Is Broccoli Acidic or Alkaline?
Alkaline. Broccoli has a PRAL of −6.1 per 100 g raw and −1.3 boiled, so a 200 g serving adds about −12.3 to your daily balance raw, or −2.5 boiled.
Why broccoli is alkaline
Broccoli contains potassium, calcium and magnesium and only a little protein. Raw, it ranks near the top of the cabbage family: kale −11.7, broccoli −6.1, Brussels sprouts −5.6, white cabbage −4.2, cauliflower −3.6. All of them are clearly alkaline. They are also rich in vitamin C and phytochemicals.
Boiling leaches a lot of potassium into the water, which explains the big gap between raw and boiled. Steaming or a quick sauté in the pan keeps more of it. 200 g of raw broccoli (−12.3) fully offsets an egg (+6.4) or a serving of pasta (+10.4). Boiled broccoli (−2.5) does not.
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 broccoli 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.
Broccoli in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Broccoli (fresh) | −6.1 |
| Broccoli (boiled) | −1.3 |
| Cauliflower (fresh) | −3.6 |
| Brussels sprouts (cooked) | −4.8 |
| Kale (fresh) | −11.7 |
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is raw broccoli more alkaline than cooked broccoli?
Yes, by a wide margin: −6.1 raw versus −1.3 boiled per 100 g, because boiling leaches a lot of potassium into the water. Steaming keeps more of it.
Is cauliflower as alkaline as broccoli?
Slightly less, at −3.6 per 100 g raw. Kale, at −11.7, is the most alkaline member of the cabbage family.
Broccoli 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.