Evidence-Based: Alkaline Diet Cuts Cardiovascular Risk

STUDY TWO:

Journal of Hypertension: Diet-Dependent Net Acid Load and Risk of Incident Hypertension in United States Women

This study examined the association between the diet-dependent net acid load (and acidic diet) and the risk of hypertension among 87,293 women in the United States. The used the data from the Nurses’ Health Study II, and only included women who did not have a history of hypertension.

This study also separately analyzed the ratio of animal protein intake to potassium intake as an alternative evaluation of acid load (and to check that the association was not simply increased animal protein intake).

Their findings matched the first study, a high diet-dependent net acid load is independently associated with a higher risk of incident hypertension.

The women with the more acidic diets had higher BMI, were less physically active, and had lower intakes of folate, magnesium, and other essential nutrients.

Study conclusion:

Our prospective analysis suggests that a higher diet-dependent net acid load is independently associated with an increased risk of incident hypertension. Women eating “typical” American diets are already at increased risk for incident hypertension, and, thus, these results have substantial public health implications.”

Sidenote: isn’t it interesting that there are these studies, published in hugely respected journals, with real-world data, saying that their results have ‘substantial public health implications’, but yet the mainstream media, doctors etc. will tell you ‘the alkaline diet is a fad, there’s no evidence etc.!’

Zhang, L. Curhan GC, Forman JP; Diet-Dependent Net Acid Load and Risk of Incident Hypertension in United States Women; Hypertension. 2009;54:751–755

STUDY THREE:

Journal of Cardiovascular Diabetology: Association between dietary acid load and the risk of cardiovascular disease

This was a population-based, retrospectively registered cross-sectional study using nationally representative samples of 11,601 subjects.

They found a strong link between diet-induced acidosis and cardiovascular disease. Whereas the first study we discussed focused on younger women, this study also found that as we age, the risk increases.

“The average 10 year ACC/AHA ASCVD risk score increased as PRAL increased (from 8.5 to 9.6 %, P < 0.001, Fig. 2a), and the discrepancy among the tertiles was greater in the older age group (≥55 years)”

Importantly, and further highlighting just how essential it is to follow an alkaline lifestyle, the study STILL showed a strong link between an acidic diet and cardiovascular disease even when removing obesity, exercise and insulin resistance as variables. Acidity was still a strong risk factor independent of these other influences.

Interestingly, whereas the first study believed the link was between acidity leading to elevated cortisol, this study highlights the role of acidity increasing insulin resistance.

Study Conclusion:

“In this current large, nationally representative, population-based study, we demonstrated that people with higher diet-induced acid load had higher CVD risks in the general population. Diet-induced acid load was closely linked with CVD risk especially among middle-aged individuals. In addition, higher PRAL scores were associated with CVD risk independent of obesity, exercise, and insulin resistance, but not sarcopenia. This association remained significant after adjusting for other essential confounding factors.”

Han E, Kim G, Hong N; Association between dietary acid load and the risk of cardiovascular disease: nationwide surveys (KNHANES 2008–2011); Cardiovascular Diabetology volume 15, Article number: 122 (2016)

An Alkaline Diet Decreases Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Next Steps

These studies are just scratching the surface, there are are many, many more like these, and in the not-to-distant-future I will catalogue them all for you to be able to search and explore.

I have listed a few more below, in case you like to look through this stuff as much as I do!

But for now, what are your next steps?

To decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, and increase your health and energy, you need to move from a more acidic diet and lifestyle to a more alkaline-forming diet and lifestyle.

I am always consistently using the term “lifestyle” because this is not a diet, and should not be seen as a ‘diet’ in that short-term sense. It is, and has to be, a lifestyle because you want these benefits to last forever, and keep growing and getting more and more powerful each and every day!

I also want to keep it simple, and if this is your first step towards a more alkaline lifestyle, I want to get you started with just a few simple steps.

There is nothing worse than overwhelm. It causes anxiety, frustration and inaction.

So we try to be an overwhelm-free zone 🙂

To begin, let’s describe an ‘alkaline diet’ in general:

To live alkaline means to consume predominantly alkaline-forming foods and drinks, while limiting acid-forming foods and drinks. Simple 🙂

Alkaline-forming foods include vegetables, salads, leafy greens, healthy fats, nuts, seeds, oily fish, and more. Think cucumber, spinach, kale, broccoli, tomatoes, avocados, chia, oats, almonds, beans and pulses, coconut (cream, oil, milk), lower-sugar fruits such as berries, grapefruit, lemons and lime, rice and more.

Basically fresh, unprocessed foods that you probably already intuitively know are good for you!

Acid-forming foods include sugar, gluten, processed foods, packaged foods, dairy, meat, and so on. Think sweets, microwave meals, takeaway, bacon, trans-fats, gluten-containing bread and pasta, condiments, chocolate, pizza, beer, chips etc.

Again, foods you probably intuitively know are NOT good for you.

Now – this is important – this is not to say you have to eat perfectly, 100% alkaline and zero acidic. That is not the case.

Life is about balance. But you should aim to eat predominantly alkaline-forming foods and then allow yourself to have a coffee, glass of wine, chunk of chocolate, meal out with friends or family, etc. guilt-free…and then back to being more on the alkaline side of things!

Where to Start:

I want to give you some light reading to get started, and the very best place to start is here:

==> CLICK HERE for My Beginner’s Guide to the Alkaline Diet

This gives a bit of extra detail on the above AND gives you my four most important steps to take to start your journey.

If you want to then go a bit deeper, here are some extra guides, that may also answer some of the questions you might have:

• Alkaline Diet Myths & Truths
• Why Eat Alkaline When the Stomach Is Acid?
• Can I Eat Meat on an Alkaline Diet?
• What About Fruits?
• The Guide to Alkaline Water

This should be enough to get you started!

Do You Want a New Recipe From Me Every Friday?

Each Friday I email out a brand-new recipe that is high-alkaline, quick, easy and delicious.

Recent recipes have included my 5-Minute Alkaline Dhal, Sugar-Craving Busting Juice, Creamy Broccoli, Leek & Ginger Soup, and my Salted Caramel Slice.

It’s my way of giving you a little deliciousness to take into the weekend, when you’ve got a bit more time on your hands to try something new.

I call it the “Recipe for the Weekend (RFTW)” and you can sign up for it below.

Until then, I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide and the research, and I’ll see you soon.

Let’s do this!

Ross

Further References:

Parohan M et al; Dietary acid load and risk of hypertension: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies; SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS AND META-ANALYSES| VOLUME 29, ISSUE 7, P665-675, JULY 01, 2019

Mazidi M, Mikhalidis DP, Banach, M; Higher dietary acid load is associated with higher likelihood of peripheral arterial disease among American adults; Journal of Diabetes and its Complications; Volume 32, Issue 6, June 2018, Pages 565-569

Daneshzad E.; Dietary acid load and cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies; Public Health Nutrition, Volume 22 Issue 15, 24 May 2019