Acid foods?

Some people believe that 'acid' foods make the blood/body more 'acid' and that this is bad for you. This belief does not make physiological sense and is completely unscientific. There are foods that create acid or alkaline ash, but this affects the pH of urine only. There is no food that will alter the pH level of your body - your blood and organs are tightly buffered to maintain the pH level within very close limits.
However, if you consumed a whole bottle of antacids at once your blood would become more acid. The consumption of acidic foods like lemons and vinegar would not alter the level of acid in your blood stream because your stomach produces hydrochloric acid to aid in the digestion of these foods and then when the stomach empties into the intestine the pancreas neutralises the acidity with an alkaline solution containing enzymes. Your body responds very quickly to any changes to blood acidity so the pH of your blood does not vary as a consequence of eating.

Last Updated: March 2004.