“Kombucha is nearly as acidic as a pop and energy drinks,” Dr. Bobby J. Grossi told the outlet. “Acidic drinks mess with the pH level of the saliva which ideally should be 7 or 7.3, when the saliva level becomes more acidic it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria which can take over the mouth.”
“Kombucha is nearly as acidic as a pop and energy drinks,” he said.
So when you consider properly made kombucha comes in with at highest a 3.5 pH level, you can see it's very acidic. This acid can cause several problems for your teeth.
Kombucha is considered more acidic, with a typical pH between 2.5 and 3.5. The longer you let kombucha ferment, the more acidic it will become.
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.
More Soda Facts
For perspective, battery acid rates at 1.0 on the pH scale, while Cola is not too far away at 2.387! Root Beer surprisingly has the least acidity of all other soft drink options.
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.
Kombucha is acidic but also rich in probiotics, which can help balance the stomach acid. Research shows that kombucha contains lactic acid bacterial species that may have probiotic properties. These bacteria can help facilitate digestion and prevent inflammation in the gut.
Kombucha is both acidic and carbonated due to the fermentation process it undergoes. This means that kombucha and GERD are not compatible. Kombucha is likely to aggravate your GERD and may even increase the severity of its symptoms.
First of all, if you already have the symptoms of acid reflux, drinking too much kombucha may make it worse. Kombucha contains a decent amount of caffeine and alcohol. Both can increase the acid production in your stomach and irritate your digestion which causes heartburn too.
While Kombucha tests on the acid side, much like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, when it hits the digestive system it creates an alkaline ash.
Kombucha contains a considerable concentration of antioxidants and probiotics, as well as reduced sugar levels, making it a healthier option in comparison with popular drinks like soda.
Overconsumption can lead to headache, nausea, gastrointestinal distress, or ketoacidosis. There are a few populations that should never ingest kombucha. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, and individuals with liver or kidney disease, HIV, impaired immune systems, and alcohol dependency should avoid kombucha.
There are some kombuchas that are pasteurized but they are essentially glorified sodas and lack many of the benefits from a fermented beverage. If you are looking to get health benefits from kombucha, look for a raw or unpasteurized kombucha. You can read more about the healthy benefits of kombucha here.
Drinking water, low fat milk, and herbal teas may help manage it. Alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and sodas may worsen symptoms, however. Acid reflux, or heartburn, occurs when stomach acid flows up into a person's esophagus, or food pipe.
Some foods and drinks are known to help ease gastritis symptoms, and people found that kombucha is one trusted ally in managing gastritis. Kombucha is a great source of probiotics that promotes healthy digestion by adding helpful gut bacteria to the existing flora and can prevent stomach complications.
Several studies have disclosed that foods and drinks rich in probiotics help combat H. pylori and reduces infection in the digestive system. Some of the healthful probiotic foods include kombucha, yoghurt, sauerkraut and kimchi.
However, drinking around 4–12 ounces of kombucha per day is a safe amount for most people. Like many fermented foods, it really depends on your body and what you personally need. It's best to start with a small serving (½ cup per day) and work up from there.
Kombucha's bacteria content
This is something that kombucha can help with considering its probiotic content, which helps to balance the gut by boosting the number of “good” bacteria. These work together to promote digestion and overall gut wellbeing, which in turn can alleviate digestive issues including bloating.
Probiotics do not increase stomach acid and may help protect against the ill effects of acid reflux. Lactobacillus johnsonii was shown to have the opposite effect on hydrochloric acid production in a study involving mice.
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.
What's more acidic coffee or soda? One thing you don't hear a lot of people discuss is the amount of acid in soda. While both coffee and any drink including coffee are associated with being acidic, it actually has a lower pH level than soda does.
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.