Below are some tests that I conducted on myself to see if particular foods were acidic or alkaline. I had to do this because if you look around the web you will find a lot of conflicting information on which foods are acidic and which are alkaline. There doesn’t seem to be any definitive research on this topic.
For example, one source claimed that dried apricots were very alkaline. But when I tested this on myself, my pH dropped from 6.2 before I ate the apricots to 5.6 afterward. And that’s exactly the same result I got when testing Coca Cola, which can burn through metal!
My testing is obviously not scientifically conclusive. Human biochemistry is rather complex, and testing on only one subject cannot lead to any firm conclusions. Nevertheless, if this exercise leads me to a more pH-balanced state, then I will consider it a success.
I did all of these tests on an empty stomach. After eating the test-food, I didn’t eat or drink anything at all until after the next pH reading. I didn’t so much as chew a piece of gum, or take a sip of water. For foods that required water to cook, such as oatmeal, I used Zephyrhills spring water, which is pretty much neutral. I also drank a minimum amount of the spring water as I was eating some of the foods such as peanut butter. I tested the pH of my urine with pHydrion test strips. A normal human urine pH level is 6.5 to 8.0. If you drop below 6.0, then your body will burn up lots of electrolytes to right the balance, and that deficiency will cause your nervous system to malfunction. If your diet is too alkaline, you will know very quickly because you will experience heart burn.
Also, during the time between eating the test-food, and taking the second pH measurement, I did not do any sort of exercise because physical exertion generates a lot of acid.
Here is a summary of my findings. See below for the specifics on each food.
Alkaline Foods
Almonds
Bagels, blueberry
Butterfinger candy bar
Carrots
Cashews
Cherry Pie
Eggs, chicken
Milk
Peas, green
Pineapple Juice
Potassium Gluconate
Potato Chips
Stevia
Tater Tots
Tortellini with Bolognese Sauce
Water
Neutral Foods
Beef
Broccoli
Butter
Cookies, chocolate chip
Pizza Rolls, Totino’s, “combination” style.
Salt
Vanilla Ice Cream
Frozen Yogurt, Yasso
Acidic Foods
Apple, Granny Smith
Apricots, dried
Bagels, plain
Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries
Cheese, Mozzarella
Cheeseburger
Chewing Gum, with Sorbitol
Chocolate
Coca-Cola
Coffee
Cookie Dough (eaten raw)
Crescent Rolls, Pillsbury
Equal
Grapes
Honey
Ice Cream, Cookies & Cream
Key Lime Pie
Mac & Cheese
Oatmeal
Orange Juice
Peanut Butter
Pineapple Nectar
Pizza
Pop-Tarts
Potatoes, instant
Pound Cake, Sara Lee
Pumpkin Pie
Raisins
Rice, brown
Sugar
Test#: 1
Date: June 15, 2013
Time: 8:30am
Length: 90 minutes
Food: Dried Apricots – generic grocery-store brand (Publix) – Calories=300
pH: Dropped from 6.2 to 5.6.
Result: Acidic.
Notes: Do not try this at home; all that fiber caused me hours of extreme gas-pains.
Test#: 2
Date: June 22, 2013
Time: 1:00pm
Length: 90 minutes
Food: Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar – King Size – 2.6oz – Calories=360
pH: Dropped from 6.1 to 5.8.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 3
Date: June 24, 2013
Time: 8:15am
Length: 90 minutes
Food: Sugar – Publix store brand – 20 Packets of 2.8g each – Calories=224
pH: Dropped from 6.2 to 5.5.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 4
Date: June 24, 2013
Time: 2:10pm
Length: 60 minutes
Food: Aspartame – Equal “Original” Brand – 20 Packets.
Ingredients: Dextrose with maltodextrin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium.
pH: Dropped from 6.6 to 6.0.
Result: Acidic.
Note: Twenty is a lot of packets, but I don’t know how much “bulk” of a substance like this is needed to move the needle.
Test#: 5
Date: June 25, 2013
Time: 8:20am
Length: 90 minutes
Food: Zephyrhills spring water – 2 cups.
Ingredients: Spring water from Florida spring(s).
pH of Product: 6.5.
pH: Increased from 6.0 to 6.1.
Result: Alkaline.
Notes: Various sources on the web say this water has a pH value of 7.5. However, my testing showed it to be considerably lower. Of course, it doesn’t come from just one spring, and water can become more acidic after it comes out of the ground, etc. The water I used came in a 1 gallon plastic jug.
Test#: 6
Date: June 25, 2013
Time: 10:30am
Length: 90 minutes
Food: Publix (store brand) quick-cooking oatmeal – 1 cup – 280 calories – made with 1.25 cups of Zephyrhills spring water (see Test #5). Cooked in microwave oven with no salt, milk, sugar or anything at all.
