Diet-induced acidosis and diseases
FOR a long time I have written about acidosis (decrease in the level of the pH of the body fluid below 7.0) caused by dehydration. This concept has been proven to be true by the number of testimonies of people who have had certain medical conditions reversed by drinking water.
The concept of diet-induced acidosis as a cause of disease has also been a subject of interest for more than a century. I have also written extensively about foods that are either alkaline or acid forming and avoiding those that are acid forming has changed the health status of quite a few people who wrote to me. To support what I have been writing about all these years, I have decided to bring your way the works of some researchers in other countries and I believe that this will encourage some that we are actually doing the right thing.
The researchers, Pizzornoa, Frassettoa and Katzinger have clearly identified that acidosis is a very real threat to our health. Dr. Robert Young has also found out in his research that the effects of acidosis can directly contribute to various cancers, including pancreatic cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, Crohn’s disease, and kidney disease. Of particular interest to me is the effect of living alkaline to kidney disease which unknown to you is affecting a number of Nigerians today. Furthermore we will explore the role of alkalinity in the management of obesity, muscle gain, energy increases, libido increases, skin improvements and more.
Alkaline diet and cancer
Alkaline minerals prevent cancer growth. In March 2009, Robey, Baggett, Kirkpatrick, et al published a paper in the American Association for Cancer Research Journal proving that alkaline minerals (in this case NaHCO3 – sodium bicarbonate) that increases the extracellular pH of cancer tumor cells and prevent metastasis. Their research shows that the pH of the tumors are always acidic and by using highly alkaline minerals to raise the pH – the growth of the cancer (and involvement of lymph nodes) is prevented. Source: Cancer Research 69, 2260, March 15, 2009
Cancer Thrives in an acidic environment
In a Cancer Research Journal, in 2006, Gatenby, Gawlinski, et al researched and discovered “chronic exposure of normal tissue to an acidic microenvironment produces toxicity by: (a) normal cell death… and (b) extracellular matrix degradation”. They proffer that glucose imbalance (an acid lifestlye) leads to a chronically acidic micro-environment (the normal cells and molecules that surround a tumor cell) which provides the perfect base for cancer. Source: Cancer Research 66, 5216-5223, May 15, 2006. Acidosis and Osteoporosis: Alkaline minerals prevent osteoporosis.
A recently published study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (Vol 94, No 1 96-102, 2009) has provided further evidence that the consumption of and supplementation with alkaline minerals is essential for good health. The objective of the study was to understand the effect of alkaline minerals (potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate and potassium chloride) on bone health – specifically, the ability of these alkaline minerals to slow the bone resorption rate and calcium excretion.
The participants who were taking the bicarbonate supplements had significant reductions in urinary N-telopeptide and calcium excretion when compared to the control group. This means that when taking the alkaline minerals, bones remained stronger and healthier. Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (Vol 94, No 1 96-102, 2009).
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) the alkaline diet
Alkaline minerals critical to prevention of CVD. In the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Joseph Campbell provides a thorough review of the scientific literature surrounding minerals and disease and highlights that the alkaline minerals, magnesium and calcium, are critical to the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). He also highlights “excessive consumption of acid producing foods, results in metabolic acidosis. When this occurs, the parathyroid hormone stimulates the removal of calcium from the bones and teeth (osteolysis), to buffer or neutralize the excess acidity. After many years, such calcium loss results in depleted bone, bone weakness and structure.” Source: Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol. 10, No. 3 & 4, 1995
Arthritis and alkalinity
Alkaline mineral supplementation decreases pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients. This incredible study from Institute for Prevention and Nutrition (Germany) provided clear and unquestionable evidence that using an alkaline mineral supplement (30g daily) reduced pain and increased movement in patients with moderately active Rheumatoid Arthritis over a 12-week period. Source: The Open Nutrition Journal, 2008, 2, 100-105.
