Alkaline Diet - Scam or Savior?

Alkaline diet aficionados will tell you that this diet is the best way to lose weight. But can it also help you to overcome health problems, and even have a longer, healthier life? I believe that the answer is yes. For one thing, research has shown that virtually every organ and cell in your body functions optimally only when it is in a state of proper acid-alkaline balance. If you accept this proposition, then it logically follows that the alkaline diet will help you to feel better, experience less illness, and probably even live longer.

But I also believe that this diet has benefits that have nothing to do with pH balance. Even if the theory behind the alkaline diet were nonsense, it would still be good for you. How so? Well, let's look at the central concepts behind this diet.

First of all, although experts disagree as to precisely which foods are acidifying and which ones are alkalizing, there is broad agreement that fruits and vegetables are the most alkalizing foods available. Leaving aside the question of the relationship between pH and health, it is well known that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has significant health benefits. Some studies have linked these foods to a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. In addition, fruits and vegetables are low in calories, which certainly makes them an asset if you are trying to lose weight or to maintain your current weight.

On the other hand, the foods that are restricted or eliminated on the alkaline diet are some of the worst offenders, such as soft drinks, sugary desserts, and snacks containing processed white flour. Even if you're not an alkaline diet believer, it's clear that your health will improve if you eat less of these foods.