Alkaline Diet - Just Another Fad?

The alkaline diet has been hyped as a miracle cure for obesity, fatigue, and numerous chronic health problems. If you've heard these reports, the question that you probably want to ask is, "Does it really work? Or is it just another fad?"

To answer these questions, it isn't enough to look for anecdotal evidence from people who have experienced positive results following alkaline diet. These testimonials can have some value, not only when combined with rigorous scientific research. After all, virtually every diet on the market can muster a few gushing reviews, no matter how far-fetched it is.

Well, the good news about this diet is that it is supported by scientific research. Unfortunately, only a few of the claims made for this diet have been thoroughly investigated. A lot more research needs to be done, but recent studies have shown that eating alkalizing foods can help to prevent the osteoporosis and muscle wasting that often occur as people grow older.

Another consideration is the safety of the alkaline diet. After all, even scientists sometimes change their minds. You don't want to start a diet, even if it appears to be supported by scientific evidence, only to find six months or two years later that it is damaging your health. Fortunately, the alkaline diet is quite safe for most people. There is nothing weird about this diet, it simply emphasizes eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and certain other alkalizing whole foods. At the same time, you are encouraged to cut back on processed junk foods. In addition to being acid-producing, these foods are high in calories and often loaded with unhealthy ingredients.

In conclusion, the alkaline diet would continue to be a sound approach for most people, even if the science supporting it turned out to be false.

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.

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.

Alkaline Diet Can Boost Energy

Alkaline diet options are proliferating as more and more people discover the benefits of this natural approach to eating. Many people have lost weight or resolved health problems by following this diet. But can the alkaline diet also help to increase your energy level?

Lack of energy is a very common problem these days. Sometimes it can be the result of serious underlying health problems, that more often it is the result of insomnia, stress, poor dietary choices, or a lack of exercise leading to poorer physical conditioning.

Let's talk about diet, because the foods you eat can make a big difference in whether or not you go through life bursting with energy, or on the other hand, constantly feel tired and worn out. Can an alkaline diet help you to gain energy?

The answer is yes. To give you a detailed explanation would require an encyclopedic blog post, and I only have a few more minutes before I have to take my son to school. But the bottom line is that everything in your body simply works better when you have a proper pH balance. This includes your mitochondria, a specialized structure or organelle which occurs within cells and is responsible for energy production. When your body is too acidic, the mitochondria don't perform as well. Of course, they don't stop working altogether, or you would quickly die. But they can't function at their peak unless you are eating a well-balanced diet.

Another way that an alkaline diet can help you to experience balanced energy is by regulating your blood sugar level. Processed carbs are assimilated quickly, leading to a rapid increase in blood sugar, followed by an equally rapid decline. In contrast, the alkaline diet provides complex carbs and plenty of fiber, which help keep your blood sugar stable.

Alkaline Diet - Good for Weight Loss?

The alkaline diet -- It has become increasingly popular among people who want to lose weight, but who have become disillusioned with low-carb approaches. But can you really lose weight on alkalizing foods? And is this diet really superior to the low-carb diet? In this article, I'll be taking a look at these questions, and providing the best answers that I can.

First, can you lose weight on an alkaline diet? In order to answer this question, we need to understand what a diet needs to do in order to promote weight loss. Once we understand that, we can ask of whether or not the alkaline diet fits those criteria. Weight loss is a very complicated subject, but the bottom line is that diets work by reducing the number of calories that you consume. Eating alkaline foods may or may not reduce your total caloric intake, depending on what kind of foods you currently eat, and what kind of foods you choose to eat on this diet. However, keep in mind that the alkaline diet requires you to eliminate or greatly reduce your consumption of many fattening foods, including candy, soft drinks, chips, fatty meats, and high-fat dairy products. If you currently many of these foods, following this diet will probably help you lose weight by reducing your caloric intake.

Second, in what ways, if any, is this type of diet superior to low-carb diets such as the South Beach diet and the Atkins diet? The big difference is that low-carb diets cut out virtually all carbs, while the alkaline diet draws a distinction between bad carbs to be avoided, and good carbs which can be consumed liberally. According to experts on this diet, good carbs include fruits and vegetables, along with certain alkalizing whole grains.