Is Coke (Without Coffein) Acidic or Alkaline?
Coke, without coffein (prepared) is slightly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Caffeine-free cola comes in at +0.5 per 100 ml, exactly like the regular kind. Caffeine plays no role in the mineral balance, and the small amount of phosphoric acid causes the slight plus. It doesn't differ in sugar either, with 41 kcal per 100 ml in both. If you want to skip caffeine in the evening, that's all you swap, not the balance.
In the Drinks category, coke (without coffein) (prepared) ranks #79 of 80, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Eggnog (+0.3), Vodka (+0.2), Tequila (+0.1). More acid-forming are Coke, sugar-free (+0.6).
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 coke (without coffein)
A glass (200 ml) of coke (without coffein) adds +1.0 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is coke (without coffein) 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: Coke, without coffein (prepared) has a PRAL of +0.5 per 100 ml, so it counts as slightly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much kale offsets a glass (200 ml) of coke (without coffein)?
A glass (200 ml) of coke (without coffein) adds +1.0 to your daily balance. Kale (fresh) has −11.7 per 100 g, so about 10 g of kale offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid coke (without coffein) on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Coke, without coffein is slightly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Coke, Without Coffein 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 Drinks: Drinks 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.