Alkaline Diet - What's the Worst That Could Happen?

The alkaline diet has gained a lot of support in recent years, largely from former followers of the low-carb diet who became disgruntled by the unpleasant side effects of that approach. I have been following this diet for several months, and despite some initial skepticism, I have been won over completely. But today I want to talk about the worst-case scenario: What if the science behind the alkaline diet turns out to be completely bogus?

Now, I want to say that I don't think that this is going to be shown to be the case. More and more studies are coming out all the time that show the substantial benefits of eating alkaline foods, including the fact that it helps to preserve bone and muscle tissue as people grow older.

On the other hand, it is true that health and nutrition recommendations seem to change all the time. Just because a particular diet is on the rise right now doesn't mean that it won't be dethroned by some new nutritional trend six months from now. The point I want to emphasize is that the alkaline diet is an overall healthy diet, even if you completely ignore the information about the link between health and pH balance.

Let's look at the types of foods that are encouraged on the alkaline diet. We're talking fresh fruits and vegetables, certain whole grains, some nuts and seeds, healthy oils, and modest portions of legumes. Meat and dairy foods are consumed in moderation, or not at all.

Does this sound like a fad diet to you? Or does it sound like a good description of an all-around healthy diet, similar to the vegetarian diet or the Mediterranean diet? In short, the alkaline diet isn't a fad--it's a can't-lose proposition.