The year 2013 brought us the 5:2 Diet, the resurgence of kale, and a need to consume only juiced or blended fruit and vegetables. Oh, and it also gave us this: the Alkaline Diet.
Adored by a number of Hollywood A-listers (read: the super-healthy Victoria Beckham, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston), this vegetable-rich diet promises a bucket load of health benefits…
What is the Alkaline Diet?
“The philosophy behind the alkaline diet is that western diets are too acidic, causing acid waste to build up in the body and wreak havoc on our organs, which in turn leads to chronic disease,” says Kylie Armstrong, Naturopath at the Alkaline Spa & Clinic. “To achieve optimum health, your body needs to be in pH balance. Therefore this diet advises you to eat 70 per cent alkaline foods and 30 per cent acidic foods.”
What can I eat on the Alkaline Diet?
“The alkaline diet is simple, and strongly promotes the consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals,” explains Kylie. So, load up your plate with fruit and raw or slightly steamed vegetables, but be aware that not all are plant-based foods are alkalising. “You should be eating salads with a focus on spinach and other leafy greens such as kale, as well as cucumber, broccoli, avocado, celery and capsicum.” Citrus fruits, watermelon, papayas, mangos, apples and blueberries are good fruit choices, as are the healthy fats in avocado and salad dressings based on olive oil. Kylie suggests eating wild rice, quinoa, amaranth and millet to get you daily dose of grains, and to swap meat and dairy products with goat milk and cheese.
What can’t I eat on the Alkaline Diet?
“To achieve the 70/30 balance, you must limit acid-producing foods such as meat, fish, chicken, eggs, dairy, bread and many other grain-based foods, mushrooms, honey, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, tea, coffee and all preservatives and additives.” Nuts such as cashews, peanuts, pecans and walnuts, and some fruits – plums, prunes, canned fruit, oranges and strawberries – are also off the menu.
What are the health benefits the Alkaline Diet?
By eating more alkaline foods and fewer acidic foods, you help your body maintain its perfect pH balance. The benefits of doing so include weight loss, increased energy, a reduction of toxins in your body, a decrease in free radical damage, stronger teeth and bones, a healthier brain, and a greater ability to prevent physical diseases.
Are there any downsides to the Alkaline Diet?
“It is important to note that an alkaline diet does limit foods such as fish, chicken, meat, eggs, dairy, bread and other grains, which means you could be missing out on some of the vital nutrients,” explains Kylie. “Therefore it is not a completely balanced diet.”
Have you tried the Alkaline Diet? Do you pay attention to how many acidic foods you eat? Are you keen to try out this diet and reap its health benefits?
Most doctors would agree that we need to eat more fruit & veg, & less meat, but less fish, nuts & mushies? I reckon they’re healthy. I eat fish fairly often: I won’t be changing my diet.
Will this diet plan work if I use it once or twice per week?
Surely cutting out those things is not good for you.