Dr Lark throws a spanner in the works about alkalizing with lemons

Dr Susan Lark sends me an email every few days. She's the author of the book 'The Chemistry of Success' all about maintaining peak performance through maintaining a natural alkaline balance (Don't Amazon it; it's out of print!)

She replies to another letter below about citrus and alkalinity. That's why I concentrate on greens rather than oranges and yellows these days.

"Dear Dr. Lark,
You made the statement that “acidic foods make it difficult for your body to achieve a healthy acid/alkaline, or pH, balance.” While this statement is true, you imply that acidic foods like oranges adversely impact the body’s pH balance. On the contrary, while these foods are indeed acidic, they make the urine alkaline, not acidic, and do not adversely affect the body’s pH balance." — Lisa

"Dear Lisa,
I cannot tell you how many emails I get about the pH debate. There is a school of thought that teaches that foods such as oranges, lemons, apple cider vinegar, etc. turn alkaline in the body once they are eaten. This is not so. These foods (and others like them) are considered to be very acidic because their alkaline mineral content is extremely low. Thus, these foods have no internal buffering from minerals to bring up their own pH and thereby counteract their naturally high acid content. And while it is technically true that these foods do become much more alkaline in the body when you consume them, it’s only because all acidic foods have to be buffered by your body’s own pH-regulating system to maintain the slightly alkaline pH of your blood. This occurs partially at the expense of your bones, which will release and deplete their own alkaline minerals to keep your blood pH slightly alkaline. In addition to limiting citrus fruits and vinegar, you’ll also want to reduce your intake of other highly acidifying foods such as meat, alcohol, sugar, and caffeine. Digesting and metabolizing protein (especially red meat, pork, poultry, dairy, and wheat gluten) creates an astonishingly excessive acid load and burdens your buffer system. Although protein is an essential component of healthy bones, you should avoid eating too much of it and choose less acidifying sources. Wild-caught salmon and other fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, organic eggs, and free-range poultry are better animal-based protein sources if you need meat in your diet."

Thank you, Dr Lark!