Dr. Jared Meacham is a registered dietitian, fitness professional, and educator. He manages the global fitness programming for an international development institution, teaches at the university level, and practices dietetics in a variety of settings.
Chaunie Brusie is a registered nurse turned writer, editor, and author. She has experience in critical care, long-term care, and obstetrical nursing, and her work has appeared everywhere from The New York Times to The Washington Post to Good Housekeeping.
Ann Pietrangelo is freelance writer and health reporter with bylines on a variety of consumer health publications and leading health information websites. Through her books No More Secs! Living, Laughing & Loving Despite Multiple Sclerosis and Catch That Look: Living, Laughing & Loving Despite Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, she shares her experiences in the hope that others will feel less alone in their health struggles. Learn more at her website.
Fixed acids are excreted in the urine, whereas volatile acids are excreted by the lungs. One volatile acid is carbonic acid, which is formed by the lungs as part of your breathing process. This increases the acidity of your blood.
The kidneys, meanwhile, are reabsorbing bicarbonate, which comes from the carbonic acid in the blood. This entire process resists change to the pH to allow you to stay in the necessary pH range for life.
Keep in mind that recent scientific evidence suggests no link between dietary acid and bone health. In fact, a high protein, acid-forming diet may be linked to better bone health due to increased calcium retention and activation of IGF-1 hormone.
However, this research does not reflect blood acidity. It is also unclear if dietary acid load definitively causes cancer. In fact, experiments have also successfully grown cancer cells in an alkaline environment.
Keep in mind that our remote ancestors lived in vastly different climates with access to diverse foods. In fact, acid-forming diets were more common as people moved further north of the equator, away from the tropics.
Beckham once tweeted that the alkaline cookbook Honestly Healthy: Eat With Your Body in Mind, the Alkaline Way, written by vegetarian chef Natasha Corrett and nutritionist Vicki Edgson, was her favorite. Since then, the alkaline diet has become much more common.
Proponents of the alkaline diet believe that diets high in certain foods, such as meat and grains, and low in others, such as potassium-rich vegetables and fruits, can cause imbalances in blood pH that lead to a variety of health problems. This is known as the acid-ash hypothesis, which is why the alkaline diet is sometimes known as the acid-ash diet.
For people without preexisting health conditions, the alkaline diet is generally safe, but some people may be left feeling hungry or may not get enough protein for their needs. In addition to restricting many unhealthy foods, some healthy foods are left out as well.
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The folate content of avocados are especially interesting as folate is a known vitamin necessary to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Aside from prenatal essentials, folate has been studied to have anti-depressive properties.
Bananas are a superior choice for alkaline diets as they are simple yet versatile. Moderate in sugar and a great source of fiber, vitamins, and electrolytes, bananas help to improve digestive health, aid in weight control and boost heart health.
Improved Cognitive Functions: The antioxidant content of blueberries promotes brain health by reducing oxidative stress. Studies have shown that blueberries can improve memory, especially in older adults.
Post-Workout Recovery: For the athletes out there, it's wise to start adding blueberries to your post-workout shakes. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, blueberries reduce post-workout soreness and fatigue to improve muscle recovery.
Lemons are great sources of citric acid and are naturally acidic, however our metabolism prevents them from creating an acidic environment in our bodies. Once ingested, stomach acid takes over and breaks down the once acidic lemon into alkaline components that promote an alkaline environment in the human body.
Although peaches aren't the highest on the alkaline list, they are full of antioxidants and have a unique niacin profile. Niacin, also known as B3 is crucial for our energy systems and metabolic health.
Carrots are known to be rich in beta-carotene which the body metabolizes and converts into vitamin A which is crucial for optimal functioning of the immune and reproductive systems, as well as normal vision.
Also referred to as aubergines and nutritionally similar to tomatoes, eggplants are high in flavonoids called anthocyanins which have tremendous health benefits and antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity properties.
