Is Chicken Acidic or Alkaline?
Acid-forming. Chicken breast has a PRAL of +13.2 per 100 g (prepared), on par with beef and pork, so "lean meat" is no less acid-forming.
Why chicken is acid-forming
Meat is protein plus phosphorus, and both raise the acid load. Per 100 g, lean meat contains even more protein than fatty meat. That is why chicken breast (+13.2) ranks above chicken thigh (+11.8) and roast chicken with skin (+12.5). Beef mince comes in at +12.1, a pork chop at +13.7.
A 150 g chicken breast adds +19.8 to your daily balance. That is the biggest single item in a typical meal, and it needs two to three alkaline sides. 200 g of potatoes (−13.1) and 200 g of boiled broccoli (−2.5) offset a good three quarters of it. Rice and sauce don't.
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 chicken 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.
Chicken in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Chicken breast (prepared) | +13.2 |
| Chicken breast (raw) | +10.2 |
| Chicken thigh (prepared) | +11.8 |
| Roast chicken (with skin) (prepared) | +12.5 |
Alkaline foods that balance it
Frequently Asked Questions
Is meat acidic?
Yes, all kinds of meat are acid-forming: poultry +12 to +13, beef +12 to +13, pork +11 to +14 per 100 g prepared. Game is similar.
Is chicken more alkaline than beef?
No. At +13.2, chicken breast is even slightly above roast beef (+12.9) and beef mince (+12.1). The difference is smaller than a slice of bread.
Chicken 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 meat & sausages compared
All meat & sausages with their PRAL: Meat & Sausages 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.