Pineapple is a very popular and sweet tropical fruit. It’s packed with nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that help you stay healthy and fight off various health issues.
If you’ve ever had pineapple, you definitely noticed its slightly acidic taste. This begs the question: Is pineapple acidic or alkaline?
Should you eat pineapple if you suffer from acid reflux or GERD symptoms?
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Is Pineapple Acidic or Alkaline?
Pineapple has a low pH level and acid-forming properties, which makes it very acidic. Because of that, people suffering from acid reflux or GERD should avoid consuming large amounts of pineapples, both fresh and juiced.
But, if you can tolerate some pineapple without symptoms like heartburn, adding some to your diet can be beneficial as it’s rich in various vitamins and minerals.
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.
What is the pH level of pineapple?
Pineapple has a pH level of 3.20-4.00. While this is very low, pineapple also has acid-forming properties. This means that consuming it, especially in large amounts, increases your likelihood of developing acid reflux symptoms.
Eating acidic foods leads to overproduction of gastric acid, which can then reflux up your esophagus.
Because of that, if you’re prone to such issues, it might be best to limit how much and how often you consume pineapple.
Small servings of fresh pineapple may improve acid reflux symptoms in some cases. This is because it contains a concentrated amount of bromelain, which has anti-inflammatory properties.
This can help reduce inflammation in your digestive system, improve digestion, and reduce acid reflux symptoms.
Because of that, small amounts of pineapple can be very good for the health of your digestive system.
Is pineapple good for you?
Pineapple is very nutritious. Most of its calories come from carbohydrates, including fiber. In fact, one cup of pineapple chunks contains 2.3 g of fiber, which equals 9% of your daily recommended need for this type of carb.
Fiber may be beneficial in helping ease the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD by soaking up excess gastric acid. This reduces the likelihood of heartburn and other symptoms.
One cup of chopped-up pineapple also provides you with more than your daily need for vitamin C.
This important micronutrient helps boost your immune system and help your body fight against various infections in viruses, especially during flu seasons and colder months.
In addition, vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, works as a powerful antioxidant that reduces inflammation and removes free radicals from your body.
Pineapple is also a great source of many disease-fighting antioxidants and plant compounds.
They help fight against oxidative stress and damage to your cells and tissues, reducing your risk of several chronic conditions, such as diabetes and even cancer.
A diet high in antioxidant-rich foods can also reduce chronic inflammation, boost your immune system, and lower your risk of many diseases.
Since pineapples are a great source of bromelain and antioxidants, they also help prevent arthritis.
Eating pineapple can reduce inflammation in your joints, providing pain relief from inflammatory arthritis.
In other cases, pineapple concentrate can help treat osteoarthritis because of the antioxidants and plant compounds found in them.
While more studies need to be conducted, it’s a great health benefit and motivation to eat more pineapple.
Some studies also show that eating pineapple helps reduce pain and inflammation in your muscles after intense exercise.
The plant compounds responsible for that also speed up recovery after a workout and improve exercise performance, especially in athletes and avid workout fans.
To get the most out of this benefit, try drinking diluted pineapple juice or take supplements with pineapple extract.
Should you eat pineapple on acid reflux?
Some experts recommend avoiding pineapple for those suffering from acid reflux and GERD. This is because this fruit is very acidic and can lead to bad flare-ups of these conditions.
It’s also important to note that not everyone who has acid reflux or GERD will experience unpleasant symptoms after eating pineapple.
This isn’t a trigger food for everybody, but its acidity makes it more likely to cause issues.
If your acid reflux or GERD causes stomach ulcers, you should avoid eating pineapple altogether.
This fruit is high in acid and acid-forming properties, so it can irritate your stomach and esophagus, causing severe inflammation.
Because of that, make sure to listen to your body and adjust your diet if you notice any negative changes.
If you experience severe acid reflux, talk to your doctor as you may need some over-the-counter or prescription medication.
Is pineapple juice acidic?
Pineapple juice has a pH level of around 3.30-3.60. It tends to be more acidic than fresh pineapple as it’s very concentrated.
So, if you have acid reflux or GERD and can’t live without pineapple, it might be best to eat fresh pineapple as it’s less acidic than pineapple juice.
Pineapple juice is also high in sugar, which is known to worsen acid reflux symptoms by slowing down digestion and increasing the production of stomach acid.
To make pineapple juice easier for your digestive system, try diluting it with some water (you can even try alkaline water to increase the pH level).
This will lower the sugar content and calories while keeping you well hydrated. If doing so doesn’t make your acid reflux symptoms less severe, it might be best to stop drinking pineapple juice entirely.
Is canned pineapple acidic?
Canned pineapple has a pH level of 3.35-4.10. It’s not only very acidic but also tends to be high in sugar.
Sugar causes an increased production of gastric acid, which can then reflux up your esophagus and cause heartburn, among other issues.
Because of that, it’s best to avoid consuming canned fruit, especially packed with heavy syrup, on low-acid diets.
Conclusion
Pineapple is a sweet fruit, but unfortunately, it has acid-forming properties. As a result, eating too much pineapple or drinking pineapple juice can irritate your esophagus, leading to acid reflux symptoms like heartburn.
So, if you’re prone to such issues, it might be best to limit your consumption of pineapple and replace it with other low-acid fruits.
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.
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