5 Reasons to Follow an Alkaline Diet

You may have heard about the dangers of your body becoming too acidic (sometimes referred to as acidosis) but the truth is that your body has an incredible ability to maintain a normal pH balance. However, if you continue to eat highly acidic foods it could be taxing on your body to maintain this balance as it will  continually be working overtime to keep you in check. 

Find out why these 5 reasons to follow an alkaline diet may be useful in helping you in ways you may not realize. Ways that could reap some positive health benefits which, over time, just might put you ahead of the curve and help avoid some possible future illnesses. 

Brittle Bones

You don’t need to be over fifty to start worrying about your bones, particularly if you follow a western diet. Due to the high amounts of animal products and minimal fruits and vegetables in this diet, the body is often on a rollercoaster response of high acidic load. As a result alkaline salts of calcium need to be drawn from the bones for proper pH balance. This could result in weakening the bones which, in some cases, could make them more vulnerable to fractures and breaks as well as future osteoporosis. 

Osteoporosis International published the abstract and conclusion of the study, ‘Dietary acid load, trabecular bone integrity, and mineral density in an aging population: the Rotterdam study’ which stated,

“We studied the relation between a diet that is high in acid-forming nutrients (e.g. proteins) and low in base-forming nutrients (e.g. potassium) and bone structure. We showed a negative relation, which was more prominent if proteins were of animal rather than of vegetable origin and if intake of dietary fibre was high….High NEAP [net endogenous acid production] was associated with low TBS [trabecular bone score])”

Acne and Other Skin Outbreaks

A constantly acidic environment could clue you in to pending problems through the largest organ of the body; the skin. A perpetually acidic pH is often associated with a compromised gut which is the major location of your immune system. Acne and other skin outbreaks are conspicuous red flags of a possible problem on the inside rather than only on the surface. 

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology published an Indian study which showed the effects of a compromised acidic mantle, the thin film on the surface of the skin that fights off bacteria. When this mantle is overridden with too much systemic acidic responses, it is believed to be compromised resulting in acne.

The study concluded,

“We propose that skin pH could possibly be a determining element in causation of acne. Sustaining the acidic mantle during therapy by taking into account the modifiable factors and various possible interventions can pave the way for further advances in acne treatment.”

Joint and Muscle Pain

Acidic environments have been linked to vasoconstriction (vay-zoh-constriction) also known as narrowed blood flow. Compromised circulation means less oxygen and nutrients able to be transported to your muscles and joints resulting in pain and often injury. 

There is also some evidence that indicates how certain systems have trouble breaking down uric acid, the byproduct of the digestion of purines, acidic chemicals from a high animal protein diet. When uric acids cannot be broken down and excreted from the body they can embed in the joints, crystalize, expand, and cause extreme pain known as gout. An alkaline diet may help increase blood flow (vasodilation) as well as improve reducing uric acid.

Fatigue 

If you ask most people they will tell you they are tired. This is probably due to the western diet many continue to eat which has shown to keep the body in a perpetual acidic state. This acidic state may be affecting energy levels. 

In a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Science it was concluded that,

“Acidosis induces fatigue due to the direct effects on cross-bridge force, velocity, and power and by suppressing myofibrillar [muscle fiber] sensitivity.”

Stick to an Alkaline Diet

These and many other studies show the benefits of leaning toward a more alkaline diet. It’s easy, just eat more fruits and vegetables that haven’t been packaged, canned, pickled or overcooked. 

From the Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 

Alkaline diets may result in a number of health benefits as outlined below:

• Increased fruits and vegetables in an alkaline diet would improve the K/Na ratio and may benefit bone health, reduce muscle wasting, as well as mitigate other chronic diseases such as hypertension and strokes.
• The resultant increase in growth hormone with an alkaline diet may improve many outcomes from cardiovascular health to memory and cognition. 
• An increase in intracellular magnesium, which is required for the function of many enzyme systems, is another added benefit of the alkaline diet. Available magnesium, which is required to activate vitamin D, would result in numerous added benefits in the vitamin D apocrine/exocrine systems.
• Alkalinity may result in added benefit for some chemotherapeutic agents that require a higher pH.

These 5 reasons to follow an alkaline diet show how switching to cleaner eating could substantially enhance your health and longevity.