Are Eggs Acidic or Alkaline?
Acid-forming, with a PRAL of +10.6 per 100 g, or about +6.4 for a single egg. The acid load sits in the yolk (+24.6), while the egg white is almost neutral at +2.1.
Why eggs are acid-forming
Eggs are rich in high-quality protein, and the yolk contains a lot of phosphorus. Both raise the PRAL. That puts eggs on par with lean meat (raw chicken breast +10.2) but well below hard cheese (Gouda +17.5).
One egg at breakfast is no problem. Three scrambled eggs with bacon are more of one. If you like eggs and want to follow an alkaline diet, serve them on a bed of spinach (−12.2) or tomatoes (−4.2) instead of on toast with cheese. That way the acid load of the egg is balanced out on your plate.
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 eggs 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.
Eggs in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Egg (boiled) | +10.6 |
| Egg (raw) | +10.3 |
| Egg yolk (raw) | +24.6 |
| Egg white (raw) | +2.1 |
Alkaline foods that balance it
Frequently Asked Questions
Is egg white more alkaline than egg yolk?
By a wide margin. Egg white comes in at +2.1 and egg yolk at +24.6 per 100 g. Almost all of the phosphorus is in the yolk.
How many eggs can you eat on an alkaline diet?
One to two a day are easy to balance out with enough vegetables. What counts is your daily balance, not a single food.
Eggs 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 eggs compared
All eggs with their PRAL: Eggs 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.