Concerned about Calcium? Check out your acid/alkaline forming foods...

[SunsetRunner]

Made a few references to alkaline and acid resultant foods in your body in other posts, thought maybe some of us don't know what I'm talking about. 

Short story is this.  Ever wonder (or probably not?) why in western diet countries which the highest consumptions of dairy and animal products we also have the highest statistics globally for pre-osteoperosis and osteoperosis in our over 50 and over 60 age groups?  Thought that milk does a body good?

Well, new science into body pH reveals that the body naturally seeks to maintain a neutral pH balance, but food and the processes of digesting them can directly impact the pH in the body....eating dairy (supposedly rich in calcium and good for bones) raises the acid level in your body, resulting in the body leeching calcium from your bones to restore netural pH. 

That made me go 'hmm?' when I first heard of it, and later did lots of researching to cross-collaborate the findings.

Interestingly, acidic tasting foods like citrius/lemon actually result in alkaline state in the body...counter intuitive to me, but here's a list of common foods and their body-results....

[Dominique]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

later did lots of researching to cross-collaborate the findings.

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 Would you care to share links to scientific studies that corroborate the findings?

[SunsetRunner]

Will do.  If memory is any good, think most cross-info was in some books, so will verify that later and toss in some quotes too.

Skeptic by nature, so when hear of things like this, which make sense from chemistry perspective, or things like 'leaky gut' syndrome, or adreanal fatigue -- I have to poke around and get more back story to see if it makes sense to me or not.  Sometimes info can be contradictory, sometimes may be sufficient to justify it but not really ring 'true' to me so will let it go.  Can always learn more and has been the case along the way, relearn or correct things I thought I knew. 

[carl669]

no offense, but i'm a skeptic at heart as well. the following article contains many links to studies which say the opposite (that acid/alkaline load doesn't matter):  http://www.marksdailyapple.com/does-dietary-acidbase-balance-matter/

[Dominique]

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@carl669 wrote:

no offense, but i'm a skeptic at heart as well. the following article contains many links to studies which say the opposite (that acid/alkaline load doesn't matter):  http://www.marksdailyapple.com/does-dietary-acidbase-balance-matter/

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Here is another article about calcium, but also the many other factors that affect bone health:

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-bone-health

Here is what it says under Nutrition for strong bones:

"At this point, you’re probably wondering what you can eat – or stop eating – to ensure the healthiest bones possible. Luckily, it’s simple. Eat a balanced diet of whole, fresh foods. Combine that with regular exercise (so that your bones get the signal to remodel). And your bones will support you for years to come."

[SunsetRunner]

No offense taken fitbit peeps!  Always learning!

Like things such as the environment, global economy, etc, nutrition and health are very complex systems and part of my cross-checking is because there's often contradictory info/studies available, and with so many variables in play, many 'conclusions' are more like drawn opinions based upon observations without a whole lot of science behind them.

Personally, I don't worry about this issue so much, given my lifestyle.  I have met some who go as far as testing their body pH with strips and actively taking steps to maintain neutural pH.  But also with co-workers and online friends getting to the age to worry about osteoperosis and such, try to share what I do find to be relevant to help others make informed choices.

Will post my references later on.

[SunsetRunner]

Busy day....first looked in Rip Essylton's book Beef with Meat, but doesn't reference sources of the studies at my first glane through. Suspect it may be in the China Study but need to check that one which is loaded with cross referenced studies, etc.

Will keep looking later...

[gerrymcd]

No offence meant either...... but here is a lot of snake oil sold around the concept of 'pH balance', for example the series of book with titles such as The pH Miracle  and The pH Miracle for weight loss by Robert O. Young.  Some of the advice is clearly good -- don't eat junk food or drink soda.  But, some of it is aimed at selling expensive (very expensive but cheap to build) devices that 'alkalize' water. 

[SunsetRunner]

Did a bit more digging, found some stuff...but also came across this quote (provided via link below) illustrating that this is a far from proven science about acid/alkaline balance in the body, impacts of foods, and resultant heath issues.

Need to get China Study book back from person loaned to....

There LOTS of varying opinions and info 'out there'.  Whether or not animal proteins are good/bad/indifferent to your bone density or overall acidic state doesn't really matter to those who don't partake of it (for whatever reason).  Probably be hard pressed to make that as a swaying talking-point when talking about positives of a plant based diet with same conviction against heart disease, cardiovascular disease, cancers, etc.  Perhaps at best it's a potential side-benefit?

(Just good example of how sharing/questioning/challenging something that someone put out there can help trigger more digging!).

".....Although several clinical trials have attempted to test this seemingly simple hypothesis (3,5,6,15–20), the effects of dietary protein on calcium retention and bone health remain unclear. The speakers and the participants made the following observations regarding the factors that have contributed to the continued lack of resolution on this issue:...."

http://jn.nutrition.org/content/133/3/866S.full

Dairy not a deterrent to osteoperosis:

- http://pcrm.org/media/good-medicine/2012/autumn2012/got-truth-the-dairy-industrys-junk-science

- http://pcrm.org/media/blog/may2011/increased-calcium-intake-does-not-reduce-bone

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Are you Acidic? Dr. Michael Colgan