Is Soy Sauce Acidic? Learn All About It Here!

By - Syed Makhshaf Zaidi

There are not many condiments available that have the power to impact the overall taste. Soy sauce is one of those few that can do wonders with food. 

This is an integral ingredient of most Japanese foods. But people have been commenting about its health status a lot lately, and one of the objections is its acidity level. 

So, Is soy sauce acidic?

You will need some more explanation to fully understand the nature of soy sauce. So, stick with me till the end. 

Is soy sauce acidic? Explaining the reasons

The soy sauce ph level is 4.8-5, so it is considered acidic. It depends upon how it is made and what is present in it. 

Wondering, What does soy sauce contain?

For this, you will need to understand Soy sauce manufacturing: 

1. Soybean is soaked in the water while the wheat is crushed. 
2. Next, both are mixed, and Aspergillus is encouraged to grow. 
3. After that, water and salt are also added, and fermentation is allowed to take place. 

This leads to an increase in the acidity levels and conversion of starch into sugar. 

The pH of soy sauce stays more or less the same for both fermented and unfermented soybean sauce. However, the unfermented one does not promote the release of acid after digestion.

So, those with acid reflux should go for unfermented soy sauce. 

So, which acids are present in soy sauce?

Soy sauce contains:

Next, it is time to know- Is soy sauce good or bad? We are covering both and then giving a final verdict at the end. 

Health benefits of Soy Sauce

One tablespoon of soy sauce has the following nutritional value.

Now, let’s see what good they do to the body.

Good For The Stomach:

People often ask, Is soy sauce good for gastritis and the answer is yes. Soy sauce induces a positive probiotic effect on the stomach. 

A study was conducted in which 15 people were given soy sauce every day. It was found that their gut health improved, and they didn’t have any digestive issues.  

Reduce Allergies:

Another study on 76 people was conducted, and it was found that those who consumed 600 mg of soy sauce daily had no reaction to any allergies. So, you can use it if you see any rashes on the skin. However, make sure the rashes are not due to soybean or gluten allergies. Otherwise, your condition will get a lot worse. 

Prevention From Cancer:

Soy sauce is a host of several antioxidants that has the power to kill free radicals. The free radicals are known to cause uncontrolled mutations in the body. This leads to the spread of cancerous cells. Luckily, you can get rid of them by consuming soy sauce. 

Is soy sauce good for acid reflux too?

Can You use soy sauce for acid reflux? No, you cannot. Despite all the benefits, soy sauce is still acidic in nature. So, those with unstable stomach acidity levels should stay away from it.  

Another question related to this is, does soy sauce cause heartburn? Yes, it can. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux, which is a condition in which stomach acid levels rise upwards towards the food pipe, and you feel the burning sensation in the chest. 

As soy sauce worsens the acid reflux, you can feel high-intensity heartburn after consuming it. 

So, is soy sauce bad for your health as well? Let’s find out.

Is Soy Sauce Bad For You?

Japan is a country that adds soy sauce the most in its meals. This country also has the most number of old people in the world. But soy sauce can still be bad for you. 

Why is soy sauce bad? Know the reasons. 

High Sodium Content is a concern:

Is soy sauce bad for your heart? Well, it can be, and the reason is high sodium levels.  

High sodium content can absorb the water in the body, and cause a rise in blood pressure levels, headache, hypertension, and even stomach cancer if the levels reach an extreme height.

Nutritionists recommend consuming 1500 to 2000 mg of sodium per day. A tablespoon alone of soy sauce is nearly 1000 mg. On top of this, the other meals and snacks you eat in a day also contain sodium. 

So, including soy sauce might not be a wise choice.

In addition, the Monosodium Glutamate is also there in a commercially prepared soy sauce. It is a flavor enhancer that gives an umami (meat-like) touch. However, it can also cause migraine and heart palpitations.

Amines:

Too many amines can prove to be toxic. They can cause rashes, itching, headache, and stomach problems. 

Not for Those who have Gluten and Soy allergies

Soy sauce is made of wheat and soybean. 

As gluten is an important protein of wheat, soy sauce can’t be called good for people with gluten allergies. 

Similarly, soy sauce can cause chest pain, itching, skin redness, and abdominal pain in those who have soy allergies. 

How to use Soy Sauce? Some Healthy Tips!

Those who love soy sauce can’t think about replacing it. The strong kick of this sauce is something you don’t find in any other seasoning. I, personally, can’t think about eating sushi without adding some soy sauce.

So, here is what you can do to reduce the acidity:

If you are adding soy sauce during the cooking, then you should add any ingredient that is alkaline. Generally, experts recommend adding baking soda with soy sauce to tone down the acidic effects.

But be careful as over-adding it can affect the taste. 

Moreover, to get away from the acidic effect, some people cook food in very less time. This saves more water, which can push back the acid in those suffering from acid reflux. 

Alternative To Soy Sauce For Sushi

Don’t want to include soy sauce in your sushi, or are you allergic to soybean? Then no worries. 

Here are some of the soya sauce alternatives that you can try: 

Tamari:

It is a great sauce for those who have a soy allergy or just want to intake low sodium. On top of this, its taste is somewhat similar to soy sauce as well. 

Fish sauce:

The fish sauce is made by fermenting fish or krill with salt. However, it is stronger than soy sauce. So, be careful with the quantity. 

Worcestershire sauce:

This sauce also has an umami touch, just like soy sauce. It is made by blending vinegar, garlic, sugar, spices, and molasses. 

Have Any Questions?

Is silver swan soy sauce gluten-free?

Silver Swan Soy sauce comes in a variety of flavors, and one of them is Gluten-free. Other flavors include light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Japanese soy sauce, and Chinese soy sauce. 

Is dark soy sauce acidic?

Dark soy sauce is acid-forming in the stomach. So, it is not for those who have stomach acidity problems like acid reflux. Moreover, heartburn patients should also stay away from this sauce as well. 

Is Kikkoman soy sauce acidic?

Yes, Kikkoman soy sauce is acidic with a pH of 4.8. It is made by brewing soybean and wheat with salt. The Brewing process is known as Honjozo, which lowers the pH level of the sauce.  

How much soy sauce is bad for you?

You should not consume more than a tablespoon of soy sauce. A tablespoon already contains more than 900 mg of sodium. 

If you add more, then be prepared to experience some harmful effects. 

Bottom Line

So, Is soy sauce acidic?

Soy sauce has a pH of 5, so it is acidic. Moreover, it is also acid-forming in the stomach, so it is not good for those who are suffering from Acid reflux and heartburn. 

But if you do add it in the right amount, you can enjoy health benefits like prevention from cancer, better gut health, stronger immunity, and reduction in allergies. 

So, make smart choices and live a healthy life.