Acid Alkaline Diet: What To Know

Overview

The aim:

May include weight loss, disease prevention, slowing down aging and promoting optimal health.

The claim:

By helping your body control your pH through diet, you’ll gain health and longevity.

The theory:

pH is a measure of acids and alkalines throughout the body on a 0 to 14 scale. Acidic substances range from 0 to 7; vinegar, for example, has a pH of about 2.0, which means it’s acidic. Alkaline substances, meanwhile, fall between 7 and 14 on the scale. Calcium, which is highly alkaline, has a pH of about 10. In its natural state, our body is slightly alkaline – hovering between 7.35 and 7.45. Supporters of the Acid Alkaline Diet argue that eating acid-forming foods – like red meat – tips your pH balance out of whack and sets the stage for poor health. Balancing your pH through diet, they say, leads to numerous health benefits. The thinking goes: If we’re constantly putting acidic foods into our body, how does our system have time to do anything other than work to remove them?

Balanced Diet

These diets fall within accepted ranges for the amount of protein, carbs, fat and other nutrients they provide.

Pros & Cons

• Heavy on fresh produce
• Filling

• Lots of rules to remember
• Little research to back it up