Our kidneys, lungs and buffering systems take care of this for us, operating together to keep our blood pH tightly controlled. There is some evidence that a more alkaline diet is beneficial, although not to the degree that some popular diets promote.Ī typical Western diet produces more acid than alkali, so overall it’s slightly acidic. Is there any scientific evidence about this diet? If you don’t consume fewer kilojoules, it’s not likely to result in weight-loss. It’s likely that if you follow this diet you will lose weight simply because it’s restrictive, so you’re likely to consume fewer kilojoules. Just because foods are acid-forming doesn’t make them unhealthy! We need to look at the big picture of our overall diet. Many people assume tomatoes and lemons are acid-forming but as with most vegetables and fruit, they release more alkaline by-products once they’re fully metabolised. Acid-forming foods include fish, meat, poultry, eggs, shellfish, cheese, bread, cereals and grains.Alkali-forming foods include fresh vegetables (including starchy vegetables) and fruit.Once digested and metabolised, most foods release either acid or alkaline by-products into the circulation: Drinks including tea, coffee, alcohol, sugary and carbonated drinks are often on the banned list as well, whether or not they are acid-forming. Generally, the diets advise that from 70 to 80 per cent of our foods need to be alkaline and to achieve this we’re told to limit or eliminate acid-forming foods (see below). The alkaline diet comes in different forms and is sometimes called the acid alkaline diet. This is because our kidneys help maintain the acid-base balance in our bodies by regulating the disposal of hydrogen ions (which are what is actually being measured when we talk of acidity and alkalinity). To check the results of dietary changes, people following these diets use litmus strips to test the pH of their urine. ![]() The theory behind the alkaline diet is that the foods we eat should reflect the alkalinity of our blood as eating too many acid-producing foods makes it more difficult for our bodies to maintain this balance. The normal pH range for our blood is 7.35 to 7.45, so it is slightly alkaline. Acids have a pH less than 7 a pH of 7 is neutral and a pH greater than 7 is alkali (also called base, as in the acid-base balance). ![]() The pH scale is a measure of acidity and alkalinity. They’re also promoted as weight-loss diets. What are alkaline diets and is there anything in it for us? HFG senior nutritionist Rose Carr takes a closer look.Īccording to proponents of alkaline diets, if we eat mainly alkaline foods we can improve the pH in our bodies and thus improve our health.
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