Tabla de Contenidos
The pH measures the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a substance dissolved in water. The ranges of this measure go from 0 to 14. If within this scale the pH of a substance is at 7, it is considered to be a substance with a neutral or balanced pH . If this measurement is less than seven, this substance is considered to have an acidic pH and, on the other hand, if it is greater than seven, its pH is considered to be alkaline.
On the pH scale, being logarithmic to base 10, the difference between adjacent numbers represents a difference of ten times the acidity. For example, a pH of 5 is 10 times more acidic than a pH of 6 and 100 times more acidic than a pH of 7.
lemon juice
Drinking lemon juice diluted in a glass of water or added to a cup of tea is considered a healthy tonic and highly appreciated by fans of natural medicine. Among its possible benefits are lowering cholesterol, decreasing inflammation in the body, and increasing metabolism and energy. Lemon also contains high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C that boost the immune system.
Because they contain a large amount of citric acid, lemons have an acidic pH. Thus, lemon juice in its natural state has a pH of approximately 2, but once metabolized, the resulting compounds are alkaline, with a pH well above 7. Therefore, outside the body, lemon juice is acidic; however, once fully digested, it becomes an alkaline substance.
pH of lemon juice and the human body
It has been shown that eating lemons and drinking their juice can increase the risk of cavities, which is why dentists often warn patients not to suck on lemons. The acid in lemon juice attacks tooth enamel, and lemons also contain a surprisingly high amount of natural sugars. However, including lemons as part of a healthy diet is convenient.
Foods rich in vitamin C, such as lemon juice, help the absorption of some minerals. Specifically, citrus fruits help the body absorb iron.
Although lemons are acidic, they have an alkalizing effect once digested and metabolized. In other words, the byproducts of lemon juice digestion tend to increase the pH. Drinking lemon juice does not significantly affect blood pH. The researchers estimate that it would take to ingest the equivalent of 8 kilos of citrus fruits to increase the pH of the blood by only 0.2 point. Part of the reason the body’s pH resists changing is because the kidneys filter out excess acids and excrete them as urine. Furthermore, lemon juice increases the pH of urine and may help prevent the formation of some types of kidney stones.
Fountain
- Clegg, M. (1964). Non‐enzymic browning of lemon juice.
- Koeppen, B. (2009). The kidney and acid-base regulation. Adv Physiol Educ. 33(4): 275-81.
