The alkaline diet, based on Natasha Corrett's "Honestly Healthy" book, has become a fever among celebrities. To get their bodies in shape, famous people like Gywneth Paltrow, Kirsten Dunst, Jennifer Aniston and Victoria Beckhann joined the program, which aims to maintain the body's pH balance.
Excess toxins and inflammation coupled with an improper diet are among the causes of obesity. Some studies reinforce the idea that a pH balanced diet improves metabolism and increases the body's ability to eliminate toxins, as well as decreasing fluid retention, thereby optimizing the weight loss process. However, it is not enough that there is a balance in the intake of acid and alkaline foods, it is also necessary to pay attention to the amount of food consumed?
What is the alkaline diet like?
To understand how diet works, one must first understand how the body works. The nutritionist explains that our blood has a pH, considered alkaline that is around 7 and 7.5. In some situations, such as stress, aging, pollution, and physical activity, it is possible for acid production to increase and endanger blood balance. In such cases, the body activates some regulatory mechanisms, for example? Stealing? calcium from bones so that the mineral functions as an alkaline substance.
The alkaline diet, or pH diet, is widely advertised by holistic medicine and consists of reducing the consumption of foods that aggravate this situation and providing more alkalizing foods. Importantly, the acidity of foods should be measured on their effect on the body after digestion and not on their intrinsic acidity and alkalinity content. Are citrus fruits a good example of acidic foods that after digestion have an alkaline effect on the body ?, explains.
Allowed and prohibited foods
In this diet, all foods are allowed, but alkaline must be present to a greater extent. They are: fruits, including citrus and dried, green leaves, vegetables, roots, olive oil, green corn, zucchini, okra and raw chayote.
Some foods should be consumed in less quantity at this stage, because they enhance the production of acids. This is the case with sugar, alcohol, coffee, black tea, soft drinks, processed foods, dairy products, and meats.
The effects of diet on health
The alkaline diet does not restrict any food groups and reinforces the importance of consuming
fruits and vegetables, which are important sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber. On the other hand, it discourages consumption of processed foods, salt, sugar, alcoholic beverages and caffeine-based beverages that have been shown to harm health when consumed in excess. Therefore the alkaline diet is considered beneficial to health.
In contrast, low intake of meat and dairy products that are also in the acidic food group can lead to significant nutrient deficiencies, so the guidance and follow-up of a nutritionist is the best way to avoid nutritional deficiencies during the diet.
• This diet can be performed by any healthy person, as no type of food is excluded but a readjustment in the amount consumed. But it is necessary to avoid very restrictive diets, so that the body is not harmed by the lack of other nutrients, besides respecting the biochemical individuality and adjusting the nutritional needs of each, to avoid any deficiency ?, concludes the nutritionist.
Alkaline Food Diets: Does it Work? | UCLA Center for Human Nutrition (April 2024)
- Food, Diets, Weight Loss
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