It’s the ultimate fitness mantra of many celebs. People swear by its benefits. So what’s the hype about? The alkaline diet, also known as the acid-ash diet, is known as a natural diet. It can promote weight loss, and some claim the diet can even prevent cancer. It works? Below are some of the aspects you need to know.
The dos and don’ts:
Let’s start by saying that the alkaline diet is completely natural and therefore certainly better than some of the fad diets we are all familiar with. When following this diet, your meals revolve around fruits, vegetables, and soy products. Some nuts, seeds, and lentils are allowed, while most common grains, dairy, eggs, and poultry are waived. Red meat is also banned from the list. Thankfully, there are a good number of credible cookbooks that can come in handy. Also, most books on nutrition suggest avoiding alcohol and caffeine. This is also a gluten-free diet, so wheat isn’t allowed, but pay attention to the labels as many packaged foods contain gluten. You can also include vitamin-enriched water or alkaline water in your plan.
Will you lose weight?
Yes, you will lose weight the healthy way with the alkaline diet simply because the diet is clean and free of processed foods, carbohydrates and gluten. However, you must understand that the weight loss process does not happen for the claimed reason. The alkaline diet states that what you eat and drink can change your body’s pH levels, which is not true. Human blood is slightly alkaline while the stomach is highly acidic. This is because the acids in the stomach help digest food. However, nothing you eat can significantly affect your blood pH. If weight loss is your only motto, alkaline eating is a good place to start, but don’t expect miracles.
Other points to note:
Many critics have spoken out about the lack of focus on movement. In fact, the alkaline diet says nothing at all about exercise. An active lifestyle is just as important for comprehensive and sustainable weight loss and other health benefits. Researchers are also unsure of the other long list of other claims, although limited studies have shown some positive results related to consumption of low-acid foods and drinks. It is also important to understand that this is not a type of miracle diet. It would take significant effort, and most of the foods you are otherwise accustomed to need to be avoided entirely. If you’re someone who survived on hamburgers, bacon, and English breakfasts, you need to think for a while before considering diet. However, you can always try one of the manuals or cookbooks to learn more about cooking alkaline meals at home, which can save money.
Go online now to learn more about alkaline nutrition, and if you have any chronic health conditions, consult your doctor first.
Thanks to Hampry Gomes