The alkaline diet, or acid alkaline diet, is pretty much the exact opposite of low-carb diets such as the Atkins diet and the South Beach diet. All foods are made up of varying proportions of the macronutrients fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Because the low-carb diet attempts to cut out carbs, it is naturally high in fat and protein. What’s wrong with that? Well, the problem with a high-fat diet is that it makes it harder to lose weight. Protein and carbohydrates each contain around 4 calories per gram. In contrast, fat contains 9 calories per gram. This is why a tiny dollop of butter contains as many calories as a much larger serving of brown rice, or a heaping plateful of steamed broccoli.
Now, you’ve probably heard the anti-fat message before. Cutting back on fat is definitely an important step for anyone who wants to lose weight. Unfortunately, anti-fat zealots took that message to an extreme by urging people to cut their fat intake to an unreasonable degree, and by ignoring the fact that not all types of fat are equally bad. (Some, in fact, are quite good for you.)
What about protein? Most weight-loss gurus act as though protein is a miracle food that helps you effortlessly shed unwanted pounds. The truth is more complex. As with all other foods, whether or not protein is good for you depends upon how much you are consuming, and in what proportion to the other ingredients in your diet. Some protein is definitely essential for building strong muscles, strong bones, and even for promoting intracellular communication. But too much protein can be harmful, because protein has a strongly acidifying effect on your body’s internal chemistry.
Why is this the case? Because protein is rich in phosphorus- and sulfur-containing amino acids, such as methionine. When these amino acids are digested and assimilated, the minerals that they contain are released into your body, making it more acidic. Many people lose weight on low-carb diets, at least temporarily. But these diets have a tendency to leave you lacking in energy, and suffering from constipation and other unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms. Alkaline diet experts have raised even more serious objections, warning that low-carb diets may increase the long-term risk of kidney disease and cardiovascular problems.
In contrast, the alkaline diet is not only beneficial for weight loss, but for overall health as well. The alkaline diet is designed to keep your body’s pH level in proper balance, helping to stave off illness. The alkaline diet can also help promote normal blood pressure, healthy bones, and a youthful, attractive appearance.
The scientific basis for the alkaline diet begins with the fact that our body operates best at an internal pH of around 7.35. Different organs and tissues within the body each have their own proper pH range. Sometimes it’s on the acidic side, and sometimes it’s on the alkaline side. On the whole, however, it is accurate to say that a healthy human body is a slightly alkaline body. A slightly alkaline state keeps your body’s cells and organs functioning optimally, because it ensures that they have access to plenty of life-giving minerals. As long as this balance is maintained by a healthy alkaline diet, the stage is set for good health. But when your body becomes too acidic, trouble usually ensues. Virtually every organ and system in your body is harmed by excessive acidity.
Since your body works best in an alkaline state, it logically follows that a high-alkaline diet promotes optimal health. In fact, eating more alkalizing then acidifying foods is the only effective method of ensuring that your body will have a proper pH balance throughout your life. In simple terms, this means eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, while minimizing animal products. No, you do not need to become a vegan, although the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle can certainly be compatible with an alkaline diet. But most people will need to at least cut back on the amount of meat and dairy products that they consume. You can also include certain whole grains, nuts and seeds, and legumes as part of your diet.
In general, it is recommended that you consume a ratio of at least 65% alkalizing foods, and no more than 35% acidifying foods. If you are ill or dealing with a lot of stress, you may need to increase the percentage of alkalizing foods still further, in order to give yourself the best chance of achieving optimal health.
The acid alkaline diet can not only help you to drop extra pounds, but more importantly to regain your health and lead a longer, healthier, and happier life. The alkaline diet can be especially beneficial for people who suffer from fatigue, stress, and a general feeling of always being under the weather. It can also be helpful for those who suffer from frequent infections, nasal congestion, skin problems, aches and pains, and other nagging complaints that are too often dismissed as the price of growing old.
I don’t have time to go into all of the benefits of the alkaline diet, but I want to discuss one or two so that you can see the science behind this approach. The alkaline diet can help you to lose weight because it emphasizes foods that are low in caloric density. For example, an apple contains fewer then 9 calories per ounce, but most fats and oils contain nearly 250 calories per ounce. This means that it is much easier to keep your caloric intake to a reasonable level by eating fruits and vegetables, rather than the high-calorie snacks and convenience foods that most of us eat too much of. Luckily, the alkaline diet emphasizes precisely these healthy low-calorie foods.
To take another example, how can the alkaline diet help increase your energy level? Because energy is actually manufactured inside your cells by tiny mechanisms called mitochondria. Not surprisingly, mitochondria function best in a specific range of acid-alkaline balance, which means that by eating correctly, you will be helping your body to create the energy you need for work and play.
With the alkaline diet, you can improve your overall health, increase your energy level, lose excess weight, and reduce your risk of getting many chronic diseases. It does not have to be complicated or difficult, so why not start today and see what the alkaline diet can do for you.
