Milk is slightly acidic. While its pH is close to 7 (neutral), the presence of lactic acid means it's not truly neutral. This acidity increases over time, causing milk to sour.
Understanding Milk's Acidity
- pH Level: Milk's pH typically ranges from 6.5 to 6.7, slightly below the neutral pH of 7. [Source: A Vogel, Milk as a remedy for heartburn – is it fact or fiction? ]
- Lactic Acid: The primary reason milk is acidic is the presence of lactic acid. This acid contributes to the slight drop in pH. [Source: TutorOcean, Is Milk an Acid or Base? ]
- Time and Acidity: The acidity of milk increases over time as more lactic acid is produced, leading to souring. [Source: TutorOcean, Is Milk an Acid or Base? ]
- Perception vs. Reality: Despite its slight acidity, milk often isn't perceived as acidic due to its taste. It's even sometimes considered a remedy for heartburn, though this is debatable. [Source: Healthline, The pH of Milk and Plant-Based Alternatives: Effects on the Body ]
- Milk and Acid Reflux: While milk might provide temporary relief from heartburn for some, its slightly acidic nature can actually worsen acid reflux in others. [Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine, GERD Diet: Foods That Help with Acid Reflux (Heartburn); PubMed, Cow's milk challenge increases weakly acidic reflux in children with... ]
Different Types of Milk
The acidity can vary slightly depending on the type of milk:
- Cow's milk: Slightly acidic.
- Soy milk and Rice milk: Also slightly acidic. [Source: Livestrong, Is Milk Alkaline or Acidic? ]
- Coconut milk: The reference material doesn't explicitly state the acidity of coconut milk.
- Raw milk: The reference material doesn't explicitly state the acidity of raw milk.
Conclusion
While often considered neutral due to its pH being close to 7, milk is slightly acidic due to lactic acid.
