The theory that diseases are caused by over-acidification of the body convinces many people to change their diet to an alkaline diet. But what is it about alkaline fasting, hyperacidity & Co?
The theory of acidification of the body
The idea of ”overacidification” of the body probably arose as early as the 17th century, but only became popular in the 20th century thanks to the inventor of the “Mayr cure” Franz Xaver Mayr. After him, many naturopaths and even physicists followed these theses and did their own research on them.
Advocates of the “acidification theory” are of the opinion that many diseases of civilization such as joint diseases such as gout, many allergies, neurodermatitis and also cancer are caused by acidification of the body. They justify this by saying that our modern diet with fast food, white flour, sugar, alcohol and other foods that are generally recognized as unhealthy leads to the formation of too many acids in the body.
What is alkaline nutrition?
According to the advocates of the “acidification theory”, the “alkaline diet” should counteract the acidification of the body and prevent consequential damage and diseases. It consists of a long list of alkaline foods. These include, for example, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, dried fruit and raw milk.
Although raw milk is considered alkaline, dairy products such as cheese are classified as acidic. If it is not possible to compensate for the assumed acidification of the body with the diet, dietary supplements such as “base powder” should also help, which are sold accordingly in this environment.
Can the body become acidic at all?
The basis of the alkaline diet is the assumption that in many people the body is overly acidic due to improper diet or even stress and that this imbalance has to be regulated through diet. This assumption is scientifically untenable, because a healthy body regulates the acid-base ratio independently and does not need any special diet, specific base powders or other base or base-forming food supplements. However, the body automatically excretes excess acids, they do not have to be compensated for by a special diet with alkaline-forming foods.
This process runs completely automatically in a healthy body: a large part of the excess acids absorbed through food is excreted via the kidneys, but breath, sweat and stool also contain acids.
Too many acids can really get into the blood only in really sick people (e.g. in individual cases of diabetes or kidney dysfunction). But even then there is no “overacidification” because the body mobilizes calcium from the bones in order to normalize the acid-base balance again.
Advocates of the alkaline diet like to measure the pH value of the urine as “evidence” to show that the body is acidic. If an alleged hyperacidity is diagnosed in a urine test with a pH test strip on the toilet at home, this only means that the body’s natural regulatory mechanisms are functioning. If the urine is “too acidic”, the body has just excreted excess acids of its own accord. By the way, the pH value of the urine fluctuates constantly throughout the day.
The opinion of science and medicine on this topic is very clear: an “acidification” of the body is only possible in the case of really severe metabolic imbalances – such as diabetes – but is not fundamentally caused by our modern (and, yes: mostly unhealthy) diet . So far, no scientific study has been able to establish a connection between “overacidification” and diseases.
Who does alkaline nutrition help?
Surely you know someone who has had good experiences with an alkaline diet because they have lost weight, been able to regulate their digestion or feel fitter with it. This effect can be traced back to a very simple fact: A side effect of alkaline nutrition is that people deal more intensively with what they eat and therefore usually eat healthier.
Anyone who no longer eats white flour products, sugar, alcohol, fast food, greasy cheese and other supposedly acid-forming foods automatically eats healthier – and of course also feels the positive effects of a healthier diet or sees them on the scales.
