what is an alkaline diet

What is the Alkaline Diet?

The Alkaline Diet is a diet that primarily helps reduce acidity in the body in addition to losing weight and preventing chronic inflammation. But it is necessary to know a few basic things before you start following this intense diet.

The alkaline diet is based on avoiding foods that are believed to increase acidity in the body. High acidity in the body may increase the risk of developing a number of chronic diseases, and lead to the inability to lose excess weight. The normal pH level for the body ranges between 6 . 5 and 7 . 5In the morning. The alkaline diet is one of the most difficult diets that can be successfully adhered to, because many of the foods that will be eliminated are present in most diets. The majority of this diet is based on plant foods, so meat lovers will consider this diet a torment. Due to the high level of sodium in processed foods, many people suffer from metabolic acidosis, which leads to a high level of acidity in the body. Eliminating many foods that can increase acidity levels and inflammation can help boost magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous concentrations in the blood.What are the benefits of an alkaline diet?

The main benefits of an alkaline diet include its ability to lower high blood pressure, prevent some types of cancer, protect bone mineral density etc…

1- Bone mineral density

When the acidity level in the body is high, calcium and other minerals in the bones are often damaged, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis. An alkaline diet helps eliminate this problem and replace lost minerals.

2 – high blood pressure

Reducing acidity reduces inflammation and blood pressure, thus protecting heart health and reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke.

3 – muscle mass

Calcium, phosphorous and magnesium are important for maintaining muscle mass in the body, and this diet provides all of these elements.

4- Cancer prevention

Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants that can counteract oxidative stress and thus reduce the risk of cancer.

5- Treatment of inflammation

This diet is known for its ability to eliminate inflammation throughout the body, which helps strengthen the immune system and improve the quality of life.

6- A healthy weight

Many of the foods on this diet are low in calories, but dense in nutrients and in this case it is normal to lose weight and slow down the formation of fat.

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How do you follow an alkaline diet?

As mentioned above, it is difficult to follow an alkaline diet, due to the huge amount of foods you need to eliminate. One of the best ways to ensure proper follow-up is to buy alkaline and organic foods. You need to know where your food comes from in order to be able to determine the type of soil in which the vegetables were grown.

Aside from your diet, there are many factors that you have to follow in your lifestyle that can affect acidity in the body such as:

  • Chronic stress
  • Lack of exercise
  • Low fiber intake
  • pollution
  • Exposure to chemicals

What foods can you eat?

  • Fruits and vegetables (mushrooms, cucumbers, turnips, garlic, celery, green beans, bananas, avocados)
  • Legumes and nuts
  • Soybean products (tofu)
  • Alkaline water (add lemon juice)
  • Green drinks (herbal and vegetable juices)
  • Grains (quinoa, buckwheat)

What foods should be avoided?

  • eggs
  • Processed grains
  • Caffeine and alcohol
  • Whole wheat products
  • Pasta, rice and bread
  • Walnuts and peanuts
  • Processed foods with high levels of sodium
  • Meat (beef, turkey, chicken, etc…)
  • Dairy products (cheese, milk, cream, yoghurt)

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What are the side effects of an alkaline diet?The most common side effects of an alkaline diet are:

  • Nutrient deficiencies because the types of nutrients are very limited.
  • cholesterol
  • inflammation in the body
  • Some of the other critical minerals found in alternative protein sources will not be available, so malnutrition is a risk.

It’s important to check by talking to your doctor about your health before trying this diet.

 

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