Why an Alkaline Diet?
- truubynature
- May 12
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 23
Often people are suggested to go on a strict Keto diet or a Carnivore diet when undergoing a cancer-healing protocol. Yet there is another option: the Alkaline diet – which is the one we followed.
I've had many people reach out to me via social media, requesting more info, so I thought I'd share a whole post on just this topic for better understanding. Often they say, "I can just go on a Keto diet and add baking soda to my meals," but this does not work and I want to explain why.
When people first hear the phrase “alkaline diet,” many assume it simply means adding baking soda to food or trying to make the body chemically alkaline. In reality, the philosophy behind alkaline nutrition is far more nuanced and is often rooted in broader ideas surrounding inflammation, metabolism, mineral balance, and the body’s internal terrain.
This is one reason why many integrative nutritionists and wellness clinics around the world incorporate alkaline-style nutrition into supportive cancer care programs.
The Body Carefully Controls Blood pH
One of the biggest misconceptions about alkaline nutrition is the idea that food can dramatically change the pH of the blood. In reality, the body regulates blood pH extremely tightly through the lungs, kidneys, buffering minerals, electrolytes, and carbon dioxide regulation. If blood pH shifts too far outside its normal range, it becomes a medical emergency.
This means you cannot simply “alkalize” the blood by adding baking soda to meals.
So if alkaline nutrition is not truly about changing blood pH, what is it about?
Understanding “Metabolic Ash”
The alkaline diet is largely based on the idea of “metabolic ash” or “acid-ash.” This refers to the mineral residue and compounds believed to remain after food has been digested and metabolized.
Within this philosophy, foods rich in minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium are generally considered more alkalizing because of the residue they leave behind after metabolism. This includes foods like leafy greens, herbs, cucumber, squash, sweet potatoes, avocados, legumes, and many vegetables.
On the other hand, foods high in sulfur-containing amino acids and phosphorus, including many processed foods, refined sugars, processed meats, and large quantities of animal protein, are often considered more acid-forming.
This is why simply adding baking soda to heavily processed food does not necessarily align with alkaline nutrition principles. The overall metabolic effect of the food is believed to matter more than its immediate pH.
Why Many Integrative Practitioners Support Alkaline-Style Nutrition
Many specialized nutritionists and integrative clinics are not focused on “alkalizing the blood.” Instead, they often use alkaline-style nutrition as a way to encourage a dietary pattern that is lower in ultra-processed foods and richer in vegetables, fibre, minerals, hydration, and phytonutrients (natural bioactive compounds/benefits produced by plants). See resources below.
In many cases, the diet naturally shifts people toward more whole foods, organic produce, lower glycemic eating habits, and reduced refined sugar intake. This broader metabolic and anti-inflammatory approach is often what practitioners are truly aiming for.
Why Some Integrative Programs Choose Alkaline Diets Over Strict Keto
Ketogenic diets have gained attention in integrative cancer discussions because some researchers are studying how lowering glucose availability and insulin signalling may affect cancer metabolism. For some individuals, therapeutic ketogenic nutrition may be beneficial under professional supervision.
However, many practitioners do not believe strict long-term keto is appropriate or sustainable for everyone.
Cancer treatment can already place significant stress on the body. Many people experience fatigue, appetite loss, digestive challenges, food aversions, unintended weight loss, and muscle wasting. For these individuals, an alkaline-style dietary approach may feel more achievable and nourishing over time.
Foods such as sweet potatoes, butternut squash, chickpeas, vegetables, legumes, and other mineral-rich plant foods may provide fibre, antioxidants, phytonutrients, digestive support, and sustainable nourishment without the rigidity that strict ketogenic diets often require.
As a result, many integrative practitioners prefer a more balanced metabolic approach rather than extreme dietary restriction.
The “Terrain” Philosophy
One concept commonly discussed in integrative nutrition is the idea of improving the body’s internal “terrain.” This philosophy suggests that healing may be supported by improving the overall environment within the body through nutrition, reduced inflammation, improved sleep, mineral balance, stress reduction, metabolic health, detoxification support, and immune resilience.
Whether or not one fully agrees with all aspects of alkaline theory, many people report feeling significantly better when transitioning away from highly processed foods toward a more whole-food, plant-rich dietary pattern.
A Balanced Perspective
It is important to note that simply switching to an alkaline diet alone cannot cure cancer. However, many of the core dietary principles commonly associated with alkaline nutrition — including reducing processed foods, increasing vegetable intake, improving nutrient density, lowering excess sugar consumption, and supporting metabolic health — are widely recognized as beneficial for overall wellness, and they are one of the many steps you can take to gain immediate control over your body's toxicity.
Ultimately, nutrition within integrative cancer support is rarely one-size-fits-all. Different practitioners may recommend alkaline-style nutrition, ketogenic approaches, fasting protocols, anti-inflammatory diets, Mediterranean-style eating, or other metabolic therapies depending on the individual, their treatment plan, and what feels most sustainable for long-term support.
The goal is often not perfection, but creating a dietary pattern that supports resilience, nourishment, and the body’s ability to function at its best during healing. So that's what we chose, and I'm happy to help guide you if you have questions... don't go through your cancer-healing journey alone! Reaching out is the best thing you can do right now.
Resources
Below are a few of the many research studies that support an alkaline diet.
Dietary acid load and chronic disease
A 2024 review in Nutrients examined dietary acid load and its relationship to numerous chronic diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction, and cancer. The authors note that diets rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and other alkaline-forming foods are associated with lower dietary acid load and improved health outcomes.
Research link:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11006742/
"Dietary acid load has emerged as a potentially modifiable factor associated with multiple chronic diseases."
