The Alkaline diet (also known as the alkaline
acid diet and the acid alkaline diet) is a controversial dietary protocol
based on the consumption of mainly fresh fruit, vegetables, roots and
tubers, nuts, and legumes and avoiding grains, dairy, meat and excess salt,
in order to balance the acidity and alkalinity (the "pH balance") of one's
body. In recent years it has been a popular topic among authors of diet and
nutrition. The common belief among most medical practitioners, however, is
that the blood alkalinity (pH) is not significantly affected by diet, except
for pathological cases (e.g., of ketoacidosis produced by diabetes). Without
well designed human research studies showing that these diets actually do
what they say they can, qualified dietitians, nutritionists and other health
care professionals have not recommended these diets to their patients.
A similar theory, called the Dr. Hay diet, was developed by the American
physician William Howard Hay in the 1920s. A later theory, called nutripathy,
was developed by another American, Gary A. Martin, in the 1970s. Others who
have promulgated alkaline-acid diets include Edgar Cayce, D. C. Jarvis,
Robert Young, Herman Aihara, and Victor A. Marcial-Vega
Alkaline Diet Books
