Alkalize or Die

"This book will put you on the path for healthy living. It demonstrates the need for all of us to live a diet such as this one."
~ Written on 2008-09-29

"My wife and I have tried to alkalize for many a year with no visible success. This book does an awesome job of outlining why we need to, and how we can accomplish this alkalizing. Most importantly the author describes how one might alkalize via water. I had never heard of this so I was intrigued. After researching the many Chinese and Korean knock offs we purchased the Japanese manufactured machine and within days noticed startling improvements. Thank you Dr. Baroody, if you had not included that chapter we would not be leading the healthier lives we do today!"
~ Written on 2008-09-16

"I am reviewing the ninth edition (2006) of Dr. Baroody's book, Alkalize or Die. Dr. Baroody's book has helped me understand the relationship between acid-forming foods and alkaline-forming foods, yet I must say it required some level of discernment to sift the wheat from the chaff.

One of the positive features to Dr. Baroody's approach to healthful living is his recognition of each person's unique biochemistry. Throughout this book he continues to remind his readers that each person is an individual and therefore might experience variant results when compared to other people.

It is important to understand that Dr. Baroody's theories and principals are based as largely on his personal alternative health experiences (trial and error) as they are on any demonstrable medical science. It is also important to know that Dr. Baroody gives much credence to the metaphysical teachings of eastern spiritualism, which may be a detractor to some readers. In the book's introduction, Dr. Baroody writes, "My viewpoint is founded on ancient Hindu, Chinese, Tibetan, and Greco-European healing philosophies and on several great modern men in the field of health." One of these "great modern men" is Edgar Cayce, who is referenced as an authority many times throughout the book.

So long as the reader is a proponent of New Age and/or Eastern spiritualism, this book should be quite acceptable. For those of us who are more Western in their worldview, the book requires discernment to pick and choose what you care to take from it.

An example of how Dr. Baroody's metaphysical beliefs influence his dietary advice can be seen in his counsel for reducing the consumption of red meat: "The destructive emotion of slaughter is assimilated by the person who eats flesh." (pg. 63). For many, this statement might resonate well with their worldview, but for others this statement will likely be challenged as to it's applicability to the subject of acidity/alkalinity.

Dr. Baroody's experience in the alternative health field appears to be quite extensive. No doubt he has learned a lot from published medical research and other practitioners, yet much of what he proposes in this book is admittedly derived from his own experience; some of which he still doesn't fully understand himself (for example, read chapter 4 on the "Vagus Nerve"). Those readers who are looking for a book filled with footnotes and documented scientific research will be disappointed with this work.

What I found most helpful in the book is Dr. Baroody's exhaustive list of foods with a corresponding rating as to their alkaline-forming or acid-forming properties. Dr. Baroody abandons the conventional 0-7-14 pH scale in favor of a scale he developed to measure alkaline-forming and acid-forming foods. Dr. Baroody's scale (pg. 38) ranges from 0.5 to 7.5. All foods below 4.0 are acid-forming and all foods above 4.0 are alkaline-forming.

The chart I refer to above is alone worth the price of the book. Depending on the readers religious and scientific convictions, the rest of the book may or may not be appreciated.
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~ Written on 2008-07-04

"Here are a few excerpts that convinced me that this book is way off base.

For starters, the book's disclaimer: "The information in this book is given strictly for educational and research purposes. The author and publisher do not prescribe or recommend, and assume no responsibility. In no way should this information be considered a substitute for competent health care by the professional of your choice. In the event you use this information without your doctor's approval, you are prescribing for yourself, with is your constitutional right."

p. 57: "An alcoholic is one who takes more than one drink of anything on a daily basis". That gave me a good laugh.

p. 63: "The destructive emotion of slaughter is assimilated by one who eats flesh".

p. 67-8 cites an unnamed "study" from the "turn of the century" of people in northern Europe that lived over 100 years, stating "many of these lived up to 200 years". Many of the same people in the study had bad diet and were drunkards but they all ate food in moderation as their key to longevity. Umm, this contradicts the argument against alcohol from p.57.

p. 109 "To avoid sunburn is foolish" Oh really, what would my dermatologist think?

p. 115 "Red meat is red because it is dyed. The dye is a petroleum product..." There is some truth to this on meats that have hit their expiration date, but -- red meat is red because it is red.

In retrospect the disclaimer should have read "Rather than forming decisions based on decades of medical research using proven protocols including clinical trials, the opinions provided in this book are drawn from the latest trends in alternative medicines with no scientific basis. After reading this book, please go to my website to buy my products."

Time to go barbecue a pork shoulder."
~ Written on 2008-01-19

"Not a fun read. It did not keep my interest at all. I wish I purchased another book with the same topic with more "UMPH!""
~ Written on 2007-12-21