Alkaline Diet Evidence: 50+ Studies Proving the Benefit of an Alkaline Diet
Alkaline Diet Evidence
The Proof That Eating Alkaline-Forming Foods, Reducing Acidity and Supporting Your Body’s pH Balance is Essential
Do you need proof? I get it. The world we live in makes it hard to trust, and easy to be skeptical.
And I’ve been sending you all of these case studies of my students who have reversed arthritis, lupus, lost all this weight, healed skin conditions, chronic fatigue, kidney disease and more…
It’s a dilemma – when I share these stories, skepticism naturally rises…
So today, I want to show you 50+ studies on the alkaline diet and cancer, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver, stones, kidney disease, insulin resistance, autoimmune & more.
This is scratching the surface, but I felt more might have been overkill! I will be sharing more with you over the coming days, weeks and months, but for now – fifty or so felt like enough to make my point.
This is the real deal. I would not have devoted the past fifteen years of my life to teaching and researching if it was not absolutely going to change lives.
So let’s get stuck into the scientific evidence around the alkaline diet. Click the research you want to see, or just scroll through – it’s fascinating!
Click a link to find your research, or browse it all!
- The Alkaline Diet is Clinically Relevant
- Alkaline Diet & Cancer Studies
- Alkaline Diet & Type 2 Diabetes / Insulin Resistance Studies
- Alkaline Diet & Hypertension, Heart Disease, Blood Pressure Studies
- Alkaline Diet & Osteoporosis / Bone Health Studies
- Alkaline Diet & Renal Stones
- Alkaline Diet & Chronic Kidney Disease
- Alkaline Diet & Muscle Growth/Sports Performance
- Lots of other stuff!
Studies Showing the Importance of pH Balance, and How an Alkaline Diet is Essential to Maintaining Proper Health
I wanted to kick off with a handful of these because for a lot of you, this is all you need – the evidence from the scientific and medical community that (despite what pop nutritionists have to say) the medical community takes pH balance very seriously, understands the important role of diet, and understands that a state of chronic diet-induced acidosis leads to chronic disease.
Research Title: Diet-Induced Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis and Clinical Outcomes: A Review
Takeaway Quote: “The excessive consumption of acid precursor foods (sources of phosphorus and proteins), to the detriment of those precursors of bases (sources of potassium, calcium, and magnesium), leads to acid-base balance volubility. If this condition occurs in a prolonged, chronic way, low-grade metabolic acidosis can become significant and predispose to metabolic imbalances such as kidney stone formation, increased bone resorption, reduced bone mineral density, and the loss of muscle mass, as well as the increased risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis”
Published In: Nutrients 2017, 9(6), 538;
Authors: Carnauba RA et al
Research Title: Influence of diet on acid-base balance
Takeaway Quote: “It is well established that diet and certain food components have a clear impact on acid-base balance.
For adults, the following factors are involved: 1) the chemical composition of foods (i.e., their content of protein, chloride, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium), 2) the different intestinal absorption rates of the relevant nutrients, 3) the metabolic generation of sulfate from sulfur-containing amino acids, 4) the grade of dissociation of phosphorus at the physiologic pH of 7.4, and 5) the ionic valence of calcium and magnesium.”
Author: Remer T
Published in: Semin Dial. 2000 Jul-Aug;13(4):221-6.
Takeaway Quote: “Any level of acidosis may be unacceptable from an evolutionarily perspective, and indeed, that a low-grade metabolic alkalosis may be the optimal acid-base state for humans.”
Authors: Frassetto L1, Morris RC Jr, Sellmeyer DE, Todd K, Sebastian A.
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition; 2001 Oct;40(5):200-13.
Research Title: The Alkaline Diet: Is There Evidence That an Alkaline pH Diet Benefits Health?
Takeaway Quote: “From the evidence outlined above, it would be prudent to consider an alkaline diet to reduce morbidity and mortality of chronic disease that are plaguing our aging population.”
Author: Schwalfenberg GK
Published in: Journal of Environmental and Public Health
Research Title: Diet-induced acidosis: is it real and clinically relevant?
