Are Almonds Acidic or Alkaline?
Almonds (raw) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Almonds are clearly acid-forming at +10.5 because they contain a lot of protein and phosphorus, which outweigh their abundant magnesium and potassium. So the common claim that almonds are alkaline doesn't hold up by PRAL. A 30 g handful adds about +3, and a handful of dried cherries alongside offsets it again.
In the Nuts & Seeds category, almonds (raw) rank #25 of 29, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Brazil nuts (+8.0), Roasted cashews (salted) (+7.2), Pine nuts (+7.2). More acid-forming are Sunflower seeds (+11.9), Tahini (+12.3), Pumpkin seeds (+17.0).
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.
What balances almonds
A handful (30 g) of almonds adds +3.1 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are almonds 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: Almonds (raw) have a PRAL of +10.5 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a handful (30 g) of almonds?
A handful (30 g) of almonds adds +3.1 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 40 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid almonds on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Almonds are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Almonds 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 Nuts & Seeds: Nuts & Seeds 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.