by Dana M Robinson - Published 5 months ago

Dr. Sebi Diet: Healthy or Hype? Functional Medicine Perspective

The Dr. Sebi diet gained significant attention in 2019, ranking second on Google's search trends for diets.

Its popularity peaked in early April 2019 following the death of rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was working on a documentary about Dr. Sebi. Some people speculated that Hussle's work on the documentary was linked to his death, suggesting it was "not a coincidence."

In interviews about the documentary, Hussle himself questioned the circumstances surrounding Dr. Sebi's death. The surge in searches for the diet appears to be driven by curiosity about related conspiracy theories rather than interest in its nutritional value.

What is the Dr. Sebi diet?

The plant-based diet is a type of alkaline diet, purportedly designed to help cells repair themselves through a combination of dietary restrictions and supplements.

The diet was created by "Dr." Sebi, whose real name was Alfredo Darrington Bowman, born in 1933 in Honduras. He was not a licensed medical professional, despite claiming to be a "pathologist, herbalist, biochemist, and naturalist." Throughout his life, Bowman faced numerous legal challenges, including an arrest for practicing medicine without a license. He passed away in August 2016.

During his lifetime, the diet attracted several celebrity followers, including Michael Jackson, but also remained shrouded in controversy. Bowman denied that HIV causes AIDS and was sued by New York state in 1993 after claiming to have "cured AIDS." He was ordered to stop making medical claims about his diet's benefits.

The diet promotes a strict form of veganism and is based on the belief that all diseases stem from a localized malfunction of the body's mucus membranes. Bowman proposed that creating an alkaline environment could eliminate diseases.

Bowman's diet plan includes a "Nutritional Guide" that lists specific allowed foods and other guidelines.

The diet also recommends taking Dr. Sebi "Cell Food" supplements. This program, which offers gendered options, costs between $750 and $1,500.

Rules of the diet (according to Bowman):

1. If a food is not listed in the "Nutritional Guide," it's not recommended.

2. Drink one gallon of natural spring water daily.

3. Take any Dr. Sebi products one hour before "pharmaceuticals."

4. All Dr. Sebi products can be taken together without interactions.

5. Strict adherence to the "Nutritional Guide" (including supplemental products) provides the best results for "reversing disease."

No animal products, hybrid foods, canned fruits, seedless fruits, or alcohol can be consumed.

Dr. Sebi suggests that using the microwave "kills your food," so avoid using it.

What does "alkalizing the body" mean?

An alkaline diet centers around managing your body's pH through food choices. The theory is that food waste can have a pH ranging from alkaline to acidic.

The human body maintains different pH levels in various areas for specific bodily functions. Organs like the stomach are more acidic, while blood is more alkaline. The body strictly regulates pH balance in organs and fluids.

The body has built-in acid-base balance through complex excretion and reabsorption mechanisms involving the lungs, kidneys, and buffer systems. Urine, influenced by food and fluids, illustrates how the kidneys manage blood pH.

Are alkaline diets effective?

The broader concept of "alkaline diets" focuses on metabolic waste, and the Dr. Sebi diet is just one example. These diets generally promote healthy plant-based foods, beneficial for most people. Alkaline diets often criticize or eliminate meats, seafood, eggs, dairy, sugar, processed foods, and wheat.

While these dietary changes can offer health benefits for many (reducing sugar and calories, increasing fiber, fruit, and vegetable intake), the notion that diet significantly affects our robust, built-in acid-base balance lacks scientific support.

There is no scientific evidence to support the idea of alkalinizing the body, and science does not back up the claims made by Bowman or similar alkaline diet regimens. Numerous studies on alkaline diets have been reviewed and analyzed, and the results are clear: Neither the alkaline diet nor its related “acid-ash hypothesis” has been proven to prevent or reduce diseases. This lack of effectiveness includes bone health and osteoporosis 1, cancer 2, and glucose and insulin responses 3, to name a few.

The key takeaway on the "Dr." Sebi diet.

While the diet makes bold claims, it is not proven. It may provide similar benefits to an alternative plant-based diet, which is more thoroughly researched 4, but the strict diet plan seems to lack protein sources.

Regarding alkalinizing, Wendie Trubow, M.D., told mbg, "The claims, without research, should not be relied upon."

If you're considering a plant-based diet, there are many benefits to look forward to. Here are some tips for starting your plant-based journey.

And if you're curious, here is the complete list of foods allowed on the Dr. Sebi diet: