Green tea, coffee, soda, and water are some of the beverages we drink daily. But do you know the pH level of them? Not only is it a fun fact, it may also be useful if you’re trying to achieve pH balance in your diet.
Indeed studies have shown that maintaining a slightly alkaline diet is key to good health, as it helps to reduce morbidity and mortality from various health symptoms and chronic diseases including vitamin D deficiency (very common amongst people that work indoors), diabetes, arthritis, low bone density, and more.
The pH scale, running from 0 to 14, measures the acidity/alkalinity of any substance, with 0 being the most acidic, 7 being neutral, and 14 being alkaline. To maintain good health, our bodies need to achieve a pH level near 7.4—that is, slightly alkaline (hence the name alkaline diet). If we start to depart too much from this level, then various enzymes in our bodies will not function properly. So, let’s take a look at the pH levels of some common beverages.
Water
Pure water in its most natural form is neutral, with a pH level of 7. However, extreme measures of filtration make water acidic, that’s why many bottle water brands test acidic.
Extreme filtration methods include ion-exchange, demineralization, reverse osmosis, distillation, deionization or a combination of the above. Some other brands like Fuji and Essentia filter their water through a PH Pitcher which increases the pH above 7.
There is however, bottled water that is naturally alkaline. Eternal Water sources its water from underground springs that are naturally alkaline. It is not passed through any filters to remove the essential minerals and has nothing added either. It has a pH ranging from 7.8 – 8.2.
Green Tea
Green tea comes from dried and unfermented tea leaves. It is alkaline with a pH level of about 9. Therefore, it’s a great beverage to consume if your diet is more on the acidic side.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage. The fermentation is facilitated by a (good) bacteria and yeast, therefore making it high in probiotics. The pH level of kombucha beverages are typically around 3, making it quite acidic.
Why is kombucha acid when it’s fermented tea, and the latter is alkaline? Well, the dominant type of bacteria in Kombucha creates acetic acid, a healthy acid which also contributes to Kombucha’s low pH.
Coffee
Unlike green tea which is alkaline, coffee, which many people see as a substitute for tea, is acidic, with a pH level of 4.5 for black coffee. What is the pH for a latte you may wonder? Well you need to know the pH for milk…
Milk
Milk’s pH level ranges from around 6.5 for pasteurized milk to 7 for raw milk. The acidity level in milk increases with the level of the presence of colostrum or bacterial deterioration. Non-dairy milk like rice, soy and almond milk have pH levels of around 6.
Soda
The pH level of soda varies depending on the kind. Seltzer, also known as soda water or sparkling water, is simply water in which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved under pressure. This process creates carbonic acid, which means carbonated water is relatively acidic, with a pH of between 3 and 4.
Ever wondered what the difference is between seltzer and club soda? Here’s the answer: seltzer is carbonated water with no additives. Club soda has sodium or potassium salts added. These are alkaline and increase the pH of carbonated water. Other popular, flavored soda drinks tend to be acidic: root beer has a pH around 4.5, while Coke and Pepsi have a pH of around 2.5.
Beer and Wine
The pH of wine varies from blend to blend. Typically, it runs in the range between 3-4. Beer has a pH of around 3.4. Therefore, both are on the acidic side.