Alkaline Diet

Thank God, I was just starting to get bored at work.

From the wikipedia article: Advocates for alternative uses of an alkaline diet propose that since the normal pH of the blood is slightly alkaline, the goal of diet should be to mirror this by eating a diet that is alkaline producing as well. These advocates propose that diets high in acid-producing elements will generally lead the body to become acidic, which can foster disease. This proposed mechanism, in which the diet can significantly change the acidity of the blood, goes against "everything we know about the chemistry of the human body" and has been called a "myth" in a statement by the American Institute for Cancer Research. Unlike the pH level in the urine, a selectively alkaline diet has not been shown to elicit a sustained change in blood pH levels, nor to provide the clinical benefits claimed by its proponents. Because of the body's natural regulatory mechanisms, which do not require a special diet to work, eating an alkaline diet can, at most, change the blood pH minimally and transiently.

From the concept of what it is, it's very limiting. You cut out meats, dairy and grains, and eat primarily fruits and vegetables. If it makes you feel better, great, just make sure you're eating enough of the allowed foods to make sure your nutrients are balanced.
If you're just looking at it for kicks, I'd say why bother? It's way too restrictive for me to make it a sustainable diet. You may pry cheese from my cold dead hand, and not even then if I have my way.

Yes, and it's a bunch of poppycock.

You can change the pH of your urine by the foods you eat, but that's it. Your body has many ways to regulate your pH and the food you eat doesn't affect it one single bit.

Afura wrote: »

From the wikipedia article: Advocates for alternative uses of an alkaline diet propose that since the normal pH of the blood is slightly alkaline, the goal of diet should be to mirror this by eating a diet that is alkaline producing as well. These advocates propose that diets high in acid-producing elements will generally lead the body to become acidic, which can foster disease. This proposed mechanism, in which the diet can significantly change the acidity of the blood, goes against "everything we know about the chemistry of the human body" and has been called a "myth" in a statement by the American Institute for Cancer Research. Unlike the pH level in the urine, a selectively alkaline diet has not been shown to elicit a sustained change in blood pH levels, nor to provide the clinical benefits claimed by its proponents. Because of the body's natural regulatory mechanisms, which do not require a special diet to work, eating an alkaline diet can, at most, change the blood pH minimally and transiently.

From the concept of what it is, it's very limiting. You cut out meats, dairy and grains, and eat primarily fruits and vegetables. If it makes you feel better, great, just make sure you're eating enough of the allowed foods to make sure your nutrients are balanced.
If you're just looking at it for kicks, I'd say why bother? It's way too restrictive for me to make it a sustainable diet. You may pry cheese from my cold dead hand, and not even then if I have my way.

It's also complete woo. Really changing the acidity of your blood by what you eat is . . . let's say, unlikely.

Emilia777 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

It's also complete woo. Really changing the acidity of your blood by what you eat is . . . let's say, unlikely.

This isn’t too far off from the Zodiac Sign Diet (I wish I was making this up…)

First of all, that's crazy.

Second of all, it says I should give up spicy food. That will never, never, never happen. I don't care if I do have "excess fire."

alkaline diet? Is that when one need to take antacids?

janejellyroll wrote: »

Emilia777 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

It's also complete woo. Really changing the acidity of your blood by what you eat is . . . let's say, unlikely.

This isn’t too far off from the Zodiac Sign Diet (I wish I was making this up…)

First of all, that's crazy.

Second of all, it says I should give up spicy food. That will never, never, never happen. I don't care if I do have "excess fire."

Amen to that. I’d rather use that excess fire to bend some cold hard iron. (i.e. lift them heavy weights like a boss)

janejellyroll wrote: »

Emilia777 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

It's also complete woo. Really changing the acidity of your blood by what you eat is . . . let's say, unlikely.

This isn’t too far off from the Zodiac Sign Diet (I wish I was making this up…)

First of all, that's crazy.

Second of all, it says I should give up spicy food. That will never, never, never happen. I don't care if I do have "excess fire."

Excess fire is brought back into balance by foods that are cold, moist and heavy...

Does this mean I get ice cream? Because I could work with that diet.

diannethegeek wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Emilia777 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

It's also complete woo. Really changing the acidity of your blood by what you eat is . . . let's say, unlikely.

This isn’t too far off from the Zodiac Sign Diet (I wish I was making this up…)

First of all, that's crazy.

Second of all, it says I should give up spicy food. That will never, never, never happen. I don't care if I do have "excess fire."

Excess fire is brought back into balance by foods that are cold, moist and heavy...

Does this mean I get ice cream? Because I could work with that diet.

Ehh.. you just happen to be lucky. Apparently I need to eat croutons for some reason (while simultaneously avoiding grain.. so yeah), and the only way to remedy excess air does not involve eating

Emilia777 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

It's also complete woo. Really changing the acidity of your blood by what you eat is . . . let's say, unlikely.

This isn’t too far off from the Zodiac Sign Diet (I wish I was making this up…)

Curiousity killed the cat...

So I'm supposed to eat croutons, but not grains or yeasty foods; steamed vegetables, but no rootcrops; nuts, but no raw foods.

And how do I know if I'm high air or low air? Because if I'm low air, angostura bitters are supposed to remedy something for me, which means I'm having old fashioneds all night!

ceoverturf wrote: »

Emilia777 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

It's also complete woo. Really changing the acidity of your blood by what you eat is . . . let's say, unlikely.

This isn’t too far off from the Zodiac Sign Diet (I wish I was making this up…)

Curiousity killed the cat...

So I'm supposed to eat croutons, but not grains or yeasty foods; steamed vegetables, but no rootcrops; nuts, but no raw foods.

And how do I know if I'm high air or low air? Because if I'm low air, angostura bitters are supposed to remedy something for me, which means I'm having old fashioneds all night!

I'm starting to suspect that this entire diet is a scheme by the American Alcohol Association . . . deciding what solid foods to eat will be so confusing we'll just drink our dinners instead.

janejellyroll wrote: »

ceoverturf wrote: »

Emilia777 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

It's also complete woo. Really changing the acidity of your blood by what you eat is . . . let's say, unlikely.

This isn’t too far off from the Zodiac Sign Diet (I wish I was making this up…)

Curiousity killed the cat...

So I'm supposed to eat croutons, but not grains or yeasty foods; steamed vegetables, but no rootcrops; nuts, but no raw foods.

And how do I know if I'm high air or low air? Because if I'm low air, angostura bitters are supposed to remedy something for me, which means I'm having old fashioneds all night!

I'm starting to suspect that this entire diet is a scheme by the American Alcohol Association . . . deciding what solid foods to eat will be so confusing we'll just drink our dinners instead.

I'm not entirely against that idea...

janejellyroll wrote: »

ceoverturf wrote: »

Emilia777 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

It's also complete woo. Really changing the acidity of your blood by what you eat is . . . let's say, unlikely.

This isn’t too far off from the Zodiac Sign Diet (I wish I was making this up…)

Curiousity killed the cat...

So I'm supposed to eat croutons, but not grains or yeasty foods; steamed vegetables, but no rootcrops; nuts, but no raw foods.

And how do I know if I'm high air or low air? Because if I'm low air, angostura bitters are supposed to remedy something for me, which means I'm having old fashioneds all night!

I'm starting to suspect that this entire diet is a scheme by the American Alcohol Association . . . deciding what solid foods to eat will be so confusing we'll just drink our dinners instead.