Are Lentils Acidic or Alkaline?
Acid-forming, but only mildly. Boiled lentils have a PRAL of +3.1 per 100 g, which makes them one of the mildest protein sources.
Why lentils are acid-forming
Lentils provide plenty of plant protein and phosphorus, but also a lot of potassium and magnesium. That is why their PRAL is low, especially compared with animal protein: chicken breast comes in at +13.2, beef mince at +12.1, and boiled lentils at +3.1 per 100 g.
A 150 g serving adds about +4.6 to your daily balance. In a lentil dish with tomatoes, carrots and onions, that evens out: lentil soup comes to −0.6 overall, and dal to +0.2. If you replace meat with legumes, you lower your acid load considerably without giving up protein.
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 lentils 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.
Lentils in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Lentils (boiled) | +3.1 |
| Lentils (canned) | +3.7 |
| Red lentils (raw) | +8.6 |
| Lentil soup (prepared) | −0.6 |
| Dal (Indian lentil dish) (prepared) | +0.2 |
Alkaline foods that balance it
Frequently Asked Questions
Are red lentils more alkaline than brown lentils?
No. Cooked red lentils, at +3.9 per 100 g, are actually slightly higher than lentils in general (+3.1). The high value for red lentils you see in tables (+8.6) applies to dry lentils, which swell to about three times their size when cooked.
Are canned lentils just as good?
Yes. They come in at +3.7 per 100 g, only slightly above home-cooked lentils (+3.1). Rinsing them reduces the salt, not the PRAL.
Lentils 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.