Is Ginger Acidic or Alkaline?
Alkaline, and strongly so: fresh ginger has a PRAL of −6.7 per 100 g, and ginger powder −24.1. In the amounts you normally use, though, this barely makes a difference.
Why ginger is alkaline
Ginger is rich in potassium and magnesium and contains little protein. That gives it a clearly negative PRAL, as with almost all spices and herbs. Dried, the values rise sharply because the water is gone: ginger powder −24.1, turmeric −35.5, cinnamon −23.8.
A 10 g piece of ginger in your tea adds −0.7 to your daily balance. That is more than a spoonful of honey but less than half a tomato. Ginger tea is a good drink, but it won't work as an "alkaline cure." Its strengths lie elsewhere: digestion, nausea, warmth.
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 ginger 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.
Ginger in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Ginger root (fresh) | −6.7 |
| Ginger powder (dried) | −24.1 |
| Turmeric powder (dried) | −35.5 |
| Garlic (fresh) | −0.8 |
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ginger tea acidic?
No, it is slightly alkaline. A 10 g piece of ginger provides −0.7, and the tea around it is neutral. Adding lemon makes it a little more alkaline.
Are spices alkaline?
Almost all of them, often very strongly per 100 g (oregano −44.4, sage −46.5). Because you only use a few grams, the effect per meal stays small, but it adds up.
Ginger 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 herbs, spices & sauces compared
All herbs, spices & sauces with their PRAL: Herbs, Spices & Sauces 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.