How Much Fruit Can You Eat on a Keto Diet? Maltodextrin has a glycemic index that is much higher than table sugar, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar levels immediately after eating it. So, according to the "science" behind this diet, eating specific foods that make your body more alkaline can protect against those conditions as well as shed pounds. Not only do most guys require more calories than women, but building workers or professional athletes are going to require more calories (and more food) than inactive stay-at-home moms and dads or office workers. Your blood is slightly alkaline, with a pH between 7.35 and 7.45. Your stomach is very acidic, with a pH of 3.5 or below, so it can break down food. People who believe in the alkaline diet say that though acid-producing foods shift our pH balance for only a little while, if you keep shifting your blood pH over and over, you can cause long-lasting acidity. As to the other health claims, there's some early evidence that a diet low in acid-producing foods like animal protein (such as meat and cheese) and bread and high in fruits and veggies could help prevent kidney stones, keep bones and muscles strong, improve heart health and brain function, reduce low back pain, and lower risk for type 2 diabetes.