Ingredients: 100% whole grain rolled oats.
pH: Decreased from 6.1 to 5.5 or less.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 7
Date: June 26, 2013
Time: 8:15am
Length: 90 minutes
Food: Publix (store brand) “Homestyle Mashed Idaho Potatoes” – instant mashed potatoes – 1.5 cups – 315 calories – made with 2 cups of Zephyrhills spring water (see Test #5). Cooked in microwave oven with no salt, milk, sugar or anything at all.
Ingredients: Dehydrated Idaho Potatoes with emulsifier (mono- and diglycerides) and preservative (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bisulfate, citric acid, natural flavor.
Nutrients: Product sample contained about 75mg of sodium.
pH: Decreased from 5.8 to 5.5.
Result: Acidic.
Note: Potatoes have lots of potassium, so this result is surprising. However, it just goes to show that there is no telling how acidic a processed food might be.
Test#: 8
Date: June 26, 2013
Time: 10:00am
Length: 90 minutes
Food: “Now Foods” Potassium Gluconate 100% Pure Powder – 1/2 teaspoon
Ingredients: Potassium Gluconate.
Nutrients: 270mg of potassium.
pH: Increased from 5.5 to 6.2.
Result: Alkaline.
Notes: I drank a glass of Zephyrhills spring water with the Potassium Gluconate.
Test#: 9
Date: June 28, 2013
Time: 2:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Granny Smith Apples (2).
pH: Decreased from 7.2 to 6.9.
Result: Acidic.
Notes: The color on the test paper did not quite match the color chart, which happens sometimes. However, before the test, the color was bluish, and after, it was dark but greenish. So, I judge it to have been a bit more acidic.
Test#: 10
Date: July 2, 2013
Time: 2:15pm
Length: 60 minutes.
Food: Coca Cola – 24oz – 300 calories.
pH: Decreased from 6.3 to 5.7.
Result: Acidic.
Note: Duh. All soft drinks are acidic.
Test#: 11
Date: July 3, 2013
Time: 12:15pm
Length: 60 minutes.
Food: Pineapple Juice (Dole brand) – 12oz – 200 calories.
pH: Increased from 5.9 to 6.1.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 12
Date: August 3, 2013
Time: 2:00pm
Length: 60 minutes.
Food: Stevia (Truvia brand) – 10 packets.
pH: Increased from 6.4 to 6.7.
Result: Alkaline.
Note: If you have allergies, be careful with Stevia because it can trigger symptoms. If I eat too much Stevia, I will have a coughing fit that lasts for hours.
Test#: 13
Date: September 2, 2013
Time: 4:15pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Orange Juice (Tropicana brand) – 16oz – 220 calories.
pH: Decreased from 6.8 to 6.6.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 14
Date: October 2, 2013
Time: 1:25pm
Length: 105 minutes.
Food: Brown Rice (Uncle Ben’s brand) – 340 calories.
pH: Decreased from 6.6 to 6.1.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 15
Date: October 3, 2013
Time: 6:15pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Mozzarella Cheese (Publix store brand) – 300 calories.
pH: Decreased from 6.4 to 5.9.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 16
Date: October 3, 2013
Time: 8:15pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Almonds (Blue Diamond brand, “lightly salted”) – 300 calories.
pH: Increased from 5.9 to 6.0.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 17
Date: October 4, 2013
Time: 8:15am
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Green Peas (Bird’s Eye, “Baby Sweet Peas”) – 14.4oz – 300 calories.
Note: Bird’s Eye “Sweet Garden Peas” test the same.
pH: Increased from 6.0 to 6.2.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 18
Date: October 4, 2013
Time: 12:45pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Peanut Butter (Skippy, “Super Chunk”) – 4oz – 700 calories.
pH: Decreased from 6.2 to 5.8.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 19
Date: October 4, 2013
Time: 6:15pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Beef (Steak-Umm brand) – 4 slices – 300 calories.
Note: Cooked in a frying pan on low heat. De-greased with paper towels.
pH: Unchanged from 6.1 to 6.1.
Result: Neutral.
Test#: 20
Date: October 5, 2013
Time: 7:30pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Key Lime Pie (Publix bakery) – one-half of a pie.
Note: Pie and pie crust only; whip cream removed.
pH: Decreased from 6.0 to 5.8.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 21
Date: October 6, 2013
Time: 1:00pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Honey (SueBee Clover Honey) – 6oz – 480 calories.
