ALKALINE WATER & ACIDIC FOOD

ALKALINE WATER & ACIDIC FOOD

 References: MAYO CLINIC. MEDICAL NEWS TODAY. HARVARD HEALTH.

 For most people, alkaline water is not better than plain water.

Alkaline water has a higher pH of about 8-9 than tap water of about 7, due to a higher mineral or salt content. So proponents say that it can neutralize acid in your bloodstream. Some say that alkaline water can help prevent disease, such as cancer and heart disease. However, more research is needed to verify these claims.

Some water sources can be naturally alkaline if the water picks up minerals as it passes over rocks. However, most commercial brands of alkaline water have been manufactured using an ionizer that reportedly separates out the alkaline components and filters out the acid components, raising the pH.

Some studies also suggest that alkaline water might help slow bone loss. But further studies are needed to find out if it influences overall bone mineral density and if the benefit continues over the long term.

Certain foods can slightly lower the pH of blood especially in the absence of eating foods supporting a higher alkaline blood pH like fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Controlled clinical trials have not shown that diet alone can significantly change the blood pH of healthy people. Moreover, a direct connection of blood pH in the low-normal range and chronic disease in humans has NOT been established.

Multiple studies have shown Acid from the modern diet does NOT cause osteoporosis. It’s also concluded that an alkaline diet or alkaline supplements or salts do notPREVENT osteoporosis.

Of the estimated 10 million Americans who have osteoporosis, 80% are women. Another 22 million women are at increased risk for the disease.

 Smoking and excessive alcohol use can DECREASE bone mass.

 We needed another reason to eat more fruits and vegetables. Well, here is one anyway. Fruits and vegetables can strengthen bones. Whoa...you say. Calcium and vitamin D are what we need to prevent osteoporosis.

 So how is it that Asians, with a lower calcium intake, are less prone to osteoporosis. Because it is the overall content of the diet that matters, not just the amount of calcium or vitamin D it contains. 

The acid-base balance of the diet seems to be an important feature. But this is not quite what people may think. You think acid, and you think of vinegar or orange juice or soda pop. Think base, and baking soda probably pops into your mind. However what matters is not the acidity or alkalinity of the food or beverages we may put in our mouth, but what happens to their components after ingestion and metabolism. Foods with a lot of protein are acid forming because proteins contain sulphur and the sulphur eventually is converted in the body to sulphuric acid. Eggs, fish, meat and poultry are therefore acidic foods. Breads and cereals are also metabolized to acids, but surprisingly, citrus foods are not acid producing. That’s because citric acid is broken down in the body to non-acidic substances. Most fruits and vegetables yield an alkaline residue in the body, although corn and lentils are acid forming.

  Our findings demonstrate that drinking alkaline water improves spine T-scores in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Hence, alkaline water can be used to treat osteoporosis due to increased bone density in postmenopausal women. Long-term interventions are necessary to confirm the effects of alkaline water on fe