You may have heard of the alkaline diet, but have no idea what it means and what it really entails. The alkaline diet is considered by many to be a way to transform your body’s pH through the consumption of more alkaline foods. Although there are mixed reviews about the success of using an alkaline diet to avoid or reduce the risk of the most common diseases, it’s important to understand how it all works.
The battle between alkaline and acid
Many people believe that a diet rich in alkaline foods can alkalize your body and boost your health. On the other hand, it is believed that a diet that contains excessive amounts of acid producing foods like red meat may disrupt the bloods’ regular pH level, throwing it off balance and leading to poor health.
Your body’s pH levels are important—they tell you how acidic or alkaline your body is on a scale of 0 to 14. The kidney and lungs have the task of maintaining a balanced pH in the body.
pH levels in the body
- 0 = extremely acidic
- 7 = neutral
- 14 = very alkaline
Your levels of pH vary throughout the body. Your blood is slightly alkaline, with a normal pH range of 7.35 and 7.45. Your stomach is known to very acidic so that it can successfully break down food—carrying a pH of around 1.5 to 3.5. A lower pH level is good for food digestion and eliminating germs that make their way into the stomach. On the alkaline diet, it is recommended to monitor the pH of your urine to ensure that it is alkaline (over 7) and not acidic (below 7).
The foods you consume can be…