Alkaline Diet.

Unlike most diets, alkaline diet focuses on preventing diseases such as urinary tract infection and heart disease. Alkaline diet describes a group of loosely related diets based on the misconception that different types of food can have an effect on the pH balance of the body. It originated from the acid ash hypothesis.

Diets that focus primarily on weight loss, alkaline diet focuses on preventing diseases caused by acid-base imbalance in the body. Alkaline diet is all about consuming foods that help maintain a neutral (pH=7) or slightly alkaline (pH=7.4) blood reading. The pH is a measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance. A pH of less than 7 is acidic and a pH of more than 7 is alkaline, water being neutral with pH=7. one of the most important measurements of health is the pH of the body fluids, it is very important to have an acid-base balance. Any imbalance, especially those leaning towards acidic, could be associated with health disorders including obesity, tiredness, premature aging, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Your metabolism the conversion of food into energy is sometimes compared to fire. Each involves a chemical reaction that breaks down a solid mass. However, the chemical reactions in your body happen in a slow and controlled manner. When things burn, an ash residue is left behind. Similarly, the foods you eat also leave an “ash” residue known as metabolic waste. As it turns out, this metabolic waste can be alkaline also called neutral or acidic. Proponents of this diet claim that metabolic waste can directly affect your body’s acidity. In other words, if you eat foods that leave acidic ash, it makes your blood more acidic. If you eat foods that leave alkaline ash, it makes your blood more alkaline.

According to the acid-ash hypothesis, acidic ash is thought to make you vulnerable to illness and disease, whereas alkaline ash is considered protective. By choosing more alkaline foods, you should be able to "alkalize" your body and improve health. Food components that leave an acidic ash include protein, phosphate and sulfur.

Certain food groups are considered acidic, alkaline or neutral:

• Acidic: Meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, grains and alcohol.

• Neutral: Natural fats, starches and sugars.

• Alkaline: Fruits, nuts, legumes and vegetables.