Plant-based diets reduce low-grade metabolic acidosis
A review published in the Journal of Nutritional Science concluded that plant-based dietary patterns effectively reduce dietary-induced low-grade metabolic acidosis and may help prevent or manage chronic illnesses in which metabolic acidosis contributes to disease progression.
This is one of the better papers because it focuses on mechanisms rather than diet ideology.
Reduced inflammation and oxidative stress
Several researchers have proposed that diets with a lower dietary acid load may reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. These factors are all implicated in cancer development and progression.
Research links:
This is particularly relevant because chronic inflammation is now recognized as a major contributor to many chronic diseases, including cancer.
Alkaline diets naturally increase protective foods
A comprehensive review of alkaline diets published in 2011 noted that many potential benefits appear to come from the increased intake of certain alkaline foods. The authors concluded that there may be value in alkaline dietary patterns for reducing chronic disease risk.
Research link:
Dietary acid load and cancer risk
A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis found that a higher dietary acid load was associated with an increased risk of cancer and poorer cancer prognosis. The authors concluded that elevated dietary acid load may be a risk factor worthy of further investigation.
Research link:
The tumour microenvironment is often acidic
One of the more interesting areas of modern oncology is the study of tumour acidity.
Researchers have observed that many tumours create an acidic microenvironment around themselves. This acidic environment has been linked to:
tumour invasion
metastasis
immune suppression
resistance to therapies
Better kidney function and reduced metabolic burden
Lower-acid diets may reduce the workload placed on the kidneys and slow progression of chronic kidney disease. Researchers have also observed reduced muscle wasting and improved metabolic markers in some populations consuming lower-acid diets.
Research links:
Clinical review of alkalization therapy in cancer treatment
This peer-reviewed review examines whether alkalization therapies, including alkaline diets and alkalizing agents, may improve cancer treatment outcomes. The authors discuss evidence suggesting that an acidic tumour microenvironment may contribute to cancer progression and treatment resistance.
Paper: Meaning and significance of alkalization therapy for cancer
This paper explores the concept that cancer cells maintain an alkaline intracellular environment while creating an acidic extracellular tumour microenvironment. The authors discuss how acidity may influence metastasis, immune suppression, and drug resistance.
Research: Tumour microenvironment acidity research
Research continues to investigate how acidity within the tumour microenvironment affects cancer cell behaviour and treatment response. This area is considered an active field of oncology research.
Moffitt Cancer Center
Researchers have published extensively on tumour acidity, metabolic adaptation, and the tumour microenvironment. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department. Known for work by researchers such as Robert Gatenby, who has studied how tumour acidity influences invasion and progression.
University of Arizona Cancer Center
Has published research exploring buffering therapies and tumour microenvironment acidity.
Integrative and functional cancer clinics
These clinics include alkaline nutrition as part of a broader integrative approach:
Cancer Center for Healing
Led by Leigh Erin Connealy, this clinic frequently discusses alkaline nutrition, anti-inflammatory diets, detoxification, and metabolic approaches alongside conventional care.
Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment
Known for evidence-informed integrative oncology, including personalized nutrition and metabolic support.
The Clara Clinic
A Canadian integrative clinic offering naturopathic and supportive cancer care, including nutritional interventions.
Brio-Medical Cancer Clinic
Offers integrative oncology programs that frequently include alkaline-promoting dietary recommendations as part of broader metabolic and nutritional support.
Mexico
Hope4Cancer
One of the best-known integrative cancer centres globally. Their Seven Key Principles include nutrition, detoxification, immune support, oxygenation, microbiome health, and emotional healing. Their protocols emphasize vegetable-rich nutrition, reduction of processed foods, and metabolic support.
Oasis of Hope Hospital
Founded in 1963, Oasis of Hope is one of the oldest integrative cancer hospitals in the world. Their "Contreras Program" has historically included dietary therapy, immune support, nutritional supplementation, and metabolic interventions.
Gerson Health Centre
Perhaps the most famous nutrition-based cancer program. The Gerson protocol is built around an organic plant-based diet, freshly prepared vegetable juices, potassium-rich foods, and minimizing sodium intake. The entire philosophy is based on restoring cellular metabolism through alkaline nutrition.
Germany
Germany has historically been one of the strongest countries for "biological medicine" and terrain-based approaches to cancer.
Arcadia Praxisklinik
One of Europe's best-known integrative oncology clinics. Their programs combine conventional oncology with nutritional medicine, hyperthermia, immune therapies, and metabolic approaches. Nutrition is considered a cornerstone of treatment.
St. Georg Hospital
Known internationally for biological cancer medicine. Their programs include nutritional intervention, detoxification support, immune therapies, and metabolic optimization.
Switzerland
Paracelsus Clinic Lustmühle
One of the most respected integrative oncology clinics in Europe. Their programs often include nutrition, orthomolecular medicine, detoxification, and biological therapies alongside conventional treatment.
United States
Cancer Center for Healing
The clinic supports alkaline-promoting foods, anti-inflammatory nutrition, detoxification, gut health, and metabolic therapies as part of comprehensive cancer care.
Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment
One of the longest-running evidence-informed integrative oncology centres in North America, where nutrition plays a central role.
Thailand
Hope4Cancer Thailand
A Southeast Asian extension of the Hope4Cancer model in Mexico, incorporating nutritional therapy, metabolic support, detoxification, and integrative cancer care.
Japan
Japanese Society for Integrative Medicine
Japan has a growing interest in dietary alkalization and tumour microenvironment research. Several private integrative clinics combine nutritional approaches with conventional treatment, often emphasizing vegetable-rich diets and reduced dietary acid load.
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