Curious about the alkaline diet? Discover which foods to avoid. Learn how balancing acidic and alkaline foods might benefit your health. Dive into the science and make informed dietary choices.
Ready to be basic? We mean having a basic (alkaline) pH — the measurement of how acidic or alkaline something is.
Cue the alkaline diet that claims eating alkaline foods can alter your body’s pH. The science is iffy, but the claim is that an alkaline (basic) bod is more resilient from disease than an acidic one.
Is Turkey Acidic? The Truth About Its pH and Effects on Your Body
Turkey is a popular source of protein enjoyed by many around the holiday season. But there has been some debate around whether turkey is acidic or alkaline. In this article, we’ll dive into the science and explain everything you need to know about turkey’s pH, potential acid-forming effects, and healthier ways to enjoy it.
What Determines If a Food Is Acidic or Alkaline?
The pH scale measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 0-6 being acidic, 7 neutral, and 8-14 alkaline.
But a food’s pH before digestion doesn’t necessarily reflect whether it will have an acidic or alkaline effect on the body. Instead, we have to look at the pH of its metabolic byproducts. Some foods create acidic byproducts when metabolized, which can increase acidity in bodily fluids.
For example, lemons are quite acidic with a pH around 2. But once metabolized, they actually generate alkaline byproducts that reduce acidity in the body. The opposite applies to meat. While its pH before eating may be near neutral, meat produces acidic metabolites.
What Is Turkey’s pH?
Turkey meat has a pH between 5.7 and 6.7 before cooking. This mildly acidic pH helps kill potentially harmful bacteria during storage and cooking.
Turkey contains a good amount of phosphorus and sulfur-containing amino acids. During digestion, these compounds generate acidic byproducts like phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid.
So while turkey meat starts off mildly acidic, its metabolites have an acid-forming effect in the body.
Potential Effects of Too Much Acidic Foods
Moderate amounts of acidic foods like turkey as part of a varied diet are unlikely to alter your body’s tightly regulated pH balance. But a chronically high dietary acid load over many years may raise risks for:
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Loss of muscle mass and bone density: The body may use alkaline reserves like calcium from bones to neutralize excess acid.
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Kidney stones: High acid load increases the risk of uric acid kidney stones.
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Low-grade metabolic acidosis: Gradually disrupts normal metabolic function.
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Increased cardiovascular risk: Linked to high blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation.
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Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Research on how an acidic diet impacts bone health has shown mixed results so far. But limiting foods with a high acid load as part of an overall healthy diet may be prudent for long-term health.
Healthier Ways to Enjoy Turkey
Turkey can still be part of a varied, alkalizing diet. Here are some tips:
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Choose unprocessed turkey breast over deli meats which are higher in preservatives and sodium.
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Limit portion sizes to 4-6 oz per serving max.
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Turkey tenderloins, breasts, and ground turkey are leaner. Avoid fatty wings and skin.
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Pair with alkalizing fruits, veggies, beans, lentils, and healthy grains like quinoa or millet.
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Skip the sugary cranberry sauce; opt for homemade sauce or relish with less added sugar.
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Try rubbing herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme instead of salt.
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Grill, roast, or poach instead of frying in oil.
The Bottom Line
While turkey is only mildly acidic before eating, its protein and sulfur-containing amino acids generate acidic byproducts during metabolism. Enjoying turkey in moderation as part of an overall pH-balanced diet can allow you to reap its nutritional benefits while minimizing potential downsides linked to its acid load. Emphasize alkalizing plant foods at meals with turkey.
So what are the most acidic foods to avoid on an alkaline diet?
Acidic foods include:
- meat (including chicken, turkey, and beef)
- dairy
- alcohol
- fish
- eggs
- processed foods/drinks that contain refined sugar (such as soda, pastries, candy, and white bread)
If you’re into tracking your body’s pH or actively following an alkaline diet, here’s the deal with acidic foods.
The values of pH range from 0 to 14:
- Acidic: 0.0–6.9
- Neutral: 7.0
- Alkaline (or basic): 7.1–14.0
Acidic foods fall into the acidic range of the pH scale and are different from acid-forming foods. Acidic foods have an acidic pH that doesn’t always leave acidity behind. Whereas acid-forming foods promote acidity in the body.
