In fact, regular and diet sodas are almost as corrosive to tooth enamel as battery acid. According to studies, RC Cola, Cherry Coke and Coke are the most acidic soft drinks. But other sodas, like Pepsi, Squirt, Surge, 7 Up and Diet 7 Up, are also damaging to tooth enamel as well.
The worst offenders are citrus fruits. These have low pH levels, which means they are acidic. The most acidic fruits are lemons, limes, plums, grapes, grapefruits and blueberries. Pineapples, oranges, peaches and tomatoes are also high in acid.
Common energy drinks range in pH from 1.5 to 3.3. For instance Red Bull has a pH of 3.3. Monster energy has a pH of 2.7. Stomach acid, energy drinks – not a lot of difference, acidicly speaking.
In reality, any beverage that is carbonated will be acidic. This includes LaCroix, San Pellegrino, Red Bull, Perrier, and even soda water. If it bubbles or fizzes then it's harmful to your teeth.
Soft Drinks
Soda and sports drinks are especially acidic because they're carbonated. That bubbly fizz that comes with carbonation raises the acid level of any drink, regardless of its flavor.
As you may know, anything lower than a seven on the pH scale is acidic, meaning most of our favorite carbonated beverages, including coke, are highly acidic. Regular Coke has a pH level of 2.37. This delicious beverage may be harmful to your body if you over-consume it.
Milk is considered to be slightly acidic to near neutral on the pH scale. The pH of milk typically ranges from 6.4 to 6.8, with 7.0 being neutral. The natural acidity in milk is due to the presence of lactic acid, which is produced by the fermentation of lactose (milk sugar) by lactic acid bacteria.
Phenol is more acidic than alcohols due to stabilisation of phenoxide ion through resonance. Presence of electron withdrawing group increases the acidity of phenol by , stabilising phenoxide ion while presence of electron releasing group decreases the acidity of phenol by destabilising phenoxide ion.
Your doctor may recommend that you avoid foods and drinks that are known to make stomach acid reflux worse. These include fatty foods, alcohol, chocolate, caffeinated drinks (such as coffee, tea, soda), peppermint, spearmint, and spices.
However, distilled spirits like vodka and whiskey are the best choices to avoid problems with acid reflux. They are low in calories and carbs and don't contain any sugar.
Popular sodas such as Diet Coke, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have pH levels ranging between 2.4 to 2.5—almost as acidic as stomach acid which ranges between pH 1.5 to 3.5.
Generally, the pH level of plain yogurt is between 4.4 and 4.8, making it slightly acidic. Greek yogurt, for example, has a lower pH and is more acidic compared to regular yogurt. The acidity of yogurt may also be affected by the addition of fruits or sweeteners.
The pH of bananas generally falls between 4.5 and 5.2, making them low in acid. However, the ripeness of the banana can also affect its acidity. As bananas ripen, their pH level increases, making them less acidic and sweeter.
Yogurt, though acidic in nature, is a low acid-forming food, because it does not affect the acid-alkaline balance of the body.
Green Tea, for example, is known to be less acidic than Black Tea, with a pH of 7-10. Herbal Teas like Chamomile Tea, Mint Tea and Fennel Teas are very close to neutral, ranging between 6-7 on the pH scale, while Fruit Teas like Blackberry and Rosehip are very acidic, ranging between 2-3 on the pH scale.
Apples, like most fruits, contain natural acids such as malic acid, citric acid, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). These acids contribute to the tartness and flavor of the fruit. The pH of apples generally falls between 3.3 and 4.0, making them mildly acidic.
While whole eggs are relatively pH neutral, egg white is one of the few food products that is naturally alkaline, with an initial pH value that can be as low as 7.6 at time of lay, but with increasing alkalinity as the egg ages, and can reach pH of 9.2.
Eat alkaline foods, like a ripe banana
A disclaimer, though: Unripe bananas are less alkaline, starch-heavy and may actually be an acid reflux trigger for some people. So be sure to choose a banana that's ripe. Other alkaline foods that may help offset heartburn include melons, cauliflower, fennel and nuts.
The acids contained in honey (which we'll explore more below) make it relatively acidic (probably more so than you might guess): “Honey contains a number of acids which include amino acids (0.05-0.1%) and organic acids (0.57%, range: 0.17-1.17%). The average pH of honey is 3.9 (with a typical range of 3.4 to 6.1).”