Is Agar-agar Acidic or Alkaline?
Agar-agar (raw) is strongly alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Agar-agar is made from red algae, and seaweed brings plenty of potassium, calcium and magnesium, hence the alkaline value of −9.8. In everyday life this hardly matters, because a dessert needs only a few grams. It is still interesting as a plant-based substitute for gelatin, since gelatin is almost pure protein and is acid-forming.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, agar-agar (raw) ranks #22 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Miso (soybean paste) (−13.0), Dill (−13.1), Vegetable broth, powder (−14.1). More acid-forming are Coriander leaves (−9.7), Parsley root (−9.5), Herb salt (−9.3).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is agar-agar acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Agar-agar (raw) has a PRAL of −9.8 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much agar-agar do I need for a noticeable effect?
A teaspoon (5 g) of agar-agar adds −0.5 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of agar-agar roughly offsets one of them.
Why is agar-agar alkaline even though it is not a typical alkaline food?
The PRAL depends on the minerals left over after digestion, not on taste or pH. Agar-agar provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−9.8).
Agar-agar logged, balance checked.
Basentracker adds up every meal automatically and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. The same values as on this page, all 977 foods, photo scan, recipes.
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Compare all Herbs, Spices & Sauces: Herbs, Spices & Sauces table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
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.