In past articles, I have written about the ability of the alkaline diet to increase your energy level and prevent common health problems, including bone loss and muscle wasting. Today, I want to talk about weight loss, a topic that is on many people’s minds as the obesity rate reaches epidemic levels.
In order to determine whether or not the alkaline diet is an effective approach for weight loss, we first need to understand the principles of losing weight. Once we understand the big picture, we will have a standard by which to assess the alkaline diet. There are really two approaches to weight loss. You can either count calories, or you can try to avoid certain types of foods, like carbs, meat, or refined sugar. Both approaches can work, and by the same mechanism: causing you to consume fewer calories than you expend through exercise and metabolic activity.
Whether you follow an alkaline diet, a low-carb diet, the Pritikin plan, or still another diet, the bottom line is that weight loss occurs when you consume fewer calories than you expend. The question, then, is whether the alkaline diet will be effective at creating a caloric deficit.
Unfortunately, there is no cut-and-dried answer to this question. On the plus side, the alkaline diet emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, which are high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, but low in fat and simple sugars. This nutritional profile makes these foods ideally suited for anyone who wants to lose weight.
Nevertheless, the fact remains that you will not inevitably lose weight on an alkaline diet. This is because some alkaline foods, such as almonds and avocados, are high in fat and calories. If you go hog wild on these foods, you could theoretically maintain the same weight, or even gain weight on an alkaline diet. As in many areas of life, moderation is important.
Sue explains health issues for her Alkaline Diet Blog. Drop by today to discover the truth about alkaline diet foods.