Is Buckling (Smoked Herring) Acidic or Alkaline?
Buckling (smoked herring) (smoked) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Buckling is hot-smoked herring. Smoking draws water out of the fish, protein and phosphorus become concentrated, and so it reaches +11.3. Its abundant fat doesn't change the balance. It only supplies energy, 224 kcal per 100 g. Eaten the classic way with fried potatoes or potato salad and cucumber, the plate absorbs a large part of that acid again.
In the Fish & Seafood category, buckling (smoked herring) (smoked) ranks #47 of 56, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Salmon (+11.2), Shrimps (+11.1), Shrimps (+10.8). More acid-forming are Tuna (+11.4), Pike (+11.5), Salmon (+11.5).
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 buckling (smoked herring)
A fillet (125 g) of buckling (smoked herring) adds +14.1 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is buckling (smoked herring) 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: Buckling (smoked herring) (smoked) has a PRAL of +11.3 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much spinach offsets a fillet (125 g) of buckling (smoked herring)?
A fillet (125 g) of buckling (smoked herring) adds +14.1 to your daily balance. Spinach (fresh) has −12.2 per 100 g, so about 120 g of spinach offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid buckling (smoked herring) on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Buckling (smoked herring) is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Buckling (Smoked Herring) logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Fish & Seafood: Fish & Seafood 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.