Note: I felt my neck muscles get stiff very quickly after eating this honey!
pH: Decreased from 7.3 to 6.0.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 22
Date: October 7, 2013
Time: 10:00am
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Milk (Lactaid brand lactose-free whole milk) – 2 cups – 320 calories.
pH: Increased from 6.3 to 6.5.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 23
Date: October 7, 2013
Time: 4:00pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Eggs (chicken, scrambled with no butter or oil) – 6 eggs – 420 calories.
pH: Increased from 6.5 to 7.0.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 24
Date: October 8, 2013
Time: 9:00am
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Cashews (Planters brand, “lightly salted”) – 2oz – 320 calories.
pH: Increased from 5.9 to 6.3.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 25
Date: October 8, 2013
Time: 2:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Broccoli (Bird’s Eye “Baby Broccoli Florets”) – 12.6oz – 120 calories.
Note: I cooked this frozen broccoli in a microwave oven.
pH: Steady from 5.9 to 5.9.
Result: Neutral.
Test#: 26
Date: October 10, 2013
Time: 4:30pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Pizza (Red Barron Deep Dish Pepperoni) – 5.1oz – 420 calories.
pH: Decreased from 6.0 to 5.5.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 27
Date: October 11, 2013
Time: 12:30pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Grapes (green, seedless) – 1.25 pounds.
pH: Decreased from 7.2 to 6.4.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 28
Date: October 13, 2013
Time: 1:00pm
Length: 60 minutes.
Food: Coffee (Publix store brand, instant, not decaf)
Quantity: 2 mugs (2 teaspoons of coffee & 2.5 cups of water.)
pH: Decreased from 8.0 to 7.5.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 29
Date: October 14, 2013
Time: 12:30pm
Length: 100 minutes.
Food: Raisins (Sun-Maid brand)
Quantity: 3oz – 270 calories.
pH: Decreased from 6.7 to 6.2.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 30
Date: October 15, 2013
Time: 2:30pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Carrots (raw, skinned, “Baby Cut”)
Quantity: 1 pound – 165 calories.
pH: Increased from 6.7 to 7.4.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 31
Date: October 15, 2013
Time: 10:30pm
Length: 60 minutes.
Food: Trident “Original Flavor” chewing gum, with Sorbitol & Xylitol.
Quantity: 10 sticks.
pH: Decreased from 6.0 to 5.8.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 32
Date: October 18, 2013
Time: 12:30pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Pineapple Nectar (Petit brand).
Quantity: 12oz – 200 calories.
Note: Nectar is watered down juice with sugar added. So, the sugar makes the nectar more acidic. See the Pineapple Juice test above (#11).
pH: Decreased from 7.2 to 6.0.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 33
Date: October 18, 2013
Time: 1:30pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Milk (Lactaid brand lactose-free 1% milkfat milk, calcium enriched.)
Quantity: 2 cups – 220 calories.
pH: Increased from 6.0 to 6.4.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 34
Date: October 18, 2013
Time: 9:30pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Salt (Publix brand iodized table salt.)
Ingredients: Salt, calcium silicate, dextrose, potassium iodide.
Quantity: One-half teaspoon – 1180mg.
pH: Steady from 5.8 to 5.8.
Result: Neutral.
Test#: 35
Date: October 19, 2013
Time: 3:00pm
Length: 110 minutes.
Food: Butter (Breakstone’s brand, unsalted.)
Quantity: Three tablespoons – 300 calories.
Notes: I melted the butter in a sauce pan over very-low heat.
pH: Steady from 6.5 to 6.5.
Result: Neutral.
Test#: 36
Date: August 9, 2021
Time: 8:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Vanilla Ice Cream (Breyers, French Vanilla.)
Quantity: 192g – 400 calories.
Notes: Adding chocolate chips, caramel, etc. will almost certainly make the ice cream more acidic.
pH: Steady from 7.0 to 7.0.
Result: Neutral.
Test#: 37
Date: August 16, 2021
Time: 8:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Cookies & Cream Ice Cream (Breyers)
Quantity: 193g – 400 calories.
pH: Decreased from 7.2 to 7.0.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 38
Date: August 24, 2021
Time: 6:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Potato Chips (Pringles Salt & Vinegar)
Quantity: 84g – 450 calories.
pH: Increased from 6.6 to 7.4.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 39
Date: August 31, 2021
Time: 5:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Potato Chips (Lay’s Salt & Vinegar)
Quantity: 75g – 400 calories.
pH: Increased from 7.2 to 7.6.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 40
Date: September 7, 2021
Time: 9:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Cheeseburgers (White Castle “Sliders”)
Quantity: 156g – 510 calories.
pH: Decreased from 6.8 to 6.6.
Result: Slightly acidic.
