Acid-base balance is all about maintaining a balance between acidity and alkalinity in the body. Blood, for example, is slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7,4. After digestion, absorption and metabolism of the food we eat, the majority of them release either acids or bases into the bloodstream. It is therefore not the foods in themselves that influence our acid-base balance, but their metabolism, which can vary from one individual to another.

During metabolism, certain foods generate either acidifying or alkalizing substances. For example, foods generating strong acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or uric acid tend to acidify the body. This is particularly the case for foods of animal origin such as meat, fish or cheese, but also cereals (especially refined), sweets, industrial drinks and prepared meals. On the other hand, the richness in minerals (potassium and magnesium) of fruits and vegetables make them alkalizing foods for the great majority of them.

A food can have an acidic or basic pH without necessarily acidifying or basifying the organism. A telling example is that of lemon: its taste is very acidic and its pH is equal to 2,5, but it is alkalizing for the body. Conversely, meat which has a pH of 7,1, ie very slightly basic, is acidifying.

Our modern diet, and in particular the Western diet, which is richer in animal products, refined cereals, industrial dishes, sweets, to the detriment of fruits and vegetables, therefore seems indeed too acidic for our body.

Although not the most accurate measurement, measuring urine pH is a simple way to determine whether or not a person’s eating habits tend to acidify their body.

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