An alkaline diet is a diet method that focuses on reducing the consumption of foods that produce acid in the body. Although this diet is often claimed to be healthy, there are some important things you need to understand about this diet.
The theory states that certain types of food can increase the acidity of the body, thereby triggering a variety of health problems, ranging from weight gain, arthritis, to acne. On the other hand, some foods that can make the body more alkaline are thought to be able to overcome health problems caused by increasing body acidity.
Understanding the Application of the Alkaline Diet
In practice, the alkaline diet focuses on limiting the consumption of a type of food, and focuses on efforts to reduce body acid levels.
To achieve this goal, there are several things that must be considered when undergoing this type of diet, namely:
Types of food allowed
When on an alkaline diet, you are advised to eat a variety of whole grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
Types of food that are not recommended
Some types of foods that should be avoided and limited in consumption while on this diet are processed food products, eggs, meat, wheat, canned foods, packaged snacks, caffeine, alcohol, and various foods from dairy products.
Meanwhile, wheat and protein sources do not need to be completely removed from the diet. Although in practice, the alkaline diet prioritizes consumption of vegetables and fruit rather than wheat and various types of protein foods.
Pros and Cons Benefits of an Alkaline Diet
A study says that an alkaline diet can provide a number of benefits, including:
- Increasing the ratio of potassium and sodium in the blood is believed to be able to maintain bone health, reduce the risk of muscle wasting or atrophy, and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as stroke and hypertension.
- Body conditions that have a higher or more alkaline pH can increase the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer.
- This type of diet can also increase intracellular magnesium levels, which can optimize the function of a number of enzymes and help activate vitamin D.
However, the benefits mentioned above still need to be investigated further.
On the other hand, there are studies that actually state that consuming meat and dairy or their processed products will not change your body's pH. This is because the body has a mechanism that is able to regulate acidity levels.
Another thing you need to consider is when limiting or even eliminating milk, cheese, yogurt, and meat, you must take food substitutes or supplements to meet calcium and protein needs.
Alkaline diet is believed to have various benefits. However, if you have certain medical conditions, you should first consult with your doctor before going on this diet.
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