Is Chocolate Hazelnut Spread Acidic or Alkaline?
chocolate hazelnut spread (prepared) is alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Chocolate hazelnut spread is slightly alkaline at −1.9, which surprises many people. Cocoa and hazelnuts supply potassium and magnesium, and the high sugar content dilutes the protein from the nuts and milk powder. The value says nothing about sugar and fat, and at 530 kcal per 100 g the spread is very energy-dense. A 15 g tablespoon adds about −0.3.
In the Sweets & Snacks category, chocolate hazelnut spread (prepared) ranks #21 of 91, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Milk chocolate (−2.1), Pralines (−2.1), M&M's Milk Chocolate Candies (−2.3). More acid-forming are Licorice (−1.8), Apricot jam (−1.5), Strawberry jam (−1.5).
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.
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chocolate hazelnut spread 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: chocolate hazelnut spread (prepared) has a PRAL of −1.9 per 100 g, so it counts as alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much chocolate hazelnut spread do I need for a noticeable effect?
A small serving (40 g) of chocolate hazelnut spread adds −0.8 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of chocolate hazelnut spread roughly offsets one of them.
Why is chocolate hazelnut spread 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. chocolate hazelnut spread provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−1.9).
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Sweets & Snacks: Sweets & Snacks 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.