Is Apple Cider Vinegar Acidic or Alkaline?
Mildly alkaline, despite its sour taste: apple cider vinegar has a PRAL of −2.0 per 100 ml. One tablespoon only contributes −0.3, though, so the often-advertised "deacidifying effect" is negligible.
Why apple cider vinegar is alkaline
Your metabolism breaks down acetic acid completely. What's left is the potassium from the apple. That's why the PRAL comes out slightly negative. Red wine vinegar is a little lower at −3.3, and balsamic vinegar is at −1.0.
The problem is the amount. Nobody drinks 100 ml of vinegar. In dressing amounts of one to two tablespoons, the effect on your daily balance is smaller than that of a single radish. Drinking apple cider vinegar as a "deacidifying" cure has no proven benefit and harms your tooth enamel. As a dressing ingredient, it's perfectly fine.
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
The PRAL (potential renal acid load) estimates what a food leaves behind after digestion. It is not the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0. If you are asking whether apple cider vinegar is acidic because of heartburn or reflux, that is a question of pH and your stomach, which the PRAL does not measure; talk to your doctor about it.
Apple Cider Vinegar in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Apple cider vinegar (raw) | −2.0 |
| Balsamic vinegar (raw) | −1.0 |
| Red wine vinegar (raw) | −3.3 |
| Lemon juice (raw) | −2.3 |
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Does apple cider vinegar help if your body is "too acidic"?
Not to any meaningful degree. One tablespoon shifts your balance by −0.3. An apple contributes −2.9, a serving of potatoes −13.1.
Should you drink apple cider vinegar on an empty stomach in the morning?
Not for your acid-base balance. Straight or highly concentrated, it attacks your teeth and esophagus. If you drink it at all, dilute it well and use a straw.
Apple Cider Vinegar and everything else on your plate: calculated automatically.
Basentracker adds up the PRAL of every meal and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. Over 950 foods, photo scan, recipes, free.
Free for Android · iPhone coming soon
More herbs, spices & sauces compared
All herbs, spices & sauces with their PRAL: Herbs, Spices & Sauces table. Back to the overview Acidic or Alkaline?, or put together a meal in the PRAL calculator.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.