Following a low-acid diet can be incredibly challenging, especially when you're just starting out. In order to successfully prevent symptoms of acid reflux and GERD, you need to know whether the foods you're consuming have an acidic or alkalizing effect on your body.
To do that, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the pH levels of your favorite and the most common foods. And this also includes soup. For instance, is chicken soup acidic?
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Is Chicken Soup Acidic?
Chicken soup isn't considered to be acidic, and many experts believe it might have a soothing effect on many stomach problems, including heartburn and indigestion. It's also full of healthy nutrients that help you stay healthy and maintain a good weight. What's more, chicken broth, that's part of chicken soup, has an alkalizing effect on your body, which means that it can help with acid reflux and GERD symptoms.
Most soups also help you stay hydrated and are very easy to make. So, there's no reason not to add them to your diet.
What is the pH level of chicken soup?
The ph level of homemade chicken soup with chicken bones and fresh vegetables ranges between 6.4-8.7. What's more, it's not acid-forming, which means that it's very unlikely to worsen your acid reflux or GERD symptoms.
Chicken soup is also loaded with minerals and nutrients due to its high vegetable and protein content, making it an excellent addition to a healthy, balanced diet.
However, it's important to remember that this only goes for homemade chicken soup. If you consume canned or other store-bought chicken soups — especially chicken noodle soups — you won't reap as many health benefits as you may think.
This is because these versions are loaded with sodium and other preservatives that can slow down digestion and raise your blood pressure, causing many adverse health side effects. So, it's best to make your chicken soup at home, especially since it's incredibly easy.
Don't know what to drink? We made a list of more than 20 most and least acidic juices and 20+ alcoholic drinks ranked by acidity levels.
Is chicken soup healthy?
Chicken soup is one of the healthiest soups you can indulge in. It's very low in calories, containing only about 86 calories and 8 grams of protein.
Along with the veggies and chicken inside, it makes for a wonderful and fulling dish that provides you with many necessary nutrients without being too high in fat or carbs. This also means that it helps you stay full for longer without causing indigestion or acid reflux.
Chicken soup is a great source of many vitamins, including niacin. This micronutrient is responsible for reducing blood fat levels and 'bad' cholesterol, preventing many heart conditions, including a heart attack or high blood pressure.
In addition, niacin boosts brain function and eases arthritis in older people, so it's important to load up on this type of vitamin B.
Chicken soup is also rich in riboflavin, thus helping your body convert the food you consume into energy for later use. By doing so, your body first uses up fat and energy from the food instead of damaging your muscles and causing health issues.
What's more, this vitamin contributes to metabolizing protein and fat so that they don't slow down digestion and cause acid reflux or GERD symptoms. Hence, consuming healthy chicken soup can help you stay away from these symptoms.
- Is Chicken Acidic? (Good for Acid Reflux?)
Moreover, chicken soup is often made using chicken bones, which, when simmering, releases bone compounds, such as collage, protein, magnesium, calcium, and many more.
These nutrients may improve the health of your bones, tissues, and joints, preventing many conditions, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and joint inflammation. Collagen is also the building block of your skin cells, so consuming bone-based chicken soup can help keep your skin healthy and glowing.
Is chicken soup bad for acid reflux?
Homemade chicken soup is loaded with nutrients and minerals that contribute to good health. This type of soup isn't acidic, making it a great addition to a low-acid diet.
They also have a high water content, which helps you stay hydrated, thus diluting stomach acid and preventing it from causing acid reflux and heartburn. As a result, they can be safely incorporated into a stomach-friendly diet.
On the other hand, consuming store-bought chicken noodle soup isn't very good for people struggling with acid reflux and GERD. This is because these soups are loaded with preservatives, including sodium, that have a negative impact on your health.
Furthermore, consuming a diet high in sodium also contributes to a higher risk of s stroke, increased blood pressure, and many other vascular problems. As a result, if you want to get all the essential nutrients with all the flavor from your soup, opt for making it yourself from scratch.
Is veggie soup better for acid reflux than chicken soup?
Veggie and chicken soup have around the same pH levels and the same effect on your body. This means that if you're looking for a low-acid soup to add to your diet, both of these are good choices.
Both of these soups are high in vitamins and minerals, which are essential for good health. Similarly, these nutrients can help you with your acid reflux symptoms, so it's important to consume them in adequate quantities as much as possible.
On the other hand, veggie soup doesn't contain nearly as much protein as chicken soup does. Protein is a macronutrient that helps you feel full after a meal, and it also protects your muscles, preventing them from becoming an energy source instead of fat.
Hence, if you're looking for a more substantial meal, it's best to go for chicken soup, especially since most varieties contain vegetables anyway.
Chicken soup — especially homemade, with chicken bones and veggies — is a very healthy food that can help you decrease the frequency and severity of your acid reflux and GERD symptoms. Furthermore, it's loaded with nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that help you maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
It can also contribute to losing weight as it's low in calories but high in water. As a result, it's a wonderful addition to any diet, especially when you're looking for an easy way to get as many nutrients as possible.
Don't know what to drink? We made a list of more than 20 most and least acidic juices and 20+ alcoholic drinks ranked by acidity levels.
