They were not perfectly healthy: Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis are common. A very-high protein diet without compensatory alkaline foods is systemically highly acid-forming, promoting calcium loss long term.
The truth about acid-forming foods and diets
The average person can maintain normal acid-base balance through a wide range of acid intake from foods. Within minutes of an imbalance, your body compensates...
The theory is that an acid-forming diet leads to disease because it forces your body to use key minerals — like calcium, magnesium and potassium — as acid buffers, instead of using them for bone health, heart health and prevention of other diseases. Scientific research does not support this idea.
Research from several decades ago indicating that cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment has also been overridden by more recent discoveries that cancer cells likely create that acidic environment themselves.
Much of the research on the acid-alkaline balance of the diet is in relation to bone health, specifically osteoporosis. However, there is no solid evidence that dietary acid load causes osteoporosis or that an alkaline diet protects bones. In fact, recent research suggests that we need adequate protein to maintain healthy bones.
Many foods that have been classified as acid forming have not been specifically evaluated for their effects on bone health or other diseases. Instead, researchers have measured the pH of urine, which is not a reliable indicator of blood pH, let alone disease risk.
I really do not want to rain on your parade, but the acid/alkaline hypothesis (another fad diet craze) is very suspect, and many think it nonsense.
For those who want to do their own research, check out the following links.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=alkaline%2Facid+diet+hypothesis+disproved&bext=msl&atb=v43-3_s&ia=web
I really disrespect fear-mongering. I politely ask you to let us “nutritionally ignorant” folk alone. We do not trust your “expertise”. I have studied nutrition on my own since the late 1960’s, and have seen so many of these idiotic theories come and go, making only the authors of the fad books wealthy at the expense of our health.
I have corrected my atherosclerosis (ultrasound confirmed) since following this diet for these past 18 months. I have lost 110 pounds. Arthritis, energy, Cholesterol,
A1C, and other bloodwork so much improved.
Your opinion is interesting but wrong. My calcium levels are great, and I will be 76 in a few months.
Do you know that many professional athletes in endurance events are now eating keto, and beating the carb loaders in every event?
Keto is not high protein, again.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00198-018-4534-5
"There is no evidence that diet-derived acid load is deleterious for bone health. Thus, insufficient dietary protein intakes may be a more severe problem than protein excess in the elderly. Long-term, well-controlled randomized trials are required to further assess the influence of dietary protein intakes on fracture risk."