Optimal DX FYI: An Alkaline Diet Supports Health

pH of selected fluids, organs, and membranes

Dietary Acid and Alkali

Human diets have significantly shifted since the hunter-gatherer era, especially after the agricultural revolution and industrialization.

Modern diets have reduced potassium, magnesium, and bicarbonate but increased sodium and chloride, contributing to metabolic acidosis, particularly as aging decreases renal acid-base regulation.

Low-carb, high-protein diets can increase kidney stone risk by altering urinary chemistry, such as decreasing urinary pH and magnesium and increasing calcium and uric acid levels.

Excess dietary protein with a high-acid renal load may decrease bone density if not buffered by the ingestion of supplements or alkali-rich foods.

However, adequate protein is necessary for the prevention of osteoporosis and sarcopenia; therefore, increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables may be necessary rather than reducing protein,

Excess sodium in the modern diet can lead to hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, particularly in individuals consuming an acid-producing diet.

High sodium intake is also linked to increased risks of bone and muscle loss, hypertension, and osteoporosis, especially in aging populations. Potassium, often deficient in modern diets, can help mitigate some of these adverse effects.

Calcium from bone reserves, in the form of phosphates and carbonates, is released to maintain pH balance in response to the acidic modern diet.

This process can lead to significant calcium loss over time, potentially contributing to osteoporosis, although urinary calcium loss alone is not a direct indicator of the disease.

Adequate vitamin D levels above 32 ng/mL (80 nmol/L) may allow for appropriate intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate when needed, balancing mineral and pH levels in the blood and supporting bone integrity.

A mild reduction of plasma bicarbonate results in a negative calcium balance, which could be improved by supplementing bicarbonate with potassium bicarbonate.

Alkaline diets result in a more alkaline urine pH and may result in reduced calcium in the urine,

Alkaline diets may result in a number of health benefits as outlined below.

• Increased fruits and vegetables in an alkaline diet would improve the potassium/sodium ratio, benefit bone health, reduce muscle wasting, and mitigate other chronic diseases such as hypertension and strokes.
• The increase in growth hormone with an alkaline diet may improve many outcomes from cardiovascular health to memory and cognition.
• An increase in intracellular magnesium, which is required for the function of many enzyme systems, is another added benefit of the alkaline diet.
• Available magnesium, required to activate vitamin D, would result in numerous benefits in the vitamin D apocrine/exocrine systems.
• Alkalinity may result in added benefits for some chemotherapeutic agents that require a higher pH.
• Consider an alkaline diet to reduce morbidity and mortality of chronic disease

Foods can be categorized by the potential renal acid loads (PRALs).

Fruits, vegetables, fruit juices, potatoes, alkali-rich, and low phosphorus beverages (red and white wine, mineral soda waters) have a negative acid load.

Grain products, meats, dairy products, fish, and alkali-poor and low-phosphorus beverages (e.g., pale beers, and cocoa) have relatively high acid loads.

Potential renal acid loads (PRALs) of selected foods

Want to Learn More?

Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis

Alkalizing the Urine for Better Health

Testing for Metabolic Acidosis

Acid Base pH Terrain

Reference

Schwalfenberg, Gerry K. “The alkaline diet: is there evidence that an alkaline pH diet benefits health?.” Journal of environmental and public health vol. 2012 (2012): 727630. doi:10.1155/2012/727630 This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,