[MD Expat in PA]

The claim: Acidic foods can alter the body’s pH balance and promote cancer.

http://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/News2?id=13441

The facts: Several concerned readers have written to AICR in recent weeks confused about online claims that acidic foods may increase cancer risk. It’s time to set the record straight.

The unsubstantiated theory is based on lab studies that suggest cancer cells thrive in an acidic (low pH) environment, but cannot survive in alkaline (high pH) surroundings. While these findings are accurate, they apply only to cells in an isolated lab setting. Altering the cell environment of the human body to create a less-acidic, less-cancer-friendly environment is virtually impossible.

While proponents of this myth argue that avoiding certain foods and eating others can change the body’s pH level, these claims stand in stark contrast to everything we know about the chemistry of the human body. Acid-base balance is tightly regulated by several mechanisms, among them kidney and respiratory functions. Even slight changes to your body’s pH are life-threatening events. Patients with kidney disease and pulmonary dysfunction, for example, often rely on dialysis machines and mechanical ventilators (respectively) to avoid even small disruption of acid-base balance.

Lastly, home “test kits,” which measure the pH of urine, do not relay information about the body’s pH level. True, foods, drinks and supplements will affect the acidity or alkalinity of urine, but it is the only fluid that is affected. In fact, excess acid or base is excreted in the urine to help maintain proper pH balance in the body.

The take-away: What you eat can have a profound affect on your cancer risk, but the acidity or alkalinity of foods is not important. Instead, focus on making dietary choices that can truly affect your risk: Eat a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans; Limit consumption of red and processed meats; Enjoy alcohol in moderation, if at all.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Thanks! Of course your facts won't get thru his feelings.

I think the fungus spread to his brain.

[Mase]

Oh, now you've done it. You posted a report from a legitimate science based organization offering facts based on what we know to be true about biochemistry and human physiology.

American in Israel will be along shortly to accuse you of treating him with disdain, and denying god by adhering to the church of western medicine.

That was a very nice find, though.

[American in Israel]

I understand your feelings, and you know a lot of Naturopaths would disagree with you. It was a good opinion piece with no studies to back it up. Shall I post another opinion piece from the Naturopatic side to disagree and say we are even?

No, that would be disingenuous wouldn’t it.

Sorry I am so results oriented, that I cannot see the trees for the forest.

Interesting, idea, that the body could have excess acid or alkaline levels to the point of excreting the excess, yet not be affected by acid or alkaline at the same time.

And if I was excreting excess Acid yet read the same Ph in my mouth at the same time, how is excess expressed in my mouth? Why is my urine not more acid or more base to reflect the excesses? Seems to indicate to me that I am excreting what my current Ph is, more than the biological function of excess control or balance. There is not a magic balance point that we gravitate to in the middle. In order to balance to a set point of say 7 you would need to excrete the difference between your set point and your current point in a multiple.

You can not reach a set point of 7, while drinking a 5 by excreting a 7. You would need to excrete a 4 or a 3.

But, other than that a nice opinion piece.

PS. Please don’t feed the trolls.