Victoria Beckham, Elle Macpherson, Kate Hudson, Giselle, Tom Brady and Gwyneth Paltrow all have one thing in common, apart from being A-listers, they all follow the alkaline diet. But what exactly is an alkaline diet? In a nutshell, it’s all about eating in a way that helps to optimise your body’s natural pH balance by reducing the amount of acid forming foods we consume, such as processed foods red meat, alcohol and coffee and increasing alkaline forming food, which include fresh leafy greens, carrots, avocado, beetroot and quinoa, for instance.
Here comes the science part: It all hinges on the idea that following digestion, foods become a new substance which scientists refer to as ‘ash’, before being absorbed into the blood stream. Some foods produce an alkaline ash, others an acidic one. The pH level of your blood should sit at 7.4. Healthy bodies will be between 7.35 – 7.45. While lots of alkaline eating plans advise going vegetarian, the real key is to strike a 70:30 balance of alkaline to acidic foods.
[Image: From Instagram of Kate Hudson.]
Authors of Honestly Healthy, Natasha Corrett and Vicki Edgson said: “An overly acidic body will be much more prone to disease, lethargy, poor skin, insomnia, mood swings and all manner of ailments associated with a body that is laden with stress. “Take away the stress of digesting and processing large quantities of foods such as refined sugar, gluten, cow’s dairy and meat, and the body will immediately be relieved of an acid build-up. As a result, it will thrive in a more alkaline state.”
Benefits from following an alkaline diet also helps with anti-ageing. The diet helps plump up the skin, boosts collagen production. Oily and dry skin have the same common problem; the pH in the skin is not balanced. By eating an alkaline diet you will be able to deliver the nutrients your skin needs and keep the pH balanced. Benefits also include: strong and healthy hair and nails, by ensuring roots and cuticles are better nourished with minerals and essential proteins, as well as boosting your energy levels, mood and overall health and immunity.
[Image: Instagram snap of Gisele Bündchen on the beach.]
To get started on this diet, you need to sort the alkaline foods from the acidic, which isn’t always obvious. Lemons and limes, for example, seem highly acidic but actually produce an alkaline ash. The reverse is true for most meats and dairy. The best way to track which foods are which is to get hold of an alkaline food chart. Since these charts aren’t yet based on official categorisations, however, it’s important to use one that’s been produced by a reliable source, and which is regularly updated based on the most recent biochemical testing of foods.
