Nutrition Guide: What to eat if blood is too acidic?

October 14, 2025 •

4 min read

The human body maintains a very narrow blood pH range, and if the body's regulatory systems fail, your blood can become too acidic, a condition called acidosis. While diet alone rarely causes this clinical issue, knowing what to eat if blood is too acidic can help support overall health by managing dietary acid load and assisting the body's natural balancing processes. This guide explores which foods have an alkalinizing effect and which should be moderated.

Quick Summary

This guide provides dietary recommendations for managing dietary acid load by prioritizing alkaline-forming foods like fruits and vegetables. It explains which foods to consume and which to moderate to support the body's acid-base balance, particularly for those with underlying conditions.

Key Points

Underlying Medical Condition: Persistent acidic blood (acidosis) is not caused by diet alone and requires investigation by a healthcare professional to identify and treat the root cause.
Increase Alkaline-Forming Foods: Prioritize fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds, which have an alkaline effect on the body after digestion and metabolism.
Moderate Acid-Forming Foods: Reduce intake of foods that increase the body's acid load, including meat, fish, eggs, most cheeses, and grains.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help the kidneys and body flush out waste and excess acid.
Consult a Specialist: For medical conditions causing acidosis, such as chronic kidney disease, work with a kidney dietitian or other healthcare provider to create a safe and effective dietary plan.
Limit Processed Foods and Carbonated Drinks: These often contain high sodium and added acids that contribute negatively to the body's acid-base balance.

The body is a complex system that works hard to maintain a precise balance, including its pH level. Persistent, clinically significant acidic blood (acidosis) is not caused by diet alone but is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as kidney disease, lung problems, or uncontrolled diabetes. For these individuals, dietary adjustments can play a supportive role in managing the body's acid load. Even in healthy individuals, an excessive dietary acid load, typical of many Western diets, can create a low-grade acidosis over time. The key is to understand which foods produce an alkaline effect and which are acid-forming after metabolism.

Understanding the Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL)

The Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) is a value used to estimate the acid or alkaline effect a food has on the body after digestion. Foods with a positive PRAL value are acid-forming, while those with a negative PRAL are alkaline-forming. A diet high in foods with a negative PRAL can help support the body's natural pH regulation.

Alkaline-Forming Foods: What to Eat

To promote a more alkaline internal environment, the focus should be on a plant-rich diet. These foods are generally low in protein and rich in alkalizing minerals like potassium and magnesium.

Fruits and Vegetables

Dark Leafy Greens: Kale, spinach, arugula, and collard greens are nutritional powerhouses with a strong alkaline effect.
Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are excellent choices.
Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes, and beets are highly alkalizing.
Other Fruits: Berries, melons, apples, and bananas are metabolized in an alkaline manner. Lemons and limes, though acidic before consumption, have a powerful alkalizing effect after digestion.
Avocado: Rich in healthy fats and alkaline minerals.

Legumes and Plant-Based Proteins

Lentils and Chickpeas: These provide plant-based protein and fiber, contributing to a lower acid load compared to animal proteins.
Soy Products: Tofu, tempeh, and edamame are great plant-based options.

Nuts and Seeds

Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds, and Chia Seeds: These are nutritious snacks that promote alkalinity.

Beverages

Water: Staying hydrated is crucial for flushing out excess acids.
Herbal Tea and Mineral Water: These are beneficial, low-acid options.

Acid-Forming Foods: What to Limit

Certain foods generate more acid in the body after they are metabolized. Moderating these is important for reducing the overall dietary acid load.

Animal Protein: Meat, fish, and eggs are significant sources of acid-forming compounds. While a good source of nutrients, portion control is key. A plant-based or Mediterranean-style diet can provide a better balance.
Dairy: Most cheeses, especially hard and processed varieties, have a high acid load. Milk and yogurt are considered more neutral.
Grains: Many grains, like oats, rice, and whole-wheat bread, are acid-forming, though less so than animal products.
Processed Foods: High-sodium and processed snacks, sugary foods, and packaged meals often have a high acid load and should be limited.
Carbonated Beverages: Soft drinks, seltzers, and other carbonated drinks contain carbonic acid and phosphoric acid, contributing to acid load.

