Microbiologist and proponent of alkaline diet Dr. Robert Young said the fluids in our body should be balanced. The idea of alkaline diet is that the alkalinity in our body fluid should maintain pH level of between 7.35 to 7.45. Anything lower than 7 – being the neutral level – is acidic. He blamed the excess acid, not fats, to overweight and obesity.
Battle of the diets
Most diet programs’ target is to eliminate fats. Some diet methods blame the carbohydrates for building excessive fats in our bodies. Experts, who promote high protein-low carbohydrates diet, explained proteins served as fuel to burn fats in our body. This theory leads to promotion of higher intake of protein and tapering carbohydrates.
On the other hand, some diet programs are promoting higher intake of carbohydrates and minimal consumption or totally abstaining from protein.
Whatever which way, both are promoting acid in our body.
In alkaline diet, it recognizes the importance of protein and carbohydrates it gives to our body. It also refuted the common notion that fats are the enemies why people are uncontrollably gaining weight.
Dr. Young explained that it is the acid that makes people fat.
He said if acid is not eliminated through perspiration, urination or respiration, it will pack to your thigh, hips, buttocks and waistline in the form of fat.
Acid, a waste product from energy production, will become fat. Fats develop and act as protective mechanism to shield our tissues from excess acidity.
Eating alkaline-producing foods eliminates excess acids in our body. Low level of acids means low development of fats.
Alkaline vs. Acid
Alkaline plays an important role in our body. Its function is to neutralize excess acid by removing them from our system. If we could not maintain pH levels with low alkaline, the essential nutrients, such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium, will be used up because it will act as neutralizing agent of the excess acid.
When minerals and nutrients are depleted and could no longer neutralize acid, high level of acid will occur and penetrate our tissues. This will result to the development of fatal diseases.
Stance on alkaline diet
Although the medical society has no official stance yet regarding the alkaline diet, most doctors believed that maintaining pH levels of alkaline is essential to good health. They observed that high level of acid, or known as acidosis, is commonly present in most deadly and serious illnesses – such as cancer, heart disease, obesity, weight problems, allergies, fatigue and premature aging as well as problems with our nervous system, cardiovascular system and muscles.
Furthermore, eating alkaline-producing foods promotes healthy tissues as it can hold as much as 20 times of oxygen in the body. Cancer cells are prevented from forming because they do not survive in oxygen.
Alkaline and acid-producing food
The food we eat leaves an ash residue in our body – either alkaline or acid ash.
Alkaline-producing foods are low sugar foods, fresh vegetables, citrus fruits, fish, grains, nuts, water with lemon or lime.
On the other hand, foods that leave acid ash are beef, pork, chicken, sweets, alcohol, dairy products, eggs and processed foods.
In alkaline diet, it does not encourage refraining or abstaining from acid- producing foods. Young recommended that people should consume 70 to 80 percent of alkalinized food and 20 to 30 percent of acidic food.
The measurement of consumption of alkalinize food is not as complicated as other diet programs’ calories counting. By simply looking at the plate, you will know how many percent of alkaline and how many percent of acid you are consuming.
