Are Brazil Nuts Acidic or Alkaline?
Brazil nuts (raw) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Brazil nuts sit in the acid-forming range at +8.0 because, along with plenty of protein, they bring especially large amounts of phosphorus. Pecans are well below that, almonds slightly above. In practice it barely matters: two nuts weigh about 10 g and add just under +1, at 70 kcal.
In the Nuts & Seeds category, Brazil nuts (raw) rank #24 of 29, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Roasted cashews (salted) (+7.2), Pine nuts (+7.2), Roasted peanuts (unsalted) (+7.2). More acid-forming are Almonds (+10.5), Sunflower seeds (+11.9), Tahini (+12.3).
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.
What balances Brazil nuts
A handful (30 g) of Brazil nuts adds +2.4 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Brazil nuts 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: Brazil nuts (raw) have a PRAL of +8.0 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 Brazil nuts?
A handful (30 g) of Brazil nuts adds +2.4 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 30 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid Brazil nuts on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Brazil nuts are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Brazil Nuts logged, balance checked.
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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.