Is there a relationship between diet and cancer risk? I bet there is. Are cancers acidic by nature? Yes. Will high acid foods lower your body’s pH and cause cancer? ppH INo. Unfortunately, there is a lot of press on the subject of acidic foods promoting tumor growth, but it is not true. Usually, the promotional website also seeks to sell treatments for your body’s acidic pH. They offer pH strips for your saliva and promise to lower your risk of cancer if you take their alkalizing tablets. Although cancers are acidic, there is in fact no basis for assuming that taking alkaline agents will prevent or treat cancer. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research in its May 2008 newsletter stated that “it’s time to set the record straight” regarding the myth of acid-base balance, food, and cancer.
pH is a measure of the balance of acid and base. A lower pH corresponds to more acidity and a higher pH means more alkaline. The pH in humans remains constant at an average of 7.4. When the pH is outside the normal range, people become seriously ill. It is through our kidneys and lungs that the acid-base balance of the body is maintained. At different times, the urine will be more acidic or alkaline or carbon dioxide will be expelled through the lungs to expel excess acid. Therefore, measuring the pH of your urine or saliva only proves that the system is working and you can be sure that your body’s pH is still 7.4. Diet cannot change the pH of your blood due to this system. In fact, taking alkalizing tablets will not change the pH of the blood, but it will alkalize the urine and saliva.
So what is the pH of the blood of cancer patients? The theory would have you believe that the blood is acidic in cancer patients. There have been many studies on this topic in the early 20th century. Many of the studies had conflicting results, either showing no difference or showing a tendency for cancer patients’ blood to be more alkaline. Horace Millet presented his data on this subject in 1929 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. He used a precise glass electrode and showed no difference in the blood pH of cancer patients compared to normal patients.
What is the connection of cancer and acid? Cancers are acidic. The acidic nature of cancers may serve a purpose. The internal pH of tumors helps make them resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy (Cancer Drug Resistance, Humana Press 2007, Int J Rad Onc Biol Phys, September 1996). The reason behind the heartburn is due to how cancers use energy. Studies conducted by the German scientist Otto Warburg in the 1930s showed that tumors have abnormal metabolism compared to normal cells. Normal cells metabolize glucose through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. This system maximizes the production of energy in the form of ATP but also requires oxygen. This is how humans get their energy. We breathe oxygen, and byproducts include energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water. When oxygen levels are low, such as during vigorous exercise, the system switches to another system called glycolysis, or anaerobic metabolism. Without oxygen, the system doesn’t produce as much energy and has lactic acid as a byproduct. When people exercise beyond their limit, they draw energy from this system and then are left with sore muscles from lactic acid buildup. Dr. Warburg discovered that cancer cells preferentially use the glycolysis (low oxygen) form of metabolism. The reason is twofold: First, cancers tend to outgrow their blood supply, making the center of the tumor low on oxygen. Second, cancers need a lot of energy to grow and the glycolytic pathway is the fastest way to generate ATP energy (J Natl Cancer Inst 2004;96:1805). The downside of this form of metabolism is that it is a wasteful way to produce energy. Cancer patients lose fat and muscle because tumors eat excessive amounts to grow. Finally, lactic acid is a byproduct of glycolysis and this acidifies the interior of tumors. That’s why tumors are acidic and your diet doesn’t promote cancer by making your blood acidic.
Is there a problem with the alkaline diet? If you check out the alkaline diet, it contains healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. It also encourages us to avoid coffee, alcohol, and processed foods. They are not bad suggestions. The problem is that certain acidic foods have significant anti-cancer effects. These include soybeans, cranberries, lingonberries, prunes, whole grains: barley, wheat, oats, beans, nuts, and fish. All of these are beneficial to your health and should not be avoided in the diet in an effort to stay alkaline.
My advice is to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, omega-3 fatty acids, and chicken or fish. Foods to limit include red meat, processed meat, animal fats, dairy, processed foods, alcohol, and sugar. Drink plenty of water, but don’t be afraid of coffee or tea. They contain polyphenols and have beneficial effects on health. Finally, forget about acidic foods and cancer, don’t measure the pH of your saliva, and don’t take alkalizing tablets to prevent cancer.
