Are Bell Peppers Acidic or Alkaline?
Alkaline. Red bell peppers have a PRAL of −3.5 per 100 g, yellow −2.9 and green −2.3, and they contain more vitamin C than any citrus fruit.
Why bell peppers are alkaline
Bell peppers are rich in potassium and water and low in protein, which makes them a typical alkaline vegetable. Red, fully ripe peppers score slightly higher than green ones, which are harvested unripe. A whole pepper adds −3.4 to −5.3 to your daily balance.
Paprika powder shows what is inside the pepper: dried and ground, it reaches −36.2 per 100 g. One teaspoon adds −0.7, a little less than a handful of hazelnuts (−1.0). Raw as a snack, grilled as a side dish or as the base for sauces, bell peppers are one of the most versatile alkaline foods.
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 bell peppers are 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.
Bell Peppers in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Red bell pepper (fresh) | −3.5 |
| Yellow bell pepper (fresh) | −2.9 |
| Green bell pepper (fresh) | −2.3 |
| Paprika powder (dried) | −36.2 |
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bell pepper is the most alkaline?
Red (−3.5), followed by yellow (−2.9) and green (−2.3) per 100 g. The differences are small.
Are grilled bell peppers still alkaline?
Yes. Grilling evaporates water, so the alkaline value per 100 g even rises slightly.
Bell Peppers 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.
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More vegetables & salad compared
All vegetables & salad with their PRAL: Vegetables & Salad 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.