Is Chocolate Acidic? Get Your Answer Here!

By - Haleema Sadia

Chocolate is one of the most popular sweets in the world. It is the best choice to satisfy your cravings for something sweet. Sometimes people get addicted to a specific type of chocolate. The reason might be the presence of caffeine in it or its high sugar content.

There are a few types of chocolate having various health benefits.

But is chocolate acidic?

We mostly measure the pH of food to check its acidity. According to the pH scale, chocolate lies in an acidic category. But, there are different types of chocolate, and the ratio of ingredients varies from one to another. So, a high proportion of some of the ingredients in chocolate decides whether it is more acidic or less.

This article will explain the acidity of chocolate based on its various types. 

You will also get to know about the best type of chocolate you can eat to avoid acidity!

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Chocolate Nutrition Facts

Chocolate is very rich in nutrients but high in calories and sugar. A 100 gram of chocolate contains 546 calories. 

The following table shows the nutritional value of chocolate:

These nutrients present in chocolate are of immense nutritional value. 

However, different types of chocolate affect human health differently. This is because of their different ingredients ratio.

Is Chocolate Acidic

There are a lot of people who experience chest pain after drinking chocolate milk. They also have various other complaints. Some of those might ask, ‘’why does chocolate hurt my stomach?’’ Or, ‘’why does my throat burn when I eat chocolate?’’ 

Well, the acidity of chocolate is the only reason your stomach hurts after eating chocolate or drinking chocolate milk. 

For the same reason, you feel a burning sensation in your throat right after eating a few chunks of dark chocolate.

When we measure the pH of chocolate, it comes out to 5.5, which means it is acidic. The acidity of chocolate depends on the number of acidic ingredients present in chocolate.

Is Chocolate Bad for GERD

When you eat acidic food, you are most likely to suffer from acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux. Chocolate is one of those foods. 

So, does chocolate give you heartburn? Yes, it does, depending on the type of chocolate you’re eating. It also depends upon the quantity of chocolate you eat per day.

You might hear people say, every time I eat chocolate, my stomach hurts. This is due to the amount of acid stimulating ingredients present in chocolate. These ingredients cause more acid production in your stomach giving rise to gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux.

The question arises, why does chocolate cause heartburn? This is because chocolate contains cocoa and caffeine. Both of these are strongly acidic. They can produce a lot of gastric acids, giving you the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux.

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Is Dark Chocolate Bad for Acid Reflux

Yes, dark chocolate is bad for acid reflux. This is due to the high percentage of cocoa present in dark chocolate. 

So, is cocoa bad for acid reflux? Yes, it is! Also, dark chocolate has caffeine that stimulates acid production in the stomach.

If we compare different types of chocolate, dark chocolate has the highest percentage of cocoa than any other type. 

Milk chocolate contains 10 percent cocoa, white chocolate has 15 percent cocoa while dark chocolate contains 70 percent cocoa in it.

According to a study, cocoa can relax the lower esophageal sphincter. It does this by producing a relaxing hormone called serotonin. 

As the gastroesophageal sphincter of the esophagus relaxes, acid flows back into the esophagus. This causes burning sensations in the esophagus and throat. 

Why Does Chocolate Burn my Throat

A lot of people complain that chocolate gives me heartburn or makes my stomach upset when I eat chocolate. 

You might have experienced the same situation right after drinking coffee. It occurs especially when you drink a strong coffee or tea having high amounts of caffeine in it.

The same is the case with chocolate. Chocolate, especially the dark one, has a high amount of caffeine in it. Although caffeine is a powerful antioxidant, it may not be good for your stomach.

Caffeine triggers the release of acid from your stomach. 

It stimulates the mucosal lining of your stomach to produce more acid than normal. When this acid returns to your esophagus, you feel burning sensations in your throat. 

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Chocolate: Benefits and Side Effects

Chocolate and especially dark chocolate is considered a superfood for its various health benefits. 

However, not all types of chocolate are the same. Some of them are just a bar of sugar and fat. 

Here are some health benefits and side effects of eating chocolate.

Health Benefits of Chocolate:

Chocolate contains a high percentage of healthy nutrients that are very useful for overall human health. 

Below is the list of 10 amazing benefits of chocolate.

• Dark Chocolate can lower the risk of heart diseases, as it can lower bad cholesterol levels.

• A high amount of antioxidants present in chocolate can fight against free radicals to reduce the risk of certain diseases.

• Chocolate contains compounds that can relax your blood vessels and can lower your blood pressure.

• Chocolates can reduce fatigue, especially after a strenuous workout session.

• Dark Chocolate can help you lose weight as it has a good amount of cocoa in it. Also, it is low in calories.

• Chocolate can lower your cortisol levels to reduce stress and depression. This makes your nerves relax.

• Chocolate contains chemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties, thus they can reduce the damage caused by inflammatory diseases.

• Chocolate can boost your immunity and gives your body complete strength to fight infectious diseases.

• Chocolates can improve the functioning of your brain giving you the ability to think more precisely and enhance your focus.

• Eating chocolate can protect your skin against the damage caused by sunburn. It also makes your skin radiant and bright.

You can experience all these benefits of chocolate by eating it in moderation. Otherwise, you can get certain health issues like heartburn or acid reflux.

Side Effects of Eating Too Much Chocolate:

Although chocolate is advantageous to health in several different ways, eating it in a large quantity can cause some side effects. 

Here are some adverse effects of eating too much chocolate.

• Chocolate that is high in sugar can increase the risk of diabetes.

• Some chocolates are high in calories and can cause obesity and weight gain.

• Chocolates can cause dental caries and tooth decay.

• Dark Chocolate can become a reason for acid reflux and heartburn.

• Chocolate can cause bloating in certain individuals.

Always remember to eat any type of chocolate in a moderate quantity to avoid its adverse effects like acid reflux. 

If you’re already suffering from heartburn, it is good to prefer a moderate quantity of white chocolate or milk chocolate having a low percentage of cocoa.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does chocolate give me heartburn?

Eating a large quantity of dark chocolate can give you heartburn, especially if you’re suffering from gastroesophageal reflux. This is due to the presence of gastric acid stimulating ingredients such as cocoa and caffeine in chocolate.

Is chocolate good for acid reflux?

Chocolate is not a good choice for acid reflux. It can aggravate the symptoms of heartburn. If you’re suffering from acid reflux, eating chocolate will relax the lower esophageal sphincter of your esophagus. The acid will return to your throat and you will feel burning sensations and heartburn.

Why can’t you eat chocolate after fundoplication? 

The size of your stomach gets a little smaller after you get a fundoplication surgery. Thus, foods that cause digestive issues are usually not recommended. Since chocolate can lead to acid reflux it is best to avoid it after fundoplication.

Bottom Line

Is chocolate acidic? Yes, it is acidic according to its pH. 

Also, there are certain ingredients present in chocolate that are responsible for its acidic nature. Being acidic, chocolate produces a larger quantity of gastric acid, thus causing acid reflux. Or sometimes, it can enhance the severity of acid reflux. 

So, avoid eating chocolate in large quantities if your stomach is upset after eating acidic food.