The purpose of this diploma thesis was to study the acid-base balance of body fluids and their impact on health. We considered the usefulness of PRAL value in nutrition and health, and the correlation between acid-base balance and diseases. PRAL (potential renal acid load) is a model used to evaluate the renal acid load on the basis of ingested food. The first part consisted of acid-base homeostasis in the body, evaluation of PRAL of alkaline and acidogenic foods, and the effect of nutrition on net endogenous acid production and acid-base balance. In the second part, we focused primarily on the link between acid loading with foods and disease states. There is a likelihood that and acidic food load may influence the loss of bone mineral density and body composition. Higher dietary acid load has also been associated with a higher risk of breast cancer and risk of type 2 diabetes. The role of diet in the onset of hypertension is also important. Higher dietary acid load is associated with cardiovascular diseases and also affect kidney function, which are also an important organ of acid-base balance regulation in the body. Nutrition and acid-base balance can also affect exercise performance. In any case, a more alkaline diet is advised.
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