Takeaway Quote: “The available research makes a compelling case that diet-induced acidosis, not diet-induced acidaemia, is a real phenomenon, and has a significant, clinical, long-term pathophysiological effect that should be recognised and potentially counterbalanced by dietary means.”
Published In: British Journal of Nutrition; Br J Nutr. 2010 Apr;103(8):1185-94
Authors: Frassetto LA, Katzinger J. Pizzorno J.
Research Title: Acidosis: An Old Idea Validated by New Research
Takeaway Quote: “A growing body of research has documented not only that “acidosis” is a real phenomenon, but that it is now known to contribute to a wide range of diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, cancer, osteoporosis, kidney stones, and increased susceptibility to environmental toxins—and new research is adding to the list.”
Published in: Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015 Feb; 14(1): 8–12.
Authors: Pizzorno J.
Alkaline Diet & Cancer
Research Paper Title: Higher diet‐dependent acid load is associated with risk of breast cancer: Findings from the sister study
Using retrospective analysis of the Sister Study, researchers were able to analyze the diets of 1,614 women who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancers, in comparison to the total group of individuals in the study (43,570 women).
They found that an acidic diet was a significant risk factor for breast cancer and that an alkaline diet was protective.
Key Takeaway: “Negative PRAL scores, representing consumption of alkaline diets, were associated with decreased risk of ER‐negative and triple‐negative breast cancer, compared to a PRAL score of 0 representing neutral pH. Higher diet‐dependent acid load may be a risk factor for breast cancer while alkaline diets may be protective.”
Published in: International Journal of Cancer; Volume 144, Issue 8, 15 April 2019; Pages 1834-1843
Authors: Park YMM, Steck SE, Fung TT, Merchant AT, Hodgson ME, Keller JA, Sandler DP.
Research Paper Title: Examining the relationship between diet-induced acidosis and cancer
Using a systematic review of existing studies, the researchers found that diet-induced acidosis created the perfect conditions in the body for cancer to emerge. An acidic diet creates the hormonal imbalance, inflammation and cellular damage that are the most prominent precursors to the most common cancers including breast, prostate, lymphatic and bladder.
Key Takeaway: “Acidity is a well-known factor associated with cancer. Lower pH levels in the extracellular space promote the invasive and metastatic potential of cancer cells…
Acidogenic diets, which are typically high in animal protein and salt and low in fruits and vegetables, can lead to a sub-clinical or low-grade state of metabolic acidosis (and) the relationship between diet and cancer is well known…
Acid-base disequilibrium has been shown to modulate molecular activity including adrenal glucocorticoid, insulin growth factor (IGF-1), and adipocyte cytokine signaling, dysregulated cellular metabolism, and osteoclast activation, which may serve as intermediary or downstream effectors of carcinogenesis or tumor promotion.”
Published in: Journal of Nutrition & Metabolism, 2012; 9: 72;
Authors: Robey IF.
Research Paper Title: Buffer Therapy for Cancer
In this systemic review paper, the researchers created a novel approach to understanding the alkaline-forming effects of foods and supplements in relation to cancer treatment.
They found that alkaline-forming foods and supplements (alkaline minerals) are an effective approach to prevent, and have a positive impact as an adjunct to traditional medical treatment.
Key Takeaway: “This study has demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of (alkaline) buffer therapy and suggests foods that can contribute to or compete with this approach to manage cancer.”
Published in: Journal of Nutritional Food Sciences, 2012 Aug 15; 2: 6; Authors: Maria de Lourdes C Ribeiro, Ariosto S. Silva, et al
Research Paper Title: The Role of Mitochondria in Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
Published in: Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Volume 29, Number 4, 2014; Authors: Zeviar, DD, Gonzalez MJ, et al.
Key Takeaway: “The evidence appears to be strong that an alkaline diet high in antioxidants (fruits and vegetables) would help prevent chronic degenerative disease and cancer, and lead to a better quality of life…Prevention of cancer involves two elements: consumption of the proper diet and the avoidance of substances that damage the mitochondria. Chronic inflammation can stimulate all stages of tumorigenesis, (DNA damage, uncontrolled replication, inhibition of apoptosis, augmented angiogenesis and tissue invasion/metastasis.”
