How Can Acidic Fruits Be Alkalizing?
It is often said that “acidic” fruits like lemons, limes and low sugar grapefruits are acidic and will acidify the fluids of the body. In fact, the citric, lactic, and other acids in such fruits exist primarily in their anionic form, especially as their Na+ and K+ salts (e.g., potassium citrate or calcium ascorbate). Following absorption, these anions are metabolized to bicarbonate (HCO3) and therefore will alkalize — not acidify — the blood and tissues. Alkalinization occurs even though the fruits pH in vitro is typically low (4 pH), because the free protons are more than offset by the generate bicarbonate — electrons. For example, a liter of diluted lemon juice (1 part lemon to 10 parts distilled water) with a pH of 4 has only 0.1 mmol (i.e., 10 to the minus 4 moles) of free protons. As long as the quality of organic anions exceeds this small number, which it does, a net alkalinization will occur. I hope this gives many of you clarity concerning the alkalinization of low sugar fru
It is often said that “acidic” fruits like lemons, limes and low sugar grapefruits are acidic and will acidify the fluids of the body. In fact, the citric, lactic, and other acids in such fruits exist primarily in their anionic form, especially as their Na+ and K+ salts (e.g., potassium citrate or calcium ascorbate). Following absorption, these anions are metabolized to bicarbonate (HCO3) and therefore will alkalize — not acidify — the blood and tissues. Alkalinization occurs even though the fruits pH in vitro is typically low (4 pH), because the free protons are more than offset by the generate bicarbonate — electrons. For example, a liter of diluted lemon juice (1 part lemon to 10 parts distilled water) with a pH of 4 has only 0.1 mmol (i.e., 10 to the minus 4 moles) of free protons. As long as the quality of organic anions exceeds this small number, which it does, a net alkalinization will occur. I hope this gives many of you clarity concerning the alkalinization of low sugar fru
