Acid ash and Alkali ash Forming Foods
Acidity or alkalinity of food is measured in terms of the pH value. Food can leave either an acid ash or alkaline ash. The optimal health is in a mildly alkaline body.
In order for our body to function and grow, we all must eat food. Food is generally classified into three categories - carbohydrates, proteins and fats. All these are made up of four basic elements, namely, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen and all these four elements are abundantly present in the air. Mixed in with these foods with four elements are many inorganic minerals such as sulfur, chlorine, sodium, calcium, etc.
These elements are classified into two categories
i) Acid forming elements (sulfur, phosphorous, chlorine, iodine)
ii) Alkaline forming elements (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron).
These minerals play essential roles in sustaining our body. These inorganic minerals in the food determine whether the food is alkaline ash forming or acid ash forming or acidic.

Acidity or alkalinity is measured in terms of the pH value (pH stands for potential of Hydrogen). The scale of the pH runs from 1 to 14; 1 is too acidic, 14 is too alkaline and 7 is neutral. The pH value of our blood is 7.4, which is slightly alkaline. Our body is hence naturally alkaline to be in optimal health.
All the fluids of the body with the exception of that in the stomach are also alkaline.
When dieticians talk about acidic food or alkaline food, they are not talking about how they taste but the kind of ash they leave behind. For example, orange juice tastes acidic but leaves an alkaline residue or alkaline ash after digestion and metabolism. Therefore they are considered to be an alkaline forming food. The healthy foods are those that generate the least amount of acid ash or residue.
References:
- Dr Renu Mahtani; 2005; “The Ultimate Indian Diet Book
- Sang Whang; “Reverse Ageing – Not Science Fiction But a Scientific Fact
- Bharti Vyas, Suzanne Le Quesne; 2007; “The pH balance diet”
- Robert O. Young, Shelly Red Ford Young; 2002; “The pH Miracle”
- Michelle Schroffro Cook; 2008; “The ultimate pH solution”
- Susan Etchy; 2006; “The Acid- Alkaline Food Guide”
- Alkaline Diet Health Tips - (http://www.alkalinediethealthtips.com/index.html)
- König D, Muser K, Dickhuth HH, Berg A, Deibert P. Nutr J. 2009 Jun 10;8:23.
Citations
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
-
APA
Maulishree Jhawer. (2020, September 23). Acid ash and Alkali ash Forming Foods. Medindia. Retrieved on May 28, 2022 from https://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/acid-base-dietary-balance-health-and-wellbeing-ash-forming-foods.htm.
-
MLA
Maulishree Jhawer. "Acid ash and Alkali ash Forming Foods". Medindia. May 28, 2022. <https://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/acid-base-dietary-balance-health-and-wellbeing-ash-forming-foods.htm>.
Chicago
Maulishree Jhawer. "Acid ash and Alkali ash Forming Foods". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/acid-base-dietary-balance-health-and-wellbeing-ash-forming-foods.htm. (accessed May 28, 2022).
Harvard
Maulishree Jhawer. 2021. Acid ash and Alkali ash Forming Foods. Medindia, viewed May 28, 2022, https://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/acid-base-dietary-balance-health-and-wellbeing-ash-forming-foods.htm.
Request an Appointment with a Doctor (Nutrition Expert)

1 year experience
Online mode, Porur

12 years experience
Health and Nutrify clinic, Serlingampally
Great Work !!! Good Content!