What helps making the acidic food alkaline that is coming from the stomach? 

The correct answer is Bile juice.

Key Points

• Bile juice is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It is released into the small intestine when food enters.
• Bile neutralizes the acid in chyme, raising its pH and making the intestinal environment more alkaline.
• This is a critical step, as the enzymes in the small intestine that further digest food work optimally in an alkaline condition.
• Along with neutralizing the acid, bile aids in the emulsification of dietary fat, which helps in its digestion.
• It's important to note that excessive bile or reflux of bile into the stomach can cause discomfort and affect the digestive process.​

Additional Information

• Pepsin:
  • Pepsin is an enzyme that is released in the stomach to break down proteins into smaller peptides during digestion.
  • It is produced by the chief cells in the stomach lining and is activated by the acidic environment of the stomach.
  • Pepsin is not involved in making food alkaline, instead, it assists in further breaking down food particles.
  • Faulty regulation or overproduction of pepsin can lead to peptic ulcers or other gastric disorders.
• Gastric Juice:
  • Gastric juice, a combination of pepsin, hydrochloric acid, and other enzymes, is secreted into the stomach to aid in the digestion of food.
  • It is acidic in nature, with a pH ranging from 1.5 to 3.5, which is essential for pepsin's protein digestion process.
  • The acidity of gastric juice also kills many bacteria that enter the stomach, providing a protective function against infection.
  • Gastric juice is not responsible for making food alkaline, but rather for launching the initial stages of digestion in a highly acidic environment.
• Hydrochloric Acid:
  • Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is one of the main components of gastric juice.
  • It creates the acidic environment in the stomach needed to activate pepsin and other enzymes.
  • HCl helps to break down food and kill ingested pathogens.
  • Like pepsin and gastric juice, hydrochloric acid participates in digestion within the stomach, but it does not play a part in making the chyme alkaline.