Tag: Acid ash hypothesis

The human body is a master of homeostasis, with its blood maintaining a very tight pH range of 7.35 to 7.45 through complex regulatory mechanisms. The debate over whether an acidic or alkaline diet is healthier, however, is based on a misunderstanding of how our internal chemistry truly works.

The pH of fresh cow's milk is slightly acidic, falling between 6.4 and 6.8. But this initial measurement is often misunderstood, as the true answer to whether milk is acidic or alkaline forming lies in how the body processes it after digestion.

According to the alkaline diet theory, not all seeds are created equal, and some, like sesame seeds, are known to have an alkalizing effect on the body. The question of whether sesame seeds are acidic or alkaline is best answered by understanding how the body metabolizes food, rather than the food's initial pH.

Scientific research has repeatedly shown that the modern diet, including dairy consumption, does not cause metabolic acidosis in healthy individuals, despite a popular, but flawed, hypothesis suggesting otherwise. This stability is due to the body's robust and efficient pH regulation systems.

For decades, the "acid-ash hypothesis" suggested that diets high in meat produce an acidic load, causing the body to pull calcium from bones to buffer the effect. However, modern nutrition science shows this theory is oversimplified and doesn't fully answer the question: does meat deplete calcium?

For decades, it was widely believed that a high-protein diet was detrimental to bone health because it caused the body to excrete more calcium. However, this theory has been largely debunked by modern research, which reveals that adequate dietary protein does help calcium absorption, especially when overall calcium intake is sufficient.

According to proponents of the alkaline diet, many staple dairy products are classified as acid-forming, which means they are generally excluded from the eating plan. Understanding the basis for this classification is key to knowing whether you can eat dairy on an alkaline diet.

While raw, unprocessed cream is considered close to neutral, most processed cream found in grocery stores is slightly acidic. This raises the question: **is cream acidic or alkaline?** The answer involves understanding the food's initial pH and its metabolic effects on the body.

Despite claims made by proponents, the premise of the alkaline diet is not supported by scientific evidence and may result in avoiding healthy, nutritious foods. This eating plan purports that consuming 'alkaline' foods can alter the body's pH to ward off disease, but this belief is physiologically flawed and presents several negatives.

Despite popular alkaline diet claims, the human body has several robust and effective regulatory systems to maintain a stable blood pH level, and a healthy diet cannot significantly throw off pH balance. This article explores the biological mechanisms at play and separates scientific fact from dietary fiction.