Research Paper Title: Effects of an Alkaline Diet on EGFR-TKI Therapy in EGFR Mutation-positive NSCLC
Small cohort study with eleven advanced lung cancer patients found that an alkaline diet significantly increased survival rates and the results of traditional medical treatment.
Key takeaway: “Urine pH was significantly increased after the alkaline diet (6.00±0.38 vs. 6.95±0.55; p<0.05) (and)…An alkaline diet enhance the effect of EGFR-TKI treatment in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations”
Published in: International Journal of Cancer Research & Treatment; September 2017 vol. 37 no. 9 5141-5145;
Authors: HAMAGUCHI R, et al
Research Paper Title: pH is a Neurally Regulated Physiological System. Increased Acidity Alters Protein and Cell Morphology and is a Significant Factor in the Onset of Diabetes and Other Common Pathologies
This systemic review of cancer literature found that repeatedly, and chronically forcing the body into the state of diet-induced acidosis creates a significant cancer risk.
Key Takeaway: “the body’s impaired ability to regulate its acidity, exacerbated by the consumption of highly acidic beverages, is a considerably underestimated factor in the subsequent development and onset of many common pathologies e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, cancers…The long-term exposure to abnormal levels of pH, in particular to higher levels of acidity, exceed the body’s inherent buffering mechanisms and contribute to the early onset of morphological changes which are characteristic of emergent pathologies e.g. abnormal cell growth or apoptosis/cell death.”
Published in: The Open Systems Biology Journal Volume 5, 2014; Authors: Ewing G
There are so many more, just like this (I’ve included many below in the references for this article), and I am sure you’re getting the picture: diet-induced acidosis increases cancer risk and an alkaline-forming diet reduces cancer risk.
Alkaline Diet & Type 2 Diabetes / Inuslin Resistance
Research Paper Title: Dietary acid load and risk of type 2 diabetes: the E3N-EPIC cohort study.
Researchers followed a total of 66,485 women from the E3N-EPIC cohort for incident diabetes over 14 years and found 1,372 cases of validated type 2 diabetes. An acidic diet was associated with a significant increase in type 2 diabetes risk.
Key Takeaway: “We have demonstrated for the first time in a large prospective study that dietary acid load was positively associated with type 2 diabetes risk, independently of other known risk factors for diabetes”
Published in: Journal of Diabetologia. 2014 Feb;57(2):313-20.
Researcher: Fagherazzi G, Vilier A, Bonnet F, Lajous M, Balkau B, Boutron-Rualt MC, Clavel-Chapelon F.
Research Paper Title: Diet-dependent acid load and type 2 diabetes: pooled results from three prospective cohort studies.
In this meta-analysis of three studies, totaling over 186,000 individuals, the researchers found that higher dietary acid-load leads to a significant increase in type 2 diabetes risk.
Key Takeaway: “This study suggests that higher diet-dependent acid load is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes”
Published in: Diabetologia. 2017 Feb;60(2):270-279. doi: 10.1007/s00125-016-4153-7. Epub 2016 Nov 17.
Authors: Kiefte-de Jong JC, Li Y, Chen M, Curhan G, Mattei J, Malik VS, Forman JP, Franco OH, Hu FB.
Research Paper Title: High Dietary Acid Load Score Is Associated with Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Japanese Men: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.
This study included 27,809 men and 36,851 women, aged 45-75 whose dietary intake was studied using a validated 147-item food-frequency questionnaire. Potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) scores were used to assess the alkalinity and acidity of the diet. A positive correlation was found between dietary acid load and type 2 diabetes.
Key Takeaway: “A high dietary acid load score is associated with an increased risk of T2D”
Published In: Journal of Nutrition 2016 May;146(5):1076-83
Authors: Akter S, et al.
Research Paper Title: Plasma bicarbonate and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus
In this prospective study, using the data from the Nurses Study found 630 women who at the time of the study did not have Type 2 Diabetes, but did develop it over a 10 year follow up. The more alkaline the person’s body, the lower the odds of developing diabetes.
