Root Beer surprisingly has the least acidity of all other soft drink options. This is likely due to the fact that it doesn't contain citric or phosphoric acids and is often non-carbonated.
According to the pH level, gin, tequila, and non-grain vodkas are the lowest acidity options; choosing drinks made with these alcohols will be best on your stomach. You'll be best served by a drink made with a light juice like apple, pear, or cranberry, but sometimes you just really want that kick of citrus.
The following sodas are listed from lowest level of acid to highest: root beer, Diet 7UP, Diet Coke, Diet Mountain Dew, Sprite, Mountain Dew, 7UP, Coke Zero, Diet Dr. Pepper, Slice Orange, Squirt, Fanta Orange, Pepsi, Coca Cola, Cherry Coke.
Classic Cola (RC Cola, Coke, Pepsi)
Quite possibly the most iconic soft drinks, colas, are also the worst overall. The full sugar versions supply the highest acidity rates with RC Cola being the champion at 2.387, the very front runner of all options tested.
A pH of 7 is neutral. A pH above 7 is alkaline, and anything below 7 is acidic. What drinks are alkaline? Popular alkaline drinks include water, dairy, some juices, some teas, and almond milk.
Carbonated Beverages
Soft drinks not only relax the LES but also increase stomach acid levels. This may be due to the caffeine in popular cola products which can affect the LES and trigger acid reflux.
Diet sodas and other sugar-free drinks are usually highly acidic, which weakens the enamel on your teeth and makes them more susceptible to cavities and dental erosion. The level of phosphoric acid, citric acid, and/or tartaric acid is usually high in sugar-free drinks so it's best to avoid them.
So if you are looking for a soda without citric acid, root beer will probably be your best option — however, make sure to check labels ahead of time. Green teas tend to be alkaline in nature and have no citric acid.
Baking soda, bicarbonate of soda, NaHCO3, is used as a pH buffering agent. Although another name for it is sodium acid carbonate, its pH in an 0.1 mole solution is 8.3. Therefore, it is mildly basic and can be used to estimate an amount to reduce the acidity of a cola soda water.
Some people may use orange juice or carbonated beverages as mixers for their liquor drinks. These nonalcoholic beverages are also known to aggravate acid reflux. Switching to a low-acid fruit juice like apple or carrot juice or mixing a drink with water may help reduce your GERD symptoms.
Soda is often on the "do not drink" list for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. When you combine the high acid content of soda with the carbonation or bubbles in the soda, it is likely there will be backwashing, burping or belching.
Carbonated Water, Sugar, Citric Acid, Sweeteners (Acesulfame K, Aspartame), Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrate), Natural Lemon and Lime Flavourings.
Yogurt that is not too sour is also excellent for acid reflux, because of the probiotics that help normalize bowel function. Yogurt also provides protein, and soothes stomach discomfort, often providing a cooling sensation. It is easy to choose foods by looking them up to see how acidic they are.
Drinking excessive amounts of diet soda can sometimes affect the lining of the stomach. “Over time, it can get irritated from the carbonation,” Valdez says. Heavy soda drinkers frequently develop indigestion, bloating and heartburn. Plus, carbonated drinks are a known trigger of acid reflux.
Water has a pH that, at 7, is neutral. This dilutes the more acidic stomach fluids, bringing relief. But when you have had a meal that is too large, drinking water at the same time or immediately after can make GERD symptoms worse.
Drinks such as ginger tea, certain fruit and vegetable juices, and plant-based milks may benefit people experiencing acid reflux and heartburn. Avoiding citrus juices, carbonated beverages, and alcohol can also help to reduce symptom frequency and severity.
Drinks you can try at home to improve acid reflux include alkaline water and herbal tea, specifically licorice, ginger, or chamomile tea. Does drinking water help acid reflux? Drinking water can help to balance the pH of a particularly acidic meal (which can trigger acid reflux in some people).
How acidic is Coke? Its pH is reported to be 2.6 to 2.7, mainly due to H3PO4, phosphoric acid. As a fizzy drink, it contains plenty of dissolved carbon dioxide, but this makes very little contribution to the acidity.
Most soft drinks contain one or more of three common acids citric acid, carbonic acid and phosphoric acid. Soft drinks with specific flavor ingredients may also contain other less common acids. The level of acidity in sodas can be quite high, and many dentists deplore its long term effect on your teeth.
Coffee often gets branded as an acidic drink, but in fact, coffee comes in at around a five on the pH scale, which is actually less acidic than drinks like beer, orange juice, and even soda.
Note: 7-Up/Sprite also contains citric acid which adds to its acidic properties.