The alkaline diet can be a solution against certain daily ailments caused by an overly acidic diet.
- Blood pH is finely regulated around a very slightly alkaline value of 7.4. Below 7.38, we are in acidosis (body too acidic). Beyond 7.42, we are in alkalosis (too basic body).
- Lemon juice has a strong acidic flavor, when in fact it ranks among basic purpose foods.
Because it acidifies our body and causes inflammation of the tissues, a diet that is too meaty, too sweet and too processed would lead to many diseases.
This is the conviction of more and more doctors and naturopaths, who recommend adopting the so-called alkaline diet, also called diet without acidity.
Time bomb
To be healthy, our body should be neither too acid nor too alkaline (the opposite of acid), with an ideal pH around 7.4. If the blood is too acidic, the chemical balance of the body ends up being disturbed, which can eventually lead to a number of daily health problems, such as headaches, insomnia, bloating, weight gain or anxiety. Combined with stress and lack of physical exercise, which also acidify the blood, a diet that is too acidic therefore proves to be a time bomb for the body.
To find an Olympic form, some nutritionists therefore invite their patients to rebalance the pH of the body by consuming a majority (70%) of basic foods (i.e. alkalinizing) and reducing the proportion (30% ) acidifying foods, that is to say whose digestion tends to increase the acidity of the blood. With the objective, in essence, of preventing pathologies.
Forget the industrial dishes
There are a few basic rules for following an alkaline diet. For example, forget ultra-processed industrial food, stuffed with additives or genetically modified, as well as foods that require complicated digestion, and therefore acidifying (red meat, cold meats, cheeses, sweets, alcohol, coffee, condiments… ). Similarly, it is essential to avoid salt as much as possible.
To alkalize your body, opt instead for healthy and natural foods, such as fruits and vegetables (potatoes and sweet potatoes, green vegetables, avocados, seaweed, apples, pears…), poultry raised in the open air, fresh cheeses made from unpasteurized milk to preserve nutrients, whole grains… Dairy products must also be replaced by vegetable milks (almond, hazelnut, soy…), barley, quinoa and buckwheat rather than wheat, or drink two liters of water and herbal tea a day.
To determine the composition of one’s plate, one can in particular base oneself on thePRAL index (Potential Renal Acid Load) of foods, which assesses their acidifying effect.
Calculate your acidity level!
To optimize the effects of the alkaline diet, it is obviously advisable to reduce stress, practice physical activity or perform breathing exercises daily. On the menu of the benefits of this new diet: weight loss, energy to spare and reduction of the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
It is possible to check the alkalinity level of your blood yourself, by testing your urinary pH with indicator papers (available in pharmacies), but the most reliable solution is to take a blood test and blood tests. urine and saliva to a doctor.