Key Takeaway: “Our study showed an association between higher plasma bicarbonate levels and reduced risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus among women”
Published in: Canadian Medical Association Journal; 2012 Sep 18; 184(13): E719–E725;
Authors: Mandel EI, Curhan GC, Hu FB, Taylor EN;
Research Title: Acid–base balance may influence risk for insulin resistance syndrome by modulating cortisol output
Widely recognized in the literature is the mechanism between dietary acid load and cortisol increase. When the diet is acidic, the adrenals pump out more cortisol than is safe. This study in the journal Medical Hypothesis shows that one of the common outcomes of chronically elevated cortisol is the increased risk of insulin resistance. When the diet becomes more alkaline-forming, the risk goes down.
Key Takeaway: “Frank metabolic acidosis is known to promote renal excretion of hydrogen ion by induction of glutaminase and other enzymes…this reflects an increase in pituitary output of ACTH and a consequent increased production of cortisol and aldosterone; Since cortisol promotes development of visceral obesity, and has a direct negative impact on insulin function throughout the body, even a modest sustained up-regulation of cortisol production may have the potential to increase risk for insulin resistance syndrome and type 2 diabetes. This thesis appears to be consistent with previous epidemiological reports correlating high potassium consumption, or a high intake of fruits and vegetables, with reduced risk for diabetes and coronary disease.”
Published in: Medical Hypotheses; Volume 64, Issue 2, 2005, Pages 380-384
Authors: McCarty MF
This is just a small snapshot of the research too. Honorable mentions go to:
High dietary acid load is associated with insulin resistance: The Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study.
The role of dietary acid load and mild metabolic acidosis in insulin resistance in humans
Dietary acid load, metabolic acidosis and insulin resistance – Lessons from cross-sectional and overfeeding studies in humans
Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes by Dietary Patterns: A Systematic Review of Prospective Studies and Meta-Analysis
Alkaline Diet & Hypertension, Heart Disease, Blood Pressure
Research Title: High dietary acid load is associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension: the Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study.
In this cross-section analysis study, 2028 women were assessed using in-depth health questionnaires, and a clear correlation was found between net-dietary acid load and an increased risk of hypertension.
Key Takeaway: “The present findings suggest that high dietary acid load may be associated with increased prevalence of hypertension among those who were normal weight.”
Published in: Nutrition Journal. 2015 Feb;31(2):298-303.
Authors: Akter S, Eguchi M, Kurotani K, Kochi T, Pham N, Ito R, Kuwahara K, Tsuruoka H, Mizoue T, Kabe I, Nanri A.
Research Title: Association between dietary acid-base load and cardiometabolic risk factors in young Japanese women.
This study included 1136 women and found a strong correlation between an acidic diet and all markers of cardiovascular risk, from blood pressure to waist circumference, to LDL cholesterol increase.
Key Takeaway: “More acidic dietary acid-base load was independently associated with adverse profile of several cardiometabolic risk factors…higher PRAL and Pro:K (more acidic dietary acid-base loads) were associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure …total and LDL-cholesterol…(and) an independent positive association with BMI and waist circumference.”
Published in: British Journal of Nutrition Br J Nutr. 2008 Sep;100(3):642-51;
Authors: Murakami K, Sasaki S, Takahashi Y, Uenishi K;
Research Title: Diet-Dependent Net Acid Load and Risk of Incident Hypertension in US Women
Using data from the Nurses Health Study (87,293 women), the researchers identified 15,385 incident cases of hypertension and found a highly acidic diet creates a significantly higher risk of hypertension.
Key Takeaway: “A high diet-dependent net acid load is independently associated with a higher risk of incident hypertension.”
Published in: Hypertension. 2009 Oct; 54(4): 751–755.
Authors: Zhang L, Curhan GC, Forman JP
Research Title: Urinary calcium and magnesium excretion relate to an increase in blood pressure during pregnancy.
This research examined the relationship between pH balance in the body and blood pressure during pregnancy. 123 women were studied from 12 weeks until 2-3 weeks before delivery, using blood levels of creatinine, calcium, magnesium, and urea as a way to determined acid conditions. Blood pressure was also recorded every 2-3 weeks.
The researchers found a strong correlation between acid load in the body and risk for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
Key Takeaway: “If an increase in blood pressure during the later part of pregnancy a risk indicator for preeclampsia, the results suggest that excessive secretion of calcium leading to a functional deficit might be a risk indicator for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Intervention experiments are required to assess this hypothesis.”
