like magnesium and calcium intake are essential for pH balance. Consider incorporating mineral supplements, especially if your diet lacks these nutrients.
Baking Soda:
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can act as an alkalizing agent in moderation. However, it’s crucial to use it sparingly and under the guidance of a healthcare professional, as excessive consumption may have adverse effects.
Monitoring pH Levels:
While the body has mechanisms for regulating pH, some individuals may choose to monitor their pH levels using pH test strips. Testing urine or saliva can provide insights into the body’s acid-alkaline balance.
However, it’s essential to note that these tests may not accurately reflect the pH of blood, which is the most critical factor for health.
Related: How I Lost Weight
Food affects the pH of your urine but not your blood
Food can influence the pH of your urine but typically doesn’t significantly affect the pH of your blood. The body regulates blood pH within a narrow range (around 7.35 to 7.45) to maintain optimal function. However, urine pH can vary based on diet, hydration, and certain health conditions.
Alkalizing Foods
- All Vegetables, especially when Green and Raw
- All fruits are like melons, apples, berries, grapes, and lemons. Some are slightly acidic, like Blueberries, Cranberries, and Plums.
- Leafy Greens like Spinach or Lettuce, Cruciferous Vegetables like Broccoli, Kale
- Pumpkin, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Beets
- Mushrooms, Sprouts, Legumes
- Nuts and seeds like Coconut, Almonds, Chia, Sesame
- Onions, Garlic, Leek, and Herbs/Spices like Parsley, Ginger
- Wheat and Barley Grass, Algae like Spirulina and Chlorella
- Grains like Amaranth, Millet & Quinoa
- Fresh Beans, Green Peas, Lima Beans, Soy Products
The Alkaline Life: New Science to Rebalance Your Body, Reverse Aging, and Prevent Disease – Amazon Book.
Acidic Foods to Reduce
- Meat, fish, shellfish
- Milk, eggs, butter, cheese
- Coffee, soda, alcohol
- Processed and refined food
- Sugar, artificial sweeteners, refined grains
- Tobacco, preservatives
- MSG, canned food
Update
As with all information, there will always be alternative viewpoints. I watched this informative video on YouTube: The Alkaline Myth & Hype—The Acid-Alkaline Truth Exposed, in which Markus Rothkranz interviews medical expert James Sloane. It’s worth watching.
Dr. Berg also has much to say about the acid/alkaline myths. Dr. Berg states that the stomach needs to be acidic for proper digestion and assimilation.
Many people have heartburn, GERD, and acid reflux not because of too much acid but not enough. Many people’s stomach levels are too alkaline, which means food cannot be broken down and digested.
Yes, most body parts need to be alkaline, but the stomach needs to be acidic for digestion. Without enough stomach acid, bacteria, parasites, yeast, and candida can thrive.
There is a need for balance in the stomach acid levels. Below are symptoms if you are either too acidic or too alkaline.
Too Acidic
- Coughing
- Coma
- Irregular heartbeat
- Increased heart rate
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Tired but wired
- Sighing frequently
- Anxious
- Cannot hold breath
Too Alkaline
- Decreased Potassium
- Decreased Calcium
- Twitching
- Hyperventilation
- Arthritis
- Allergies
- Bone spurs
- Low-thyroid
- Calcium deposits
What Creates Too Acidic
- Ketosis – High Protein
- Hypoglycemia
- Diabetes
- Junk Food
- Sugar
- Low veggies
Too Alkaline
- Stress
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Low stomach acid
- Dehydration
- Diuretics
- Antacids
- Citrus
Conclusion
Alkalizing the body is a holistic approach to health that involves dietary choices, lifestyle practices, and, if necessary, supplementation.
Individuals can support their body’s natural pH balance by incorporating basifying-promoting foods, staying hydrated, managing stress, and adopting a healthy lifestyle.
It’s crucial to approach this as part of a comprehensive wellness plan, recognizing that individual needs may vary.
As with any significant dietary or lifestyle changes, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure that the chosen strategies align with individual health goals and conditions.
Ultimately, the journey toward alkalizing the body is a step toward unlocking vitality and fostering long-term well-being.
Lastly, while eating an alkaline diet will not reduce the pH of the blood, it can help those with a sensitive gut lining.
Read Next: How To Be Healthy: Cultivating Vitality