<p>Humans are slightly alkaline – your blood should be a pH between 7.35 to 7.45. Anything outside that range can be life-threatening.</p><p>So why are you being told to follow an alkaline diet? Proponents of the diet claim it can tackle everything from osteoporosis to cancer.</p><p>Norman and Tegan do a litmus test on the alkaline-acid balance and whether it’s a driver of chronic disease.</p><p>References:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507807/" target="_blank">Physiology, Acid Base Balance</a></li><li><a href="https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/7.1.51" target="_blank">The effect of acid ash and alkaline ash foodstuffs on the acid-base equilibrium of man</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/urine-ph-is-an-indicator-of-dietary-acidbase-load-fruit-and-vegetables-and-meat-intakes-results-from-the-european-prospective-investigation-into-cancer-and-nutrition-epicnorfolk-population-study/CC06EEB3716BC63A34EEB2F8DC03D125" target="_blank">Urine pH is an indicator of dietary acid–base load, fruit and vegetables and meat intakes: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Norfolk population study</a></li><li><a href="https://-%09https/www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/alkaline-diet--what-cancer-patients-should-know.h00-159223356.html" target="_blank">Why is there so much on the internet about the alkaline diet and cancer? – MD Anderson</a> </li><li><a href="https://openheart.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001730" target="_blank">Low-grade metabolic acidosis as a driver of chronic disease: a 21st century public health crisis</a></li><li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5490517" target="_blank">Diet-Induced Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis and Clinical Outcomes: A Review</a></li></ul><p>If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/whats-that-rash/mediterranean-diet-nutrition/104246670">Why Norman won't shut up about the Mediterranean diet</a></li><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/whats-that-rash/cortisol-lower-stress-hormones/104414058">Why is the internet telling me to lower my cortisol?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/whats-that-rash/msg-additive-myths/104447016">MSG's messy myths and racist tropes</a></li></ul>