Published in: Archives of Gynecological Obstetrics 2011 Mar;283(3):443-7
Authors: Nielsen TF, Rylander R.
Alkaline Diet & Osteoporosis
Research Title: The acid-base hypothesis: diet and bone in the Framingham Osteoporosis Study
Two analyses into the Framington Osteoporosis Study participants, aged between 69-97, with tests on the hip and forearms taken 10 years apart showed that an alkaline diet, comprising vegetables, fruits and high intakes of bicarbonate and potassium led to stronger bones and a much decreased risk of osteoporosis.
Key Takeaway: “Magnesium, potassium, fruit and vegetable intakes were significantly associated with bone mineral density at baseline and among men, with lower bone loss over four years…these results support the role of base (alkaline) forming foods and nutrients in bone maintenance.”
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition volume 40, pages231–237(2001)
Authors: Tucker KL, Hannan MT, Kiel DP.
Research Title: The effect of supplementation with alkaline potassium salts on bone metabolism: a meta-analysis
This meta-analysis of 14 studies found that increasing alkaline buffers, and decreasing acidosis in the body prevented bone loss and encouraged bone growth.
Key Takeaway: “This meta-analysis confirms that supplementation with alkaline potassium salts leads to significant reduction in renal calcium excretion and acid excretion, compatible with the concept of increased buffering of hydrogen ions by raised circulating bicarbonate. The observed reduction in bone resorption indicates a potential benefit to bone health”
Published in: Osteoporosis International, April 2015, Volume 26, Issue 4, pp 1311–1318
Authors: Lambert H, Frassetto L, et al
Research Title: Alkaline Diet and Metabolic Acidosis: Practical Approaches to the Nutritional Management of Chronic Kidney Disease
A review study of literature relating to diet, net acid load, the kidneys and the outcomes of dietary acidic overload found that a key outcome is significant bone loss. A replacement of an acid-forming diet with alkaline foods leads to bone retention and regrowth.
Key Takeaway: “The type of diet can deeply affect the body by providing acid or base precursors. Thus metabolic acidosis may be exacerbated by a contemporary Western diet. The remaining acid is neutralized or stored within the body. Bone and muscle are lost to neutralize the acid and serum bicarbonate falls…an increase in fruits and vegetable intake can improve the metabolic parameters of acidosis, preserve bone and muscle.”
Published in: Journal of Renal Nutrition, Volume 28, Issue 3, May 2018, Pages 215-220
Authors: Angéloco LRN, et al.
Research Title: Chronic acidosis-induced alteration in bone bicarbonate and phosphate.
In vitro studies showing that as acidosis increases, the bones lose alkaline minerals and weaken.
Key Takeaway: “Chronic metabolic acidosis increases urinary calcium excretion without altering intestinal calcium absorption, suggesting that bone mineral is the source of the additional urinary calcium. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that metabolic acidosis causes a loss of mineral calcium.”
Published in: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2003 Sep;285;
Authors: Bushinsky DA, Smith SB, Gavrilov KL, Gavrilov LF, Li J, Levi-Setti R
Research Title: Treatment with potassium bicarbonate lowers calcium excretion and bone resorption in older men and women.
This study of 171 men and women, aged 50 plus, were given a randomized placebo or alkaline mineral supplement. Those who increased their intake of alkaline minerals experienced a strengthening of bones.
Key Takeaway: “Bicarbonate, but not potassium, had a favorable effect on bone resorption and calcium excretion. This suggests that increasing the alkali content of the diet may attenuate bone loss in healthy older adults.”
Published in: J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Jan;94(1):96-102
Authors: Dawson-Hughes B, Harris SS, Palermo NJ, Castaneda-Sceppa C, Rasmussen HM, Dallal GE.
Research Title: The balance of bone health: tipping the scales in favor of potassium-rich, bicarbonate-rich foods.
Study showing a diet rich in potassium and sodium bicarbonate (both highly alkaline minerals) leads to stronger, more healthy bones.