Test#: 41
Date: September 13, 2021
Time: 9:15pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Cherry Pie (Mrs. Smith’s)
Quantity: 99g – 544 calories.
pH: Increased from 6.6 to 7.0.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 42
Date: September 28, 2021
Time: 9:15pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Mac & Cheese (Kraft)
Quantity: 116g – 440 calories.
pH: Decreased from 7.4 to 6.2.
Result: Very acidic.
Test#: 43
Date: October 6, 2021
Time: 8:45pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Pumpkin Pie (Mrs. Smith’s)
Quantity: 262g – 640 calories.
pH: Decreased from 7.2 to 6.4.
Result: Very acidic.
Test#: 44
Date: October 25, 2021
Time: 10:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Chocolate Chips Cookies (Pillsbury)
Quantity: 228g – 510 calories.
pH: Stayed the same at 7.2.
Result: Neutral.
Note: I baked this cookie-dough in the oven.
Test#: 45
Date: November 1, 2021
Time: 8:15pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Sugar Cookie Dough (Pillsbury)
Quantity: 228g – 480 calories.
pH: Dropped from 7.3 to 6.8.
Result: Acidic.
Note: I ate this cookie-dough raw.
Test#: 46
Date: November 2, 2021
Time: 9:00pm
Length: 110 minutes.
Food: Tater Tots (Publix store brand)
Quantity: 331g – 500 calories.
pH: Increased from 6.2 to 6.4.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 47
Date: November 8, 2021
Time: 9:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Butterfinger candy bar.
Quantity: 93g – 425 calories.
pH: Increased from 7.0 to 7.2.
Result: Alkaline.
Test#: 48
Date: November 10, 2021
Time: 9:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Totino’s Pizza Rolls – “combination” style.
Quantity: 170g – 440 calories.
pH: Steady from 6.2 to 6.2.
Result: Neutral.
Test#: 49
Date: November 16, 2021
Time: 9:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Pillsbury Crescents.
Quantity: 113g – 400 calories.
pH: Dropped from 7.0 to 6.2.
Result: Very acidic.
Test#: 50
Date: November 22, 2021
Time: 7:45pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Sara Lee “All Butter” Pound Cake.
Quantity: 152g – 680 calories.
pH: Dropped from 7.4 to 6.2.
Result: Very acidic.
Test#: 51
Date: November 23, 2021
Time: 9:45pm
Length: 120 minutes.
Food: Buitoni Three Cheese Tortellini & Rao’s Bolognese Sauce.
Quantity: 241g – 662 calories.
pH: Increased from 6.6 to 6.8.
Result: Slightly alkaline.
Test#: 52
Date: January 10, 2022
Time: 8:45pm
Length: 75 minutes.
Food: Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries
Quantity: 100g – 400 calories.
pH: Declined from 6.2 to 5.8.
Result: Acidic.
Test#: 53
Date: January 25, 2022
Time: 8:30pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Thomas’ Blueberry Muffins
Quantity: 183g – 480 calories.
pH: Declined from 6.2 to 6.0.
Result: Mildly acidic.
Test#: 54
Date: February 21, 2022
Time: 9:30pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Thomas’ Blueberry Bagels
Quantity: 190g – 560 calories.
pH: Increased from 7.4 to 7.6.
Result: Mildly alkaline.
Test#: 55
Date: February 22, 2022
Time: 10:00pm
Length: 90 minutes.
Food: Thomas’ Plain Bagels
Quantity: 190g – 540 calories.
pH: Decreased from 6.4 to 6.2.
Result: Mildly acidic.
Test#: 56
Date: July 19, 2022
Time: 9:00pm
Length: 80 minutes.
Food: Kellogg’s Frosted Blueberry Pop-Tarts.
Quantity: 144g – 555 calories.
pH: Decreased from 7.2 to 6.2.
Result: Very acidic.
Test#: 57
Date: July 26, 2022
Time: 9:00pm
Length: 77 minutes.
Food: Yasso Sea Salt Caramel Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars.
Quantity: 260g – 400 calories.
pH: Steady from 7.3 to 7.3.
Result: Neutral.
Test#: 58
Date: March 26, 2024
Time: 8:45pm
Length: 105 minutes.
Food: Publix Premium Frozen Yogurt, Vanilla.
Quantity: 320g – 400 calories.
pH: Decreased from 7.2 to 6.6.
Result: Acidic.
Note: don’t forget that exercise produces a lot of acid. In August of 2021, I did a long workout in the Miami heat & humidity. Before I started, my pH was 6.8. After I finished, it was 6.2. So, that’s pretty acidifying. After eating my post-training meal, my pH came back up to 7.2. As you can see, what you eat after exercising is very important. I eat beef, macaroni, cheese, olive oil, and potassium gluconate.