Although designed primarily to adjust the body's pH balance to optimal levels that promote overall health, the acid-alkaline diet has an added bonus for people seeking to shed excess pounds. This diet involves significant adjustments in eating habits, steering clear of highly acidic foods such as meat, dairy and wheat products in favor of alkaline-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables and plant protein. The benefits include not only weight loss but also a reduction in health-related complaints.
Acid vs. Alkaline
In dietary terms, any discussion of acid and alkaline refers primarily to the residue left after you consume certain foods. Although we tend to think of some fruits, such as lemons, oranges and strawberries, as acidic, they can be alkaline in the reaction they have on the body's pH balance. In fact, foods that are high in starch and protein, such as beans, cheese, eggs and nuts, produce acid in the body. High levels of either acid or alkaline are unhealthy, producing conditions called acidosis and alkalosis, respectively. The goal of the acid-alkaline diet is to strike just the right balance between the two.
Acid-Alkaline Theory of Disease
Naturopathic doctors Michael T. Murray and Joseph Pizzorno, authors of "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods," explain that the acid-alkaline theory of disease holds that excess acid accumulation in the body is responsible for many diseases, including osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. While acknowledging that the theory is an oversimplification, they say that it's important to consume more alkaline-producing foods than acid-producing foods.
Reasons for Weight Gain
When the body's pH balance swings too far to the acid side, the body has difficulty in neutralizing acidic wastes, resulting in an unhealthy buildup of fatty acids, some of which are stored as body fat and others that are converted to cholesterol or lactic acid. This also sets off a vicious cycle as blood, overloaded with acidic waste, clogs organ systems and slows down metabolism so that less of the food consumed is burned off. The end-result is weight gain.
Optimal pH Levels for Weight Loss
The body's pH scale ranges from 1 -- the most acidic -- to 14 -- the most alkaline. According to microbiologist Robert O. Young, creator of the pH Miracle diet, the body tries its best to maintain healthy blood levels of pH, but what you eat ultimately determines your pH reading. Although a blood test offers the most accurate reading of pH, you can use test strips to gauge pH from your urine or saliva. A slightly alkaline level of 7.365 pH is ideal, according to Young, who points out that "overacidity is what keeps you fat."
What to Eat
To lose weight and keep your pH balance slightly alkaline, your diet should consist of 80 percent high-alkaline foods and 20 percent acid-forming foods. This means eating mostly whole foods, including fruits, vegetables and root plants. Also allowable are nuts, whole grains, beans and spices, as well as such beverages as green tea and spring water. Steer clear of processed foods, caffeine, white sugar and white flour. The only allowable cooking oils are avocado oil, coconut oil and virgin olive oil. Noticeably absent from this diet are caffeine, dairy products, meats and other foods high in saturated fats. It's a challenging diet, but the payoff can be very sweet indeed.
References
- "The Acid Alkaline Balance Diet;" Felicia Drury Kliment; 2010
- "The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health;" Christopher Vasey and Jon Graham; 2006
- "The PH Miracle for Diabetes;" Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young; 2004
- Alkaline Diet Plan: Breakthrough Ways for Perfect Health
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