What Is the Alkaline Diet? Does It Benefit Cancer?

The alkaline diet is based on acid-base balance. A diet mainly of vegetables and fruit makes urine alkaline, while grains, meat and dairy create acidity.

Sulfur- and phosphorus-containing compounds chiefly determine food acidity, while calcium, magnesium and potassium promote alkalinity. With functioning kidneys, urinary changes do not affect blood because kidneys excrete acids and produce bicarbonate to balance the load.

pH expresses acidity or alkalinity. Food below pH 7 is acidic and above 7 alkaline. The body’s slightly alkaline pH lies in a sensitive range of 7,35-7,45; changes cause many problems (blood pH below 7 is incompatible with life): impaired mineral and nutrient absorption, reduced cellular energy, diminished damaged-cell repair, reduced heavy-metal removal and an environment favoring tumor growth. Kidney buffer systems maintain this narrow range.

However Much Alkaline or Acidic Food You Eat, You Cannot Change Blood pH

Research shows blood remains appropriately slightly alkaline while kidneys function, regardless of dietary acidity. Kidney disease or failure prevents balancing blood acidity; these patients require regular dialysis and low-acid foods.

The diet restricts or excludes milk, meat, seafood, salt, fat and industrial foods while adding cucumber, turmeric, ginger, spinach, chicory, red and black radish, broccoli, soy sprouts, chard, asparagus, nettle, black cumin and mint, among many foods.

High fiber may support weight loss, but restricting major animal protein sources generally fails protein needs and may cause iron, calcium and B12 deficiency.

Does It Benefit Cancer?

For prevention or treatment, the diet emphasizes fresh produce, roots and pulses. Some have antioxidant effects, unrelated to acidity or alkalinity.

A popular belief is that alkaline diets prevent cancer, based on experiments showing growth in acidic conditions. However, cancer cells also grow in alkaline environments, and food does not alter blood acidity.

Acidity Is a Consequence, Not a Cause, of Cancer!

Other research refutes the theory by finding acidity results from cancer. Rapid energy production and slowed blood flow create an acidic microenvironment that blood cannot balance.

In conclusion, the alkaline diet has shown no cancer-preventive or beneficial effects in cancer patients.