Alkaline Diet - What's the Evidence?

The alkaline diet is rapidly gaining adherents. By itself, however, this doesn't mean that the alkaline diet is safe or effective. After all, fad diets that are wrong or even dangerous have become quite popular at times. Often, the popularity of a particular diet has little to do with accuracy or results. The alkaline diet may have become popular because it is unusual, and therefore appeals to a taste for novelty. Or you might suspect that the alkaline diet was pushed into the spotlight by a savvy and well-funded marketing campaign. Once a diet book gets on Oprah or Larry King, it is pretty much guaranteed to sell a lot of copies.

So, the question becomes, is the alkaline diet just another fad diet? Or is the alkaline diet a sensible way of eating that is supported by valid scientific evidence?

Most mainstream doctors are either unfamiliar with the alkaline diet, or else they view it with suspicion. However, this also does not prove that the alkaline diet is worthless. Doctors have a hard time keeping up on all the new research, so the fact that a doctor does not recommend the alkaline diet doesn't mean that there are not sound reasons to follow it.

Whether or not to embrace the alkaline diet is a decision that you will have to make for yourself. However, there is at least some scientific evidence for this diet. Several studies have demonstrated that when the body becomes too acidic, this can lead to negative consequences, including the loss of bone and muscle tissue. Conversely, those who eat plenty of alkalizing foods are more likely to maintain good bone density and muscle tone as they get older. And that, in my opinion, is a reason that we should take the alkaline diet seriously.