Comparison of Alkaline vs. Acidic Foods (Based on PRAL Value)


Food Category	Typical PRAL Value	Alkaline or Acid-Forming	Recommended Dietary Action
Fruits & Vegetables	Negative (e.g., -2.8 to -9.0)	Alkaline-Forming	Eat Plenty: Forms base when metabolized, helping balance pH.
Meat & Poultry	Positive (e.g., +9.5)	Acid-Forming	Moderate Intake: High in protein and phosphorus, increasing acid load.
Grains	Positive (e.g., +3.5 to +6.7)	Acid-Forming	Balance with Veggies: Many contribute to acid load, but can be balanced by a high intake of alkaline foods.
Legumes	Negative (e.g., -5.4)	Alkaline-Forming	Include Regularly: Good source of protein and fiber with an alkaline effect.
Cheese	Positive (e.g., +8.0)	Acid-Forming	Limit Intake: High acid load, particularly with hard and processed varieties.
Fats & Oils	Neutral (e.g., 0)	Neutral	Use Moderately: Neutral effect on acid-base balance.

The Role of Professional Guidance

While dietary changes are a supportive step, they are not a cure for clinical acidosis. If a blood test reveals you have acidic blood, it is essential to work with a healthcare professional to identify and treat the underlying cause. A doctor may prescribe medication, like sodium bicarbonate, to manage the condition. For individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), consulting a kidney dietitian is particularly important. They can tailor a meal plan to help manage acid load while also addressing other nutritional considerations, such as potassium and phosphorus levels.

Conclusion

Knowing what to eat if blood is too acidic is about adopting a more balanced diet that emphasizes alkaline-forming foods. A shift towards a plant-based eating pattern, rich in fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and moderating the intake of acid-forming foods like meat, cheese, and processed snacks can reduce the body's dietary acid load. However, diet is a supportive measure, not a standalone treatment for clinical acidosis. The most critical step for anyone with diagnosed acidic blood is to seek professional medical advice to address the root cause and develop a comprehensive treatment plan that is safe and effective. For more information on managing metabolic acidosis, especially in relation to kidney health, consult resources from organizations like the National Kidney Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Blood becomes too acidic (acidosis) when there is an underlying health problem, most commonly affecting the kidneys or lungs. These organs are responsible for maintaining the body's acid-base balance. Conditions like chronic kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, or severe lung disease can cause acidosis.

Diet does not directly alter blood pH in healthy individuals because the body has powerful regulatory systems. However, diet contributes to the body's 'acid load.' An imbalance of acid-forming foods (meat, cheese, grains) over alkaline-forming foods (fruits, vegetables) can contribute to a low-grade acidosis over time, especially in those with reduced kidney function.

No, an alkaline diet cannot cure clinical acidosis, as this requires treating the underlying medical condition. However, for people with conditions like chronic kidney disease, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help reduce the dietary acid load and support the body's natural balancing processes.

Yes, after being metabolized by the body, most fruits and vegetables have an alkaline-forming effect, regardless of their initial acidity. This is due to their high content of minerals like potassium and magnesium. Lemons and limes are a classic example—while acidic to the taste, they are highly alkalinizing in the body.

Examples of highly alkaline-forming foods include leafy greens like kale and spinach, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, many fruits, avocados, root vegetables like carrots and beets, and legumes like lentils.

Common acid-forming foods to limit include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, most grains, and high-sodium processed foods. Carbonated drinks also contribute to the body's acid load.

You do not need to eliminate all acid-forming foods. A balanced, healthy diet is key. The goal is to moderate the intake of acid-forming foods and increase the consumption of alkaline-forming fruits and vegetables to achieve a better balance.