Alkaline Diet - What's It All About?!

The alkaline diet receiving more and more attention and is fast becoming a top diet amongst weight loss gurus and others in the dieting world. There are and have been many 'fad' diet around that are not very healthy when you actually examine them, even if you can lose weight by following them.

The 90s were marked by the low-fat diet craze, the last six to seven years have been focused on low-carbohydrate diets like Atkins, the South Beach Diet, Protein Power and Sugarbusters, which are now considered very dubious to say the least. As people become frustrated with each type of diet, they look for something new to try.

The alkaline diet is a hot hot topic - and rightly so. At last a diet that is actually GOOD for you and based on the sense and science of our ancestors before us - eating vegetables, high quality fats, seeds and sprouts.

The alkaline diet is so appealing to people because it is a complete about turn from the high-protein, low carbohydrate diets of the past few years. The alkaline diet, also called the pH Miracle Diet or the Young Diet, after its creator Robert Young, has a totally different approach to nutrition. Many holistic doctors and nutritionists see it as a more balanced approach to nutrition that takes the body's true needs into account.

Basically, the human body has a pH that is slightly alkaline. The theory is that since the human body runs at this pH, our diet should be comprised of mostly alkaline foods. The standard American diet has many foods that are considered acidic, such as animal protein, sugar, caffeine and packaged foods. These foods upset the acid-alkaline balance of your body and can spark and nurture a plethora of problems, illnesses and diseases.

The proponents of the pH Miracle diet say that all of these acidic foods actually disrupt the body's use of alkaline minerals. These minerals include sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, which make people prone to chronic diseases.

This is the real crux of the importance of the alkaline diet. The nutrition and health community has come to realize that what a person puts into their body has a profound effect on their overall health. Although the mainstream medical community has emphasized a balanced diet including fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products, the pH diet takes this a step further.

It points out that the acidic foods actually rob your body of essential minerals. Those who follow an alkaline diet and eat alkaline foods are avoiding the acidic foods that can have a very negative effect on one's health and wellbeing.

Many of the foods that we eat commonly are considered no-nos on the pH miracle diet. One of the most surprising omissions is the absence of wheat products. The FDA recommends whole-wheat products for better health. Yet according the pH diet, grains like wheat, millet, oats and rice are acidic and harmful. The alkaline grains of buckwheat, quinoa and spelt are favored for their alkalizing benefits.

Generally, all meats and dairy are omitted on the pH Miracle diet. If you're worried about protein, goat milk is slightly alkaline. There is also protein provided from vegetarian options like beans, tofu and certain nuts and seeds. Most vegetables have alkalizing effects, except for mushrooms. Fruits are limited to coconut, grapefruit, lemon and lime.