The author states “potassium-rich, bicarbonate-rich foods (i.e. vegetables or dietary alkali) (are linked) to osteoporosis prevention” – however, it also goes to point out that vegetables are a far superior source than dairy because not only are vegetables a source of the combination of potassium and bicarbonate but also, the vegetable diet reduced the “acid load” compared to dairy and vegetables also led to higher calcium absorption.
Key Takeaway: “The health-related benefits of a high intake of potassium-rich, bicarbonate-rich foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables) on disease prevention (e.g., cancer, heart disease) have been gaining increasing attention in the literature, and there is growing belief, from a variety of observational, experimental, clinical, and intervention studies, that a positive link exists between potassium-rich, bicarbonate-rich foods and indices of bone health.”
Published in: J Nutrition. 2008 Jan;138
Author: Lanham-New SA
Research Title: Diet acids and alkalis influence calcium retention in bone.
A deep dive study with 8 participants showed that diet directly affects bone loss or retention. An acidic diet led to the bones losing minerals, and a switch to an alkaline state with diet and supplements stopped the loss and led to bone regrowth.
Key Takeaway: “This observation confirms that renally excreted acids derived from food influence calcium metabolism, and that alkalizing nutrients inhibit bone resorption.”
Published in: Osteoporos Int. 2001;12(6):493-9.
Authors: Buclin T, Cosma M, Appenzeller M, Jacquet AF, Décosterd LA, Biollaz J, Burckhardt P.
Alkaline Diet & Renal Stones
Research Title: Effect of potential renal acid load of foods on urinary citrate excretion in calcium renal stone formers
In-depth study comprising 187 renal patients found a significant link between dietary acid load and kidney stone formation. An alkaline diet removed the risk. Interestingly, the risk of raised oxalate levels was not found, regardless of the patients eating a more alkaline diet eating far more ‘oxalate’ risk foods.
Key Takeaway: “Urinary citrate excretion of renal stone formers (RSFs) is highly dependent on dietary acid load. The computation of the renal acid load is advisable to investigate the role of diet in the pathogenesis of calcium stone disease.”
Published in: Urol Res. 2006 Feb;34(1):1-7. Epub 2006 Jan 20.
Authors: Trinchieri A, Lizzano R, Marchesotti F, Zanetti G.
Research Title: Dietary Protein and Potassium, Diet–Dependent Net Acid Load, and Risk of Incident Kidney Stones
Using data from the Nurses Study, 6308 incidents of kidney stones were analyzed with the researchers finding where the diet contained more alkaline minerals, including potassium, the risk of kidney stones went down significantly.
Key Takeaway: “Protein and potassium intake and the resulting diet-dependent net acid load may affect kidney stone formation. Diets high in potassium or with a relative abundance of potassium compared with animal protein could represent a means of stone prevention.”
Published In: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2016 Oct 7; 11(10): 1834–1844.
Authors: Ferraro PM, et al.
Research Title: Potential renal acid load and the risk of renal stone formation in a case-control study.
Researchers studied 123 stone formers against a control group of 123 non-formers, and analyzed their diets. Unsurprisingly they found that a high dietary acid load increased the risk of stones, and an alkaline diet rich in vegetables removes the risk.
Key Takeaway: “In renal stone formers consumption of plant foods should be encouraged in order to counterbalance the acid load derived from animal-derived foods.”
Published In: Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Oct;67(10):1077-80.
Authors: Trinchieri A, Maletta A, Lizzano R, Marchesotti F.
Research Title: Dietary style and acid load in an Italian population of calcium kidney stone formers.
Similar to the above study, a group of 157 stone formers were compared to a control group, and net dietary acid load was a significant risk factor for stone formation.
Key Takeaway: “Our findings suggest that stone formers may undergo a greater dietary acid load sustained by a low vegetable intake and base provision. “
Published In: Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2015 Jun;25(6):588-93.
Authors: Vezzoli G, Dogliotti E et al
Alkaline Diet & Chronic Kidney Disease
Research Title: Reducing the Dietary Acid Load: How a More Alkaline Diet Benefits Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.
Study showing the importance of an alkaline diet in the support and function of the kidneys, especially in the incidience of chronic kidney disease. The paper also shows the big picture damage of a net dietary acid load on cell health, bone health and more.