In an eggplant, you will find a concentrated dose of anthocyanins in its skin, so make sure not to peel the skin off before cooking, but instead try roasting, sauteeing, or even boiling it with the skin on to get the most nutrients.
The blue-green algae that is taking the nutrition world by storm, Spirulina is a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce inflammation, lower bad cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and reduce oxidative stress.
Tomatoes, very much like avocados, are a pure alkaline fruit with a lot of helpful nutrients to give a much-needed boost. Their lycopene content is also of interest to scientists, who agree that its concentration in tomatoes exceeds that of other fruits.
Getting a case of acid reflux (heartburn) once in a while isn't unusual, but some people suffer from burning discomfort, bloating and belching almost every time they eat. About 20% of the population has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic acid reflux condition that's diagnosed by a doctor.
Normally, the esophageal sphincter (a muscular tube that lets food pass into the stomach and then cinches shut to block it from coming back up) protects the esophagus from stomach acid. However, if the sphincter relaxes, food can push upward through the loosened opening and cause acid reflux.
"Diet plays a major role in controlling acid reflux symptoms and is the first line of therapy used for people with GERD," says Ekta Gupta, M.B.B.S., M.D., gastroenterologist with Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Foods commonly known to be heartburn triggers cause the esophageal sphincter to relax and delay the digestive process, letting food sit in the stomach longer, says Gupta. The worst culprits? Foods that are high in fat, salt or spice such as:
"Moderation is key since many people may not be able to or want to completely eliminate these foods," says Gupta. "But try to avoid eating problem foods late in the evening closer to bedtime, so they're not sitting in your stomach and then coming up your esophagus when you lay down at night. It's also a good idea to eat small frequent meals instead of bigger, heavier meals and avoid late-night dinners and bedtime snacks."
Foods fall somewhere along the pH scale (an indicator of acid levels). Those that have a low pH are acidic and more likely to cause reflux. Those with higher pH are alkaline and can help offset strong stomach acid. Alkaline foods include:
People with heartburn commonly reach for antacids, over-the-counter medications that neutralize stomach acid. But eating certain foods may also offer relief from symptoms. Consider trying the following:
Ginger is one of the best digestive aids because of its medicinal properties. It's alkaline in nature and anti-inflammatory, which eases irritation in the digestive tract. Try sipping ginger tea when you feel heartburn coming on.
While there isn't enough research to prove that drinking apple cider vinegar works for acid reflux, many people swear that it helps. However, you should never drink it at full concentration because it's a strong acid that can irritate the esophagus. Instead, put a small amount in warm water and drink it with meals.
Lemon juice is generally considered very acidic, but a small amount of lemon juice mixed with warm water and honey has an alkalizing effect that neutralizes stomach acid. Also, honey has natural antioxidants, which protect the health of cells.
If you have heartburn two or more times a week and changes to your diet or eating pattern haven't helped, consult a doctor. A gastroenterologist (a doctor who specializes in the digestive system) can perform tests to measure the acidity in your stomach and see if frequent acid reflux has damaged your esophagus.
GERD is often treatable through a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. But persistent symptoms of reflux need thorough evaluation by a gastroenterologist who can find the underlying cause and discuss available treatment options.
GERD is an ongoing condition that often requires more attention than over-the-counter treatments can offer. The Heartburn Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine provides personalized care to help patients find relief.
Health experts warn that the alkaline diet lacks sound evidence, and advise against cutting out whole food groups, as some versions of the diet suggest. However, it is worth saying that the recommendations to eat more fruit and vegetables and cut down on sugar and alcohol are in line with current healthy eating guidelines.
A plentiful intake of fruit and vegetables, as advocated by the diet, has been claimed to enhance bone health and possibly protect against osteoporosis because of its high potassium content, while lowering levels of 'acidic' dietary protein. However, the evidence is inconsistent and studies involving a more 'alkaline' diet and supplements have not shown to be of benefit to bone health. In fact, in the elderly, an inadequate protein intake can be a greater problem for bone health.
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