The alkaline diet is also known as the acid-alkaline diet or alkaline ash diet. When you metabolize food it leaves an ash residue. It can be acidic or neutral. It directly affects acidity level in your body. Alkaline components are calcium, magnesium and potassium.
pH Level in Your Body
You might have heard of pH balance, but not known what it is exactly. Every food that we eat has a certain pH level that ranges from 0 to 14. 0 to 7 pH level is considered acid and 7 to 14 is considered alkaline. Water is right in the middle; it is not either an acid or a base.
The stomach is loaded with hydrochloric acid, giving it a pH value between 2 and 3.5. It is highly acidic and that is requisite to break down food.
The human body needs to maintain a pH in a narrow range, between 7.35 and 7.45 to function properly. Blood is mostly neutral. Human blood is always slightly alkaline, with a pH between 7.35 and 7.45.
The inside of your stomach is lined with a thick layer of mucus that protects it from being digested along with your meal. But, the small intestine isn’t as well protected. Instead, alkaline bile is released into the small intestine to buffer and balance the acidity of the gastric acid secreted from the stomach.