Can dairy leach calcium from the bones to neutralise acid?

Last updated 31/01/2025

Diets such as the "Alkaline Diet" make claims about the dangers of “acidic foods”, saying they cause our bodies to become more “acidic” and lead to disease. These diets often claim that dairy foods contain protein and phosphate that makes them “acidic”.

According to a scientific review of these diets and the links to dairy foods, there is no evidence to support these claims. The authors of the review concluded that milk is not acid producing and eating dairy foods does not make the body more acidic and that phosphate in our diets does not affect the way calcium is used by the body.¹

Our bodies are very good at adjusting and managing blood pH (a measure of acidity) and eating a highly “acidic” diet makes no difference to these pH levels. Eating foods with a higher acid reading can temporarily alter your urine pH, however this is a natural way the body adjusts and adapts to maintain good health.¹

Osteoporosis Australia identifies three key ingredients for achieving peak bone mass and strength and important for reducing the risk of osteoporosis: weight-bearing exercise, calcium-rich foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese, as well as vitamin D from safe sun exposure, foods or supplements.²

Studies show that consuming milk and other dairy foods leads to positive calcium levels and more calcium is absorbed than excreted.³ This helps bones become stronger and reduces the risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life.

For expert dietary advice see an Accredited Practising Dietitian.