Does Meat Increase Acidity? The Science Behind Your Diet's pH

November 19, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a 2017 review, an excessive consumption of acid-producing foods like meat can contribute to low-grade metabolic acidosis, though it is usually manageable for healthy kidneys. This article explores the science behind the question: does meat increase acidity in the body?

Quick Summary

Meat is a source of acid-forming compounds when metabolized, which influences urine pH but not blood pH in healthy people. We explain the role of dietary acid load, the potential impact on those with kidney issues or acid reflux, and how to maintain a balanced diet.

Key Points

PRAL Score: Meat is an acid-forming food, meaning it has a positive Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) score, primarily due to its protein and phosphorus content.
Blood vs. Urine pH: In healthy people, consuming meat affects the pH of your urine but has no significant effect on your blood's tightly regulated pH.
Acid Reflux Trigger: Fatty meats can trigger acid reflux (heartburn) because they relax the lower esophageal sphincter and slow stomach emptying, allowing stomach acid to flow into the esophagus.
Kidney Health: For individuals with chronic kidney disease, a high dietary acid load from excessive meat consumption can be harmful, and a healthcare provider may recommend dietary adjustments.
Dietary Balance: The best approach is to balance acid-forming foods like meat with plenty of alkaline-forming fruits and vegetables.
Lean Meats: Choosing leaner cuts of meat and cooking methods like grilling or baking can help reduce the risk of acid reflux symptoms compared to fatty or fried meats.
Don't Over-Worry: The human body is well-equipped to manage the acid load from a normal, balanced diet. The alkaline diet is based on sound nutritional principles (eating more plants) but the specific pH-balancing theory is often misconstrued.

Understanding Body Acidity: The Role of PRAL

For most healthy individuals, the body maintains a very narrow and stable blood pH range (between 7.35 and 7.45) through various buffering systems involving the lungs and kidneys. However, some foods do produce a greater acid load than others during metabolism. This effect is measured by the Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL), which indicates how much acid or base a food produces after being digested.

Meat, particularly animal proteins, contains higher concentrations of sulfur-containing amino acids such as methionine and cysteine. The metabolism of these amino acids produces sulfuric acid as a byproduct, giving meat a positive PRAL and classifying it as acid-forming. A higher dietary acid load is then buffered and excreted by the kidneys, resulting in more acidic urine. This effect on urine pH is completely normal and does not mean your blood pH has changed. In fact, a diet high in acid-forming foods without sufficient alkaline foods can place extra demand on the kidneys.

The Difference Between Body Acidity and Stomach Acidity

It is crucial to distinguish between systemic body acidity, which the body tightly controls, and stomach acidity, which is naturally highly acidic to aid digestion. When people discuss meat giving them "acidity," they are often referring to symptoms of acid reflux, not a change in their blood's pH level.

Common Causes of Acid Reflux Symptoms Related to Meat:

Fat Content: Fatty meats, especially red and processed meats, take longer to digest. This delay in stomach emptying increases the risk of stomach contents, and the acid needed to break them down, backing up into the esophagus.
Pressure on the LES: High-fat meals can also cause the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus, to relax. When this happens, acid can more easily flow back up, causing heartburn.
Processed Ingredients: Processed meats are often high in sodium, nitrates, and other additives that can further irritate the stomach lining and trigger reflux symptoms.

Balancing Acid-Forming and Alkaline-Forming Foods

Maintaining a balanced diet is key to reducing the overall dietary acid load and supporting kidney health, particularly in cases of existing kidney disease. For most healthy people, this means focusing on a variety of whole foods, not just eliminating meat. A diet rich in alkaline-forming fruits and vegetables can help balance the effects of acid-forming meat and grains.

Comparison of Acidifying vs. Alkalizing Foods


Food Category	Acidifying Foods (Positive PRAL)	Alkalizing Foods (Negative PRAL)
Meat & Protein	Beef, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, processed meats	Most legumes (beans, lentils), tofu
Grains	Wheat bread, rice, oats	Millet, quinoa, buckwheat
Fruits	Some citrus fruits (can trigger reflux, but metabolize as alkaline)	Apples, bananas, melons, berries, most fruits
Vegetables	None are strongly acidifying	Broccoli, spinach, kale, cauliflower, most vegetables
Fats	Some cheeses, saturated fats	Avocados, olive oil, nuts, seeds
Beverages	Coffee, alcohol, most sodas	Herbal tea, some mineral water

How to Counteract Meat's Acid Load

Pair Meat with Vegetables: Serve meat dishes with a large portion of alkaline-rich vegetables to create a balanced meal. This is a simple application of the 70/30 or 80/20 alkaline diet concept.
Choose Leaner Cuts: Opt for lean protein sources like skinless chicken breast, fish, and leaner cuts of beef. These have lower fat content and are less likely to trigger acid reflux.
Limit Processed Meats: Reduce your intake of processed and fatty meats like bacon, sausage, and cold cuts, which are higher in acid-forming compounds and fat.
Incorporate Plant-Based Proteins: Swap out animal protein for plant-based alternatives like legumes (beans, lentils) and tofu a few times a week to lower your overall dietary acid load.
Use Alkaline-Boosting Additions: Adding ingredients like a splash of lemon juice (which becomes alkaline in the body) or baking soda (for dishes using acidic canned tomatoes) can help balance the flavor and pH.

Conclusion

While meat does technically increase the body's acid load during metabolism, the human body has highly effective systems to regulate blood pH and maintain a healthy balance. For most healthy individuals, this is not a significant health concern. The perception that meat dramatically increases "acidity" is often confused with symptoms of acid reflux, which is more commonly triggered by fatty cuts of meat that slow digestion. Adopting a balanced diet that pairs meat with plenty of alkalizing fruits and vegetables is the most effective strategy for supporting overall health and digestive well-being. For those with underlying health conditions like kidney disease or severe acid reflux, consulting a healthcare professional is crucial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Red meat and processed meats are often high in fat and protein, giving them a higher Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL). For people with acid reflux, the higher fat content is more likely to be a trigger than the acid-forming nature of the protein itself.

No, an alkaline diet cannot fundamentally change your blood's pH, which is regulated by your kidneys and lungs within a very narrow, healthy range. However, a diet emphasizing alkaline-forming foods like fruits and vegetables is generally healthy, reducing the kidneys' workload and offering other nutritional benefits.

In healthy individuals, normal consumption of meat does not cause a pathological metabolic acidosis, as the kidneys are highly efficient at excreting excess acid. Prolonged, excessive intake of acid-forming foods could contribute to low-grade metabolic acidosis, especially in those with pre-existing kidney conditions.

You can reduce the dietary acid load of a meal by pairing meat with plenty of alkaline-forming vegetables, or by opting for a lean cut of meat instead of a fatty one. Incorporating side dishes like a large salad can help balance the overall pH of your meal.

Yes, lean meats like skinless chicken, turkey, and fish are often better for individuals with acid reflux. Their lower fat content means they digest more quickly and are less likely to trigger symptoms.

Protein, whether from animal or plant sources, is composed of amino acids that can be acid-forming during metabolism, particularly those containing sulfur. However, a balanced intake of protein is essential for health, and pairing protein with plenty of vegetables mitigates any acidic effect.

While drinking water can help with overall hydration, the claims that alkaline water significantly counteracts dietary acid load or changes the body's pH are not scientifically supported. A healthy body naturally regulates its pH, and relying on dietary gimmicks is unnecessary.