# Are there any beverages that aren't acidic **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 28, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087 "2012-03-28T21:24:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/21 "2012-03-29T21:31:57Z")
What about that Mio water flavoring or carbonated water. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/22 "2012-03-29T21:37:28Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > What about that Mio water flavoring or carbonated water. All carbonated water is acidic. Dissolved carbon dioxide produces carbonic acid. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/23 "2012-03-29T22:53:35Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > All carbonated water is acidic. Dissolved carbon dioxide produces carbonic acid. Not only that but many bottles of flavored waters have citric acid as the second ingredient, right after water itself. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/24 "2012-03-30T10:03:37Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > All carbonated water is acidic. Are you sure? San Pellegrino is naturally and artificially carbonated, and yet it has a pH of 7.7. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/25 "2012-03-30T13:46:52Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > My palate has been soiled by technology. That is like asking someone used to steak to go back to hot dogs. Hot dogs require way more technology to produce than steak does. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/26 "2012-03-30T14:49:47Z")
[This page](http://www.energiseforlife.com/wordpress/2011/08/03/top-7-alkaline-herbal-teas-yes-herbal-tea-is-alkaline/) claims most herbal teas are alkaline. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/27 "2012-03-30T14:57:05Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > That link is, uh, rather suspect. It has freaking lime listed as Alkaline, y’know, one of the sourest foods there is. I think the list is for _alkaline- **forming** _ foods, i.e. foods that become alkaline after it’s been metabolized. Although I don’t know if the distinction between alkaline-forming and acid-forming foods have any scientific validity. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/28 "2012-03-30T16:08:12Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The only improvements I make in my life I make after all other avenues have been closed off, and I bitch and complain the whole way until my obsessive neuroticism drives friends and family alike away in droves. Well, start your bitching and complaining, because the only common pH neutral beverage is water. Well, there’s soymilk, but I still refuse to believe people actually drink the stuff. Milk is slightly acidic due to the lactic acid content - 6.6-6.98, so it’s the closest to neutral I think you’re likely to find. Carbonated drinks are acidic due to the CO2, and most of them have acids added for flavor. Your best bet might be apple juice diluted 1:1 with water. Apple juice itself is moderately acidic (3-4) but you can, IME, dilute it pretty far and still taste something other than water. You should be able, with the aid of some test strips, to figure out what ratio brings the pH up above 5.5. Guava nectar comes in at 5.5, making it one of the least acidic fruit juices, but I have no idea how palatable it is diluted with water. Coffee is okay from a tooth perspective, but just barely: 5.51 pH. Then, in ascending order of pH (meaning safer for tooth enamel) you’ve got cow’s milk, coconut milk (6.1-7.0), water (7), soymilk (7) and plain tea (7.2, actually slightly alkaline). ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/29 "2012-03-30T20:03:32Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Your best bet might be apple juice diluted 1:1 with water. Apple juice itself is moderately acidic (3-4) but you can, IME, dilute it pretty far and still taste something other than water. You should be able, with the aid of some test strips, to figure out what ratio brings the pH up above 5.5. pH is a logarithmic system so you would have to dilute something 10 fold to increase the pH by 1. ---
**Author:** ![Jasper\_Kent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@Jasper\_Kent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasper_Kent)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/30 "2012-03-31T22:37:19Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > All carbonated water is acidic. Dissolved carbon dioxide produces carbonic acid. One exception. I’m pretty sure that **tonic water** is alkaline. ---
**Author:** ![Aurelia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Aurelia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aurelia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/31 "2012-03-31T23:10:45Z")
I’ve read that tea is acidic, but apparently there’s some conflicting information about that. Tea contains fluoride, which will help prevent tooth decay. Black tea usually has the highest amounts of fluoride. Tea also kills bacteria in your mouth, and that will help with both tooth decay and bad breath. ---
**Author:** ![hippopanonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/46a35a/32.png) [@hippopanonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hippopanonymous)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/32 "2015-10-08T23:23:16Z")
Have you tried Gerolsteiner mineral water? Very slightly acidic at a 5.9-6.0, but way better than most and tastes great, with good fizziness. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/33 "2015-10-09T00:19:20Z")
I switched to diet root beer, and am pretty happy. The pH is about 4.5 which isn’t ideal but that makes it 100x less acidic than coke or pepsi. > **[Root Beer May Be 'Safest' Soft Drink For Teeth](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070320191048.htm)** > > Exposing teeth to soft drinks, even for a short period of time, causes dental erosion -- and prolonged exposure can lead to significant enamel loss. Root beer products, however, are non-carbonated and do not contain the acids that harm teeth,... ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/34 "2015-10-09T00:46:46Z")
Drinking something with a pH of 3 sounds like it might kill you. (I am not a scientist). What kind of diet root beer? I’m a root beer enthusiast but I can’t stand Diet Mug. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/35 "2015-10-09T00:56:37Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Drinking something with a pH of 3 sounds like it might kill you. (I am not a scientist). > > What kind of diet root beer? I’m a root beer enthusiast but I can’t stand Diet Mug. Coke and pepsi have a pH of 2.5. I drink kroger brand root beer, occasionally A&W when it is on sale. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/36 "2015-10-09T01:08:47Z")
> [@hippopanonymous](#): > > Have you tried Gerolsteiner mineral water? Bless you! ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/37 "2015-10-09T01:10:52Z")
I just drink tap water and top it off with the tiniest bit of apple juice sure that has to make it slightly acidic but adding just a tiny bit to a bunch of water it can’t be too bad. It gives just enough taste and I doubt it’s that damaging to your teeth if at all. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/38 "2015-10-09T02:15:56Z")
Try drinking water – but filled with ice. I only like ice-cold water; this is how I get enough into my body. You could also try the toothpaste for acid erosion. The manufacturer is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/39 "2015-10-09T02:22:07Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Drinking something with a pH of 3 sounds like it might kill you. (I am not a scientist). > > What kind of diet root beer? I’m a root beer enthusiast but I can’t stand Diet Mug. Something with a pH of 1 would still be fine to drink (assuming no toxic effects), although I wouldn’t recommend it long term for the same reason this thread exists and you probably wouldn’t enjoy it much. Your stomach acid has a pH a little over 1. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087/40 "2015-10-09T02:57:38Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > Something with a pH of 1 would still be fine to drink (assuming no toxic effects), although I wouldn’t recommend it long term for the same reason this thread exists and you probably wouldn’t enjoy it much. Your stomach acid has a pH a little over 1. Your esophagus might beg to differ. A tiny bit once in a while? Sure. But too much and you 've got like, the worst case of acid reflux ever. Down that path lies ulceration, bleeding and possibly cancer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-beverages-that-arent-acidic/617087.md?page=3)