Are Chickpeas Acidic or Alkaline?
Acid-forming, but only mildly and close to neutral: boiled chickpeas have a PRAL of +1.7 per 100 g, canned ones +2.4. Hummus comes in at +2.2, which makes it one of the milder spreads.
Why chickpeas are acid-forming
Like all legumes, chickpeas bring protein and phosphorus, but also plenty of potassium, magnesium and calcium. The result is a PRAL that is only slightly positive. Compared with animal protein sources, they are a clear win: a falafel plate (+3.5) instead of fried chicken breast (+13.2) saves almost ten points per 100 g.
Hummus adds tahini, which is strongly acid-forming on its own (+12.3), plus lemon and olive oil. On balance, hummus stays at +2.2. Eat it with vegetable sticks instead of flatbread (+3.8), and it becomes an alkaline snack.
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 chickpeas 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.
Chickpeas in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Chickpeas (boiled) | +1.7 |
| Chickpeas (canned) | +2.4 |
| Hummus (prepared) | +2.2 |
| Falafel (prepared) | +3.5 |
| Chickpea flour (raw) | −2.8 |
Alkaline foods that balance it
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hummus acidic?
It is mildly acid-forming, at +2.2 per 100 g. Eaten with raw vegetables, the combination is alkaline. Eaten with flatbread, it is acid-forming.
Are canned chickpeas worse than home-cooked?
Barely. At +2.4, they come in slightly above home-cooked chickpeas (+1.7), and the difference is small. The only important thing is to rinse them because of the salt.
Chickpeas and everything else on your plate: calculated automatically.
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More legumes compared
All legumes with their PRAL: Legumes 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.