Acidity in your body is one of the most important factors when you are an athlete and if you are an endurance athlete it is even more important. Since as an endurance athlete you utilize aerobic and anaerobic metabolism.
During aerobic metabolism, your muscle cells release carbon dioxide into your blood. When blood travels into the working muscles, oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The cells take in oxygen from the blood and the blood carries away carbon dioxide and hydrogen -- waste products of cellular metabolism. The combination of carbon dioxide and hydrogen creates a reaction that causes acidity inside the bloodstream, which decreases the pH of your blood.
Anaerobic metabolism is not meant to facilitate long-term energy production because of its effect on your blood pH. When you are exercising more intensely than oxygen delivery can keep up with, the body turns to anaerobic metabolism. A product of this metabolism is pyruvate, which your body turns into lactic acid and releases into the blood. If the addition of lactic acid exceeds your body's clearance, your blood pH decreases.
The pH of your blood is normally between 7.35 and 7.45, just slightly above neutral. The term "pH" -- which stands for potential hydrogen -- gives you an idea of a substance's acidity or alkalinity. Strenuous physical activity is even a strain on your blood, which can cause your blood pH to drop or become more acidic.
The best way to neutralize the acidic in your body is to choose alkaline diet: foods like whole, fresh, organic plant base diet in their natural state without cooking so the food conserves all the nutrition intact. And avoid acidic diet: foods like meat, dairy and other process food. Below is a summary of food