Pineapple juice has a pH value of 3.5, which is considered acidic.
Image Credit: Varakorn/iStock/GettyImages Current research doesn’t support the health claims behind the alkaline diet — an eating plan that’s based on the idea that maintaining appropriate pH levels in the body is crucial for good health and disease prevention.
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Even though pineapple is acidic, there's no reason to stop eating this fruit.
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Related Reading 2 Health Benefits of an Alkaline Diet — and 2 Risks to Know
Is Pineapple Acidic? Foods and beverages with pH values below 7 are acidic, per Oklahoma State University. Those with a pH value of 7 are classified as neutral. A pH value above 7 is alkaline.
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Pineapple Juice's pH Pineapple has a pH value between 3.2 and 4, according to Clemson University.
Pineapple is acidic, and the same goes for its juice, which has a pH value of 3.5, according to Oklahoma State University. Other fruits and fruit juices, by comparison, have the following pH values:
Apples: 3.3 to 4 Apple juice: 3.4 to 4 Bananas: 4.5 to 5.2 Grapefruit: 3 to 3.75 Grapes: 2.8 to 3 Honeydew melon: 6 to 6.7 Lemon juice: 2 to 2.6 Lime juice: 2 to 2.4 Mangoes: 5.8 to 6 Oranges: 3.7 to 4.3 Orange juice: 3.3 to 4.2 Strawberries: 3 to 3.9
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Most fruits have an acidic pH. But health organizations, such as the USDA, emphasize the benefits of eating fruit every day. An alkaline diet is pretty low in fruits, which may result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Should You Avoid Pineapple Juice? From a nutritional standpoint, there’s no reason to eliminate pineapple juice from your diet completely. But it is a good idea to enjoy it in moderation.
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Acidic drinks with pH levels between 2 and 3.5, such as pineapple juice, may cause dental erosion and tooth loss, according to the American Dental Association. As long as you have it in moderation, pineapple juice is unlikely to harm your teeth.
This beverage is chock-full of vitamins, antioxidants and bioactive compounds that promote overall health. One cup boasts 63 percent of the recommended vitamin C intake as well as a bit of calcium, potassium and iron, per the USDA.
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The downside is that pineapple juice has a lot of sugar. The whole fruit, on the other hand, contains fiber, which helps stabilize blood sugar levels. On top of that, pineapple fruit has fewer calories and less sugar than pineapple juice, per the USDA.
Pineapple is also the only dietary source of bromelain, an enzyme that supports protein digestion and is linked to fighting inflammation. This naturally occurring compound may be just as potent as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to a January 2017 review by Aga Khan University. Related Reading Trying to Lose Weight? These 7 Fruits Are the Best to Eat
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references
BioMed Research International: "Importance of pH Homeostasis in Metabolic Health and Diseases: Crucial Role of Membrane Proton Transport"
American Association for Clinical Chemistry: "Acidosis and Alkalosis"
American Institute for Cancer Research: "Alkaline Diets"
UC San Diego Health: "pHear pHactor: Debunking the Alkaline Diet"
Royal Osteoporosis Society: "The Alkaline Diet"
Clemson University: "pH Values of Common Foods and Ingredients"
Oklahoma State University: "The Importance of Food pH in Commercial Canning Operations"
American Dental Association: "The pH of Beverages in the United States"
USDA: "Why Is It Important to Eat Fruit?"
USDA: "Nutrition Facts for Pineapple Juice Canned or Bottled Unsweetened Without Added Ascorbic Acid"
Clinical Nutrition Research: "The Role of Calcium in Human Aging"
NIH: "Magnesium"
NCBI: "Properties and Therapeutic Application of Bromelain: A Review"
Aga Khan University: "Therapeutic Uses of Pineapple-Extracted Bromelain in Surgical Care - a Review"
Joslin Diabetes Center: "How Does Fiber Affect Blood Glucose Levels?"
USDA: "Nutrition Facts for Pineapple"
references
BioMed Research International: "Importance of pH Homeostasis in Metabolic Health and Diseases: Crucial Role of Membrane Proton Transport"
American Association for Clinical Chemistry: "Acidosis and Alkalosis"
American Institute for Cancer Research: "Alkaline Diets"
UC San Diego Health: "pHear pHactor: Debunking the Alkaline Diet"
Royal Osteoporosis Society: "The Alkaline Diet"
Clemson University: "pH Values of Common Foods and Ingredients"
Oklahoma State University: "The Importance of Food pH in Commercial Canning Operations"
American Dental Association: "The pH of Beverages in the United States"
USDA: "Why Is It Important to Eat Fruit?"
USDA: "Nutrition Facts for Pineapple Juice Canned or Bottled Unsweetened Without Added Ascorbic Acid"
Clinical Nutrition Research: "The Role of Calcium in Human Aging"
NIH: "Magnesium"
NCBI: "Properties and Therapeutic Application of Bromelain: A Review"
Aga Khan University: "Therapeutic Uses of Pineapple-Extracted Bromelain in Surgical Care - a Review"
Joslin Diabetes Center: "How Does Fiber Affect Blood Glucose Levels?"
USDA: "Nutrition Facts for Pineapple"
Pineapple juice has a pH value of 3.5, which is considered acidic.
Image Credit: Varakorn/iStock/GettyImages
Image Credit: Varakorn/iStock/GettyImages
2 Health Benefits of an Alkaline Diet — and 2 Risks to Know
Pineapple has a pH value between 3.2 and 4, according to Clemson University.
Trying to Lose Weight? These 7 Fruits Are the Best to Eat
BioMed Research International: "Importance of pH Homeostasis in Metabolic Health and Diseases: Crucial Role of Membrane Proton Transport"
American Association for Clinical Chemistry: "Acidosis and Alkalosis"
American Institute for Cancer Research: "Alkaline Diets"
UC San Diego Health: "pHear pHactor: Debunking the Alkaline Diet"
Royal Osteoporosis Society: "The Alkaline Diet"
Clemson University: "pH Values of Common Foods and Ingredients"
Oklahoma State University: "The Importance of Food pH in Commercial Canning Operations"
American Dental Association: "The pH of Beverages in the United States"
USDA: "Why Is It Important to Eat Fruit?"
USDA: "Nutrition Facts for Pineapple Juice Canned or Bottled Unsweetened Without Added Ascorbic Acid"
Clinical Nutrition Research: "The Role of Calcium in Human Aging"
NIH: "Magnesium"
NCBI: "Properties and Therapeutic Application of Bromelain: A Review"
Aga Khan University: "Therapeutic Uses of Pineapple-Extracted Bromelain in Surgical Care - a Review"
Joslin Diabetes Center: "How Does Fiber Affect Blood Glucose Levels?"
USDA: "Nutrition Facts for Pineapple"
