Olives are popular ingredients for fruit bowls and even salad bowls, especially in Mediterranean cuisine. It has gotten increasingly popular over the years as people have started finding more and more uses for it in many different recipes or even consuming it plain.
This might bring you to the question of olives being acidic or alkaline and how healthy they indeed are for you.
Are olives acidic or alkaline?
It depends on which particular olive you are talking about. Most olives tend to be lower down the pH scale which indicates that they are acidic in nature. However, there are also many olives present that have a pH value closer to water which means they tend to have a more neutral pH rating.
Are olives acid-forming?
Acid-forming olives are ones that have a low pH of around 4.6 and sometimes lower than that. Though there are many olives that are more on the neutral pH scale, there are also some olives that can be considered acid-forming.
One example of that is green olives that have a pH value of around 3.6. Besides that, there are some olives that can have a more neutral pH level, but upon pickling them they can have a lower pH than usual and therefore be classified as acid-forming.
Are olives alkaline forming?
Olives are not really alkaline-forming because they have a neutral to low pH value. Usually, most fruits and vegetables tend to be alkaline-forming, however, olives have a much lower ph level.
It can get even lower when fermented which makes it more of an acid-forming food instead of alkaline-forming. The highest pH value olives can have are black olives for example. Its pH level can be 6-7 which does not make it alkaline-forming, but more on the neutral scale instead.
Are these olives acidic, alkaline, or basic?
When consuming certain types of olives you might be wondering if it is neutral, acidic, or alkaline to fit your diet better. This is why you should find out more information regarding the certain olives you want to incorporate into your diet.
Green olives:
Green olives are actually the most acidic amongst all the olives that are available in the market for consumption. Green olives are acid-forming which means that they have a pH value that is below 4.6.
The acidic nature of it is why you should avoid eating this particular olive if you have any type of acid reflux disease. This is because you may go through heartburn from consuming this type of olive if you have any acid reflux disease.
Black olives:
Black olives can be considered almost neutral because they have a higher pH value. The pH value of black is almost as close to the water which makes it almost a neutral olive.
It can be a bit on the alkaline side or sometimes on the acidic side but it is mostly basic. Upon fermentation or pickling the black olives, which is a very popular way of having it, it can turn quite acidic.
Kalamata olives:
Kalamata olives tend to be more on the neutral side with a very fruity taste to them. However, they are often cured or fermented. This can end up making the olives highly acidic and almost acid-forming too.
Greek olives:
They are similar to kalamata olives and do not have a low pH like green olives. They have a more acidic to neutral pH and are usually around 6.
Canned olives:
When you can olives, as long as they are fermented their pH increases by a lot. This is because of all the additives, sodium chloride that is added to help preserve it in liquid and give it taste.
This ends up increasing the pH value of the olives and making them a lot more alkaline. This applies to green olives as their pH is increased by some once canned.
Canned black olives:
Similar to canned green olives, the pH of canned black olives increases by a lot too. It turns quite alkaline once canned since it had an almost neutral pH value, to begin with.
Are olives high in alkaline?
Olives are not high in alkaline. In fact, most olives are more on the acidic to neutral pH scale. Some olives can be quite acidic as well such as green olives. The only olives that are much more on the alkaline side are canned black olives.
This is because black olives in general have a sort of neutral pH which makes them so popular. It can be eaten amongst anyone without any hesitation due to its almost neutral pH.
It is also added in salads and pizzas and various other foods because it does not hamper much with the taste.
This is why when canned, due to the number of elements added to keep it fresh, canned black olives can end up turning quite alkaline. It ends up having a pH value of almost 9 due to being alkaline. It is because of all the alkaline chemical additives as well as sodium chlorine.
Are olives high in acid and low in acid?
Olives tend to be quite high in acids as well as fatty acids which ends up making them have such low pH values. However, there are olives present too that are much lower in the acid content present and end up having a much higher or almost neutral pH.
Fermenting olives can end up making it even higher in acid due to all the processing and ingredients present. This is why people with acid reflux diseases should avoid consuming that.
The pH level of olives:
| Olives | pH Level |
|---|---|
| Green olives | 3.6-4.6 |
| Black olives | 6-7 |
| Kalamata olives | 4.7-6 |
| Greek olives | 5-6 |
| Canned green olives | 5.6-6.6 |
| Canned black olives | 8-9 |
Is olive oil alkaline or acidic?
It depends on the type of olive oil that you are using. The acidity of olive oil is initially started with 0 and then it is adjusted according to the different types of olive oils that are created. For example, refined olive oil tends to be quite acidic and has a much lower pH value.
This makes it more efficient at targeting all the consumers that require this type of acidic olive oil for various purposes.
On the other hand, there is also olive oils present that is more of an alkaline nature. For example, extra virgin olive oil has an acidity value that is way less than two percent.
It is more of an alkaline nature which makes it suitable for people who have acid reflux diseases and can face heartburn symptoms when consuming acidic food.
Are olives good or bad for you?
Olives are good for specific people as long as they are eating them in moderate amounts. Olive can be great because not only does it contain amazing antioxidants, it has healthy fats present and no empty calories.
It does not contain fats that will make you consume unnecessary calories and is also rich in vitamin C which makes it good for the heart. It is a key ingredient in many diets but it can be bad for you if you have acid reflux disease.
Because it can end up causing heartburns and other symptoms.
What happens if you eat olives every day?
As long as you eat it every day in moderate amounts, nothing bad will happen if you consume olive every day. If you have any issues with consuming food that tends to be on the higher acidic level.
In that case, you can try consuming black olives because it tends to be more on the neutral side but if you have any acid reflux disease then you should still avoid it.
Is it bad to eat a lot of olives?
Even though there are a lot of benefits to consuming olives, you should have it in moderate amounts and not have too much of it.
Not only is it quite acidic which can throw off the pH level of your body if you consume too much of it, but it can also in fact cause weight gain because of all the high salt and fat content present in it.
How many olives should you eat a day?
If you are consuming olive oil every single day then you must avoid having any more than a couple of ounces.
This is because having way more than the intended amount can not only mess with your pH level, it can also lead to gaining water weight and eventually gaining fat in the body too.
Final Thoughts:
Most olives are on the acidic level, even more, when pickled or fermented. This is why anyone who might have an acid reflux disease should avoid eating olives, especially green ones. Green olives tend to have the highest pH level compared to all the other olives.