Is Oat Milk Acidic or Alkaline?
Alkaline, but only mildly. Unsweetened oat milk has a PRAL of −1.2 per 100 ml, which puts it below cow's milk (+0.1) and close to the other common plant-based milks (−0.5 to −1.7).
Why oat milk is alkaline
To make oat milk, oats are broken down in water and then filtered. Most of the protein and phosphorus stays behind in the leftover pulp, while the water-soluble potassium passes into the drink. That is how acid-forming rolled oats (+6.8) become a mildly alkaline drink.
Other plant-based milks are similar: almond milk −1.3, soy milk −1.6, coconut drink −0.5, rice milk −1.7. All of them are mildly alkaline, the coconut drink only just. Cow's milk is neutral at +0.1. For your acid-base balance, the choice of milk matters little. Nutrients, added sugar and taste are what decide.
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 oat milk 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.
Oat Milk in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Oat drink (unsweetened) (raw) | −1.2 |
| Almond milk (unsweetened) (raw) | −1.3 |
| Soy drink (unsweetened) (raw) | −1.6 |
| Rice drink (unsweetened) (raw) | −1.7 |
| Coconut drink (raw) | −0.5 |
| Milk (3.7% fat) (raw) | +0.1 |
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is oat milk more alkaline than cow's milk?
Yes, slightly: −1.2 versus +0.1 per 100 ml. Both are close to neutral, though, so the difference in everyday life is small.
Is almond milk alkaline?
Yes. At −1.3 per 100 ml it is mildly alkaline, even though almonds themselves are clearly acid-forming (+10.5).
Oat Milk and everything else on your plate: calculated automatically.
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More plant-based alternatives compared
All plant-based alternatives with their PRAL: Plant-Based Alternatives 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.