Before delving into the juicy topic of alkalinity and reduced cancer risk, please understand that no single food or food group is known to prevent cancer. Some test-tube, animal, and even human studies indicate that certain foods exhibit cancer fighting properties, but they don’t singlehandedly get rid of cancer. Researchers note that maintaining a nutritious diet, keeping stress levels down, and exercising regularly may potentially reduce the risk of cancer.
Proper nutrition is very effective as a cancer deterrent, but only when you pair that with a healthy lifestyle. That means avoiding foods, things, or habits that harm the body, such as tobacco and alcohol. Maintaining a healthy body weight also plays a role in cancer risk. Lately, the alkaline diet has been generating a lot of interest surrounding its ability to reduce the risk of cancer. In this article, we aim to discuss whether an alkaline diet helps prevent cancer.
A Quick Lesson In Chemistry
Scientists report that the blood’s normal pH range rests between 7.35 and 7.45, making it slightly alkaline. Thanks to the body, blood pH is tightly regulated via several respiratory and metabolic systems. Blood pH that is too alkaline can be very fatal and calls for immediate treatment to return blood pH back to normal range.
What Is The Alkaline Diet?
This diet is based on the theory that certain foods can change the body’s acid levels, or pH levels. The goal of the alkaline diet is to reduce the level of acidity within the body. Based on the information above, no food can alter the pH level of your blood. You can, however, experience changes in both the pH of your urine or saliva because those are waste products. You could never eat enough alkaline foods to impact your blood. The alkaline diet, though, involves consuming different foods and beverages that are categorically alkaline, meaning they have a pH between 7 and 14. Some popular alkaline foods include:
- Leafy green vegetables (kale, arugula, chard, collard greens)
- Citrus fruits
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Onions, garlic, and ginger
- Nuts (raw and unsalted)
- Root vegetables
- Some seasonal fruits
On the other end of the spectrum, you have acidic foods. Eating too much of these foods can lead to a series of health complications, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Some popular acidic foods include:
- Red meat
- Poultry
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Processed foods
- Fish
- Refined grains and sugars
Do Cancer Cells Thrive In An Acidic Environment?
Some research indicates that tumor cells may thrive in an acidic environment. Oxygen-starved cancer cells become highly acidic, causing them to become dormant. That occurs when acidic conditions in the body shut down the production of proteins in those cells. By disrupting their metabolic activity and circadian clocks, you essentially force the cells into dormancy. The unfortunate reality is that cellular dormancy can lead to drug resistance and cancer recurrence, so it is problematic.
Some researchers believe that you can reverse this dormancy by counteracting acidity and resulting effects on cancer cells. That has actually led some people to wonder if the alkaline diet or baking soda can help prevent, or even treat, cancer. Based on the available information and research studies surrounding pH levels and cancer, it is unlikely for a couple primary reasons.
To date, studies involved cancer cells in a lab and didn’t account for the complex or unpredictable behavior of tumors in the human body. Secondly, as stated earlier in the article, you cannot eat enough alkaline foods or beverages to alter the pH level of the blood. That is because the kidneys and other organs work round the clock to keep blood pH levels in a specific range.
Do Acidic Foods Cause Cancer?
There is some research that shows that cancer cells are more likely to grow in acidic environments. Unfortunately, no evidence-based research indicates a link between the alkaline diet and reduced cancer risk. That said, what you eat is integral to optimal health and cancer prevention. There are plant-based superfoods that offer antioxidants and other nutrients that may enhance overall health and reduce the risk of cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and lean proteins for better overall health.
The scientific community supports eating alkaline foods for a separate reason: to improve digestive health. Less acidic foods are easier on the stomach and better tolerated if you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If you experience acid reflux on a regular basis, consider eliminating acidic foods and focus on consuming alkaline foods.
In conclusion, the alkaline diet does not specifically alter your blood’s pH level, so it cannot prevent or treat cancer. Focusing on fresh foods, including alkaline foods, can help improve other aspects of your health, which may enhance the body’s ability to fight cancer.