Key Takeaway: “Reducing the acid load through a low-protein diet with greater use of vegetable proteins and increased F&V intake will slow the progression or occasionally improve renal function while maintaining the nutritional status of the individual.”
Published In: J Ren Nutr. 2017 May;27(3):151-160.
Authors: Passey C
Research Title: Dietary acid intake and kidney disease progression in the elderly
217 chronic kidney disease patients were studied with their acid load production (Net Endogenous Acid Production – NEAP) measured every 3 months. The study found that the higher the acidity, the quicker the progression of the kidney disease.
Key Takeaway: “Our findings suggest that high NEAP (acid load) is independently associated with CKD progression. The decrease in NEAP (acid load) may be an effective kidney-protective therapy.”
Published In: Am J Nephrol. 2014;39(2):145-52
Authors: Kanda E, Ai M, Kuriyama R, Yoshida M, Shiigai T.
Research Title: Dietary Acid-Base Load and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.
This study was a cross-sectional analyses that included 4564 participants, aged 20 years and older. Their dietary acid load was measured using PRAL (the higher the PRAL, the more acidity), and found that those with the highest acidity had a 42% increased risk of chronic kidney disease.
Key Takeaway: “We found that higher PRAL (more acidic diet) was associated with higher prevalent CKD in Iranian adults.”
Published In: Iran J Kidney Dis.
Authors: Mirmiran P, Yuzbashian E, Bahadoran Z, Asghari G, Azizi F.
Research Title: Dietary Acid Load and Incident Chronic Kidney Disease: Results from the ARIC Study
Analysis of 15,055 individuals, using the equation for potential renal acid load by Remer and Manz, the researchers found higher dietary acid load was associated with higher risk of incident CKD.
Key Takeaway: “Dietary acid load is associated with incident CKD in a population-based sample. These data suggest a potential avenue for CKD risk reduction through diet.”
Published In: Am J Nephrol. 2015; 42(6): 427–435.
Authors: Rebholz CM, et al.
Research Title: Does correction of metabolic acidosis slow chronic kidney disease progression?
Key Takeaway: “Metabolic acidosis mediates nephropathy progression, and its treatment with the comparatively inexpensive and well tolerated intervention of dietary acid reduction holds promise to be an additional kidney-protective strategy in CKD management.”
Published In: Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 2013 Mar;22(2):193-7
Authors: Goraya N, Wesson DE.
Alkaline Diet & Muscle Growth/Sports Recovery
Research Title: Effects of Dietary Acid Load on Exercise Metabolism and Anaerobic Exercise Performance
An alkaline-forming diet creates better sports performance.
Key Takeaway: “An alkaline promoting (low-PRAL) diet increases anaerobic exercise performance, as evidenced by greater time-to-exhaustion during high-intensity treadmill running”
Research Title: Alkaline diets favor lean tissue mass in older adults
This 3-year trial of 384 men and women found that a high intake of alkaline-forming foods leads to the preservation of muscle mass.
Key Takeaway: “Metabolic acidosis promotes muscle wasting, and the net acid load from diets that are rich in net acid–producing protein and cereal grains relative to their content of net alkali–producing fruit and vegetables may therefore contribute to a reduction in lean tissue mass in older adults.”
Published in: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008 Mar; 87(3): 662–665.
Authors: Dawson-Hughes B, Hariss SS, Ceglia L.
Study found that the more acidic a person is, the more muscle loss there is. The more alkaline, the more muscle is retained as we grow older.
Key Takeaway: “Our findings provide evidence of a slower decline in muscle mass in older adults with a lower dietary acid load.”
Published In: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.
Authors: Chan R, Leung J, Woo J
Research Title: A higher alkaline dietary load is associated with greater indexes of skeletal muscle mass in women.
A study of 2,689 women aged 18-79 years found that the more alkaline the diet, the more muscle mass is retained.
Key Takeaway: “…a significant positive association between a more alkaline diet and muscle mass indexes in healthy women that was independent of age, physical activity and protein intake equating to a scale of effect between a fifth and one half of the observed relationship with 10 years of age.”
Published In: Osteoporos Int. 2013 Jun;24(6):1899-908
Authors: Welch AA, MacGregor AJ, Skinner J, Spector TD, Moayyeri A, Cassidy A.
