Alkaline diet. The alkaline diet is based on the alleged – but false – idea that different foods cause the body to become more acid or more alkaline. The diet is claimed to be beneficial by excluding any food that allegedly causes the body to become more acid, which is supposely a bad thing. There are many foods that would need to be excluded by this diet, so it has a high inconvenience factor. The Wikipedia article on the alkaline diet addresses the central claim very clearly:

This proposed mechanism, in which the diet can significantly change the acidity of the blood, goes against "everything we know about the chemistry of the human body" and has been called a "myth" in a statement by the American Institute for Cancer Research. Unlike the pH level in the urine, a selectively alkaline diet has not been shown to elicit a sustained change in blood pH levels, nor to provide the clinical benefits claimed by its proponents. Because of the body's natural regulatory mechanisms, which do not require a special diet to work, eating an alkaline diet can, at most, change the blood pH minimally and transiently.

Many claims are made about the diet that are not substantiated with evidence. Wikipedia again (emphasis added):

A similar proposal by those advocating this diet suggests that cancer grows in an acidic environment, and that a proper alkaline diet can change the environment of the body to treat cancer. This proposal ignores the fact that while cancer tissue does grow in acidic environment, it is the cancer that creates the acidity. The rapid growth of cancer cells creates the acidic environment; the acidic environment does not create cancer. The proposal also neglects to recognize that it is "virtually impossible" to create a less acidic environment in the body. "Extreme" dietary plans such as this diet have more risks than benefits for patients with cancer.

Other proposed benefits from eating an alkaline diet are likewise not supported by scientific evidence. Although it has been proposed that this diet will increase "energy" or treat cardiovascular disease, there is no evidence to support these assertions.

The alkaline diet is rated Danger because it may pose real danger to unwell people, for whom excluding whole food groups may also exclude important nutrients which may have a genuine beneficial effect on diseases such as cancer. Robert O Young, an American author, was arrested in January 2014 after treating Kim Tinkham, who rejected conventional treatment in favour of the alkaline diet. She died, after both she and Mr Young claimed she was healed.

Danger: The group/person or belief/practice is considered dangerous due to mind control or particularly bad doctrine. These groups (or people) have a strong tendency to damage their members/followers.

Printed on 20 January 2021 at www.cults.co.nz.
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