Is Caesar Dressing Acidic or Alkaline?
Caesar dressing (prepared) is slightly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Caesar dressing is based on oil, egg yolk, Parmesan and anchovies. The oil is neutral, but Parmesan and egg yolk bring plenty of protein and phosphorus, so it lands at +4.2 per 100 ml. The second issue is the 481 kcal per 100 ml. The romaine lettuce underneath stays alkaline, and a vinaigrette instead of the dressing is easier on both balances.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, Caesar dressing (prepared) ranks #67 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include French dressing (+3.0), Mustard, medium hot (+2.3), Teriyaki sauce (+2.0). More acid-forming are White pepper (+5.1), Ranch dressing (+5.7), Hollandaise sauce (+6.1).
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 Caesar dressing
A teaspoon (5 g) of Caesar dressing adds +0.2 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caesar dressing 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: Caesar dressing (prepared) has a PRAL of +4.2 per 100 ml, so it counts as slightly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
Do I have to avoid Caesar dressing on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Caesar dressing is slightly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Caesar Dressing 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.