Other Research of Interest (I’ll dive deeper into at a later date)
There is SO much out there. Literally hundreds if not thousands of incredible research studies linking an alkaline diet to the prevention and reversal of many chronic conditions and diseases. Here’s just a handful of the others I took a snapshot of while I was scanning through my vault of research:
Alkaline Diet & Fatty Liver Disease, Hormone Imbalance & Gout
Effects of Acidosis on Hormones & the Endocrine System
An Alkaline Diet to Reverse Gout / Hyperuricemia
Increasing Body pH Balance to Prevent Uric Stones
Alkaline Diet Reduces Arthritis Pain
Chronic Acidosis Destroys the Pancreas (thus destroying insulin regulation)
Alkaline pH 8.8 Water Benefits Reflux
Alkaline Diet to Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis & Other Autoimmune Conditions
Disturbances to Acid/Base (pH) Balance & Gastrointestinal Disease
Again, we’re scratching the surface here. Including…
Alkaline Diet & ALL MORTALITY:
Seems a nice place to wrap up (for now), with these two studies showing that an alkaline diet reduces the risk of dying from all and any cause!
This is (some of) the research that currently exists, to consider alongside my thousands upon thousands of success stories…
I always say it is essential to have BOTH the proof in the research literature AND in practice, with real people. Of course, the real world and what we’re achieving day to day with actual people will ALWAYS be ahead of the curve and more impressive than the data can show. Research is expensive and extremely time-consuming to conduct. It has to be funded and supported. Whereas, we see daily the impact an alkaline life can have on practically every health challenge and disease.
However, the beauty of when what we’re seeing in practice is then validated in the data…wow, it’s a thing of wonder. And that’s what you’re seeing here.
There will always be naysayers, wildly-behind-the-times doctors, the lay-press, click-bait websites that will tell you that the alkaline diet is a ‘fad’…they will say ‘the body always stays alkaline so why eat alkaline’ (I discuss that here) and they’ll say it’s baloney (while eating baloney – good luck to them).
But I know you and I know the real truth. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t like me – and just KNOW deep down in your core that the alkaline approach – what we’re talking about here – just makes sense, intuitively.
Eating a diet that is hugely rich in nourishing vegetables and fruits, healthy fats, nuts, and seeds – ultimately eating as close to Mother Nature as possible, while eliminating or reducing man-made, processed, sugary, gluten-containing, chemical-laden foods…staying hydrated and working out…reducing stress and focusing on quality sleep.
This is what makes it effortless for your body to maintain your correct pH balance, instead of constantly fighting it.
And ultimately, that’s what all of this research is explaining, and what we’ll be diving into in the Alkaline Reset Workshop – that when you constantly force the body into this state of chronic, low-grade acidosis, things break. It could be the kidneys, liver, immune system, endocrine system, digestion…your insulin response, adrenals, thyroid…cancer can emerge, hypertension, heart disease…
These conditions all arise from this chronic, long-term acidosis.
But Getting Alkaline Can Be SO Easy…Uplifting…Energizing…Let’s Just Do It, Yeah?
I’m here for you – let’s get started! If you haven’t already, subscribe to my weekly newsletter at the top of this page, and join my Living Alkaline (free) Facebook group here
Let’s do this
Ross
Hello Ross,
My daughter is struggling with Scoliosis. Is an anti-inflammatory/alkaline diet a way to reverse this condition. If it helps arthritis should it not help and heal scoliosis? I know that she should also remove the many toxic and acidic foods she is currently consuming. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated and respectfully considered.
Many, many thanks in advance,
Jim
Hi Jim
It will help beyond question. Scoliosis is an inflammatory condition, and I recommend you check out my guide here: https://liveenergized.com/anti-inflammation-diet/
Ross
Is there any research on alkalinity reversing leptin resistance?
There has not been a specific study calling it ‘alkalinity’ but yep, there are many studies showing a diet moved away from acid-forming foods (sugar, gluten etc) and towards alkaline forming foods (veggies, esp. leafy greens, fresh foods etc) will reverse leptin resistance, as well as healing the pancreas, hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenals and thyroid – which are also super important in this jigsaw.