Do you know the pH of the water you’re drinking?

Proponents of the alkaline diet argue that eating alkaline foods and drinking products like alkaline water can shift the body’s chemistry toward the alkaline end of the pH spectrum, thus preventing diseases, especially cancer, increasing energy, and even helping you lose weight. All the celebrities are doing it: Jennifer Aniston, Kelly Ripa, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Brady, etc.

I see it everywhere. In every local supermarket, there are pallets of hundreds of plastic bottles of alkaline water. Even student athletes insist it’s better. I asked one of them why they preferred it, and they said, “Because it’s getting rid of all the acid in my body.” Which acid? Hopefully not their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Acidity and pH

Here’s a quick refresher on acidity and pH before we go any further. An acid has a pH between 0-6 and tastes sour like lemons. A base has a pH between 8-14 and tastes bitter like soap. Neutral means a pH of 7, like pure water, which can be thought of as having equal parts acid and base. And your body is mostly water, so that means you are mostly neutral, containing roughly equal parts acidic ions and alkaline ions.

You Are Already Perfect

According to the Cleveland Clinic, your body’s blood pH is strictly maintained between 7.35 and 7.45 pH by homeostasis. Homeostasis, by definition, maintains the body’s stability by responding to changes in external conditions. For example, the pancreas releases insulin to maintain blood sugar. And it is the kidneys' job to always maintain stable blood chemistry, no matter what is consumed.

Where Did This Myth Come From, Anyway?

The myth that alkaline foods cure or treat cancer has roots in peer-reviewed cancer research but is based on a misinterpretation of the science, according to Karen Collins of the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). The thinking goes that an acidic body causes cancer. But the reality is exactly the opposite: the tumor microenvironment in the body is mildly acidic due to the metabolism of tumor cells pumping out acid, which might also help cancerous cells invade healthy tissues.

The idea that alkaline foods might prevent or treat cancer is simply wrong. Yet, there are many cookbooks based on this premise on Amazon.com, some with hundreds of five-star reviews. One of these alkaline cookbooks is written by an author who claims it “reversed cancer.” While most products don’t often point to anticarcinogenic effects directly, there are enough social media posts, influencers, and articles online to give you the idea that it could be true.

The Bigger Picture

Publishing or profiting from alkaline diet products that perpetuate false claims about cancer is unethical. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is the second leading cause of death behind heart disease, and while fear can be profitable, it misleads the public, replacing scientifically sound medical guidance with empty promises of curing or treating cancer. The one silver lining is that the foods most often recommended as part of an alkaline diet are healthy, like fruits and vegetables, but not because they are alkaline. Rather, as Sara Berg for the American Medical Association (AMA) explained, these foods are healthy because they are packed with nutrient-dense energy, vitamins and minerals.

The next time you are scrolling through your feed, be skeptical. A lot of pseudoscience begins with a bit of plausibility and might even make some good suggestions. Yet when we take a closer look—see all the evidence and scrutinize it—the argument falls apart. An easy way to start doing your own research is to look for credible sources, such as the American Institute for Cancer Research.

So, don’t bother getting caught up in the pH debate. Homeostasis is all you need.

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© 2026 Daniel Geoffrey Smith. All text is my sole property; no content may be used or reproduced without prior written permission and clear attribution.