Are Coriander Leaves Acidic or Alkaline?
Coriander leaves (fresh) are strongly alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Fresh coriander leaves (cilantro) come in at −9.7, because leafy herbs combine plenty of potassium and calcium with little dry matter. But the usual amount sprinkled over curry or tacos weighs only a few grams. Only a full 30 g handful in a salad, salsa or pesto makes a noticeable contribution, at about −3.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, coriander leaves (fresh) rank #23 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Agar-agar (−9.8), Miso (soybean paste) (−13.0), Dill (−13.1). More acid-forming are Parsley root (−9.5), Herb salt (−9.3), Parsley (−6.9).
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
Are coriander leaves 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: Coriander leaves (fresh) have a PRAL of −9.7 per 100 g, so they count as strongly alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much coriander leaves do I need for a noticeable effect?
A teaspoon (5 g) of coriander leaves adds −0.5 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of coriander leaves roughly offsets one of them.
Why are coriander leaves alkaline even though they are not typical alkaline foods?
The PRAL depends on the minerals left over after digestion, not on taste or pH. Coriander leaves provide more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−9.7).
Coriander Leaves 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.