What is alkaline diet and why is it pseudoscience?
The alkaline diet has become a trend among celebrities, but like most things that sound too good to be true, alkaline diet is a good example. Experts say there is no scientific evidence that alkaline foods are healthier than acidic foods.
The alkaline diet is pseudoscience
The idea behind alkaline diet is that foods you eat can change your blood pH and therefore your health.
All you have to do is avoid foods that diet classifies as acidic, limit neutral foods, and focus on more alkaline foods. The alkaline diet categorizes foods. According to pH value, details are as follows:
While food you eat can affect urine pH, it is not same as changing blood pH. Your blood pH remains neutral. Around 7.4, as an alkaline diet implies, you cannot change pH of your blood through diet.
"That's because our bodies are sharp and have built-in mechanisms to control pH."
Alkaline dieters also say that acidic foods leave "acid ash" in body, which can contribute to diseases like osteoporosis. Since then, several studies have shown this assumption to be incorrect.
Alkaline diet is dangerous for cancer.
In 2013, alkaline diet became widespread. The founder of alkaline diet, Robert Young, falsely claimed that diet could help treat cancer. As a result, some cancer patients turn to alkaline diet therapy and find no relief.
In some cases, a strict alkaline diet can only lead to muscle atrophy and back pain. The Institute also rejects claims that eating acidic foods can lower body's pH and promote cancer.
Kidney stones are only condition that an alkaline diet can help with. Throughout 20th century, researchers conducted a large amount of research into pH levels in foods and their effect on kidneys. They found that eating more alkaline foods helped. Prevent the formation of kidney stones.
An alkaline diet can lead to malnutrition.
Any time you cut out food groups from your diet, be careful. "If you don't prioritize your food choices, it can lead to nutrient deficiencies."
For example, alkaline diet eliminates some healthy foods such as eggs and fish and encourages followers to follow strict dietary guidelines. Without careful planning, an alkaline diet can lead to muscle loss due to lack of protein and improper nutrition.
However, there is anecdotal evidence that diets help people lose weight, stay fit, and feel better. But it's not about alkaline foods, it's about switching to a plant-based, whole-food diet as promoted choice.
If a healthy, plant-based diet is your goal, there are other science-based diets that support their health benefits, such as being vegetarian or vegan.
What is alkaline diet and why is it pseudoscience?
It is easy to get angry in summer, and there are a lot of viral blisters around lips, what should I do?
Why are some people more attractive to mosquitoes? Is it a blood type thing?
What is palpitations? What causes heart palpitations?
Is folliculitis always curable? What matters require attention in everyday life?
Why is asthma more common in winter? How rationally to stop an asthma attack with medication?
The doctor said how to distinguish that it is a dry cough caused by an allergy?
Some experts say choice of alcohol and disinfectant is very important to prevent coronavirus.
What does "thin" and "fat" mean? Hear what experts say
Why does psoriasis itch, thicken and flake? Here's reason!