Foods also have different potential renal acid loads (aka PRALs). PRALS are based on acid excretion in your pee or the acid load your kidneys need to get rid of to keep a balanced pH.
Acid-forming foods tend to have high PRALs, which have been connected to Western diets high in animal protein. According to a 2019 meta-analysis, consuming a diet high in PRALs have been associated with high triglyceride levels and obesity.
Low PRALs are often related to plant-based diets full of fruits and veggies — even acidic ones like citrus fruits and tomatoes. A 2018 review found diets low in PRALs may be beneficial for kidney, heart, and bone health.
But can you actually change your pH?
In reality, what you eat can’t change your body’s blood pH — regardless of high or low PRALs. Your body naturally regulates your blood’s pH at 7.35 to 7.45. Certain foods can impact how much acid is in your urine, since that’s where uric acid exits the body.
Overall, your body stays slightly basic, but different body parts can have a completely different pH. Take your stomach for instance. In order to break down food, stomach acid needs to stay very acidic with a pH of 1.35 to 3.5.
Still want to get alkaline? Here’s the breakdown on acidic foods that have high and low PRALs.
Sipping on soda adds a bunch of phosphoric acid to your body, which causes an increased acid load. Phosphoric acid is often seen in Western diets and is highly absorbable.
Does Meat Make Your Body ACIDIC?
FAQ
Is turkey meat high in acid?
High-acid foods, which create more acid when digested, include: Meat, including fresh and processed. Poultry, like chicken and turkey. Fish, such as salmon, shrimp, scallops, and tuna.
What meat is the least acidic?
Lean meats (such as skinless turkey or chicken) may help some people with acid reflux. “In people who feel best eating a lower-fat diet, lean meats are a good alternative to fattier cuts of meat, which may worsen these symptoms of reflux,” says Rosenstock. These foods may be better tolerated because they’re low in fat.
Is turkey meat ok for acid reflux?
Lean meats, such as chicken, turkey, fish, and seafood, are low in fat and less likely to cause symptoms of acid reflux than fatty meats. Try them grilled, broiled, baked, or poached.
Is chicken acidic or alkaline?
The Alkaline Food Chart The alkaline diet divides food into three categories: acidic, neutral, and alkaline. Acidic foods include red meat, chicken, fish, chocolate, wheat, and alcohol. Neutral foods include natural fats like butter, most oils, milk, and cream. Alkaline foods include most fruits and veggies.
Is turkey meat acidic?
Turkey meat is slightly acidic. The pH value of turkey breast has been researched to fall in the range of 5.8 to 6. Very fresh turkey meat may have a pH value of 6.45; however, the acidity then quickly drops, staying at a pH value of around 6 (7).
What food causes acidity?
Foods that produce acidity are those that have a long gastric permanence in people with gastritis or reflux. Among them we can mention those with high fat content (chocolate, fried foods, hams), citrus fruits, spicy foods, alliaceous (garlic, onion).
How do you know if a Turkey is acidic?
The acidity of a turkey can also be measured by looking at its potential renal acid load or PRAL value. Turkey meat has a PRAL value of 16.3, making it an acid-producing food. The higher this positive number is, the more acid the food produces inside the body. Turkey is a moderate- or high-calorie food, containing 189 calories in a 100g serving.
Is Turkey good for acid reflux?
Turkey has a pH of between 5.70 and 6.10, but it is acid-forming, so those suffering from acid reflux should limit their intake or avoid it altogether if it triggers their symptoms. What Is Steak Made Of? Is Turkey Meat Healthy?
What is the pH value of turkey meat?
Very fresh turkey meat may have a pH value of 6.45; however, the acidity then quickly drops, staying at a pH value of around 6 (7). The acidity of a turkey can also be measured by looking at its potential renal acid load or PRAL value.
Is Turkey a high glycemic food?
Turkey is also rich in potassium, copper, iron, and choline while not being very high in calcium and manganese. A 100g of turkey contains 103mg of sodium, which makes turkey fall in the top 48% of foods as a source of sodium. Based on the deficient level of carbohydrates, the glycemic index of turkey meat is considered to be 0.