Is Damson Plum Acidic or Alkaline?
Damson plum (fresh) is alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Ripe in late summer and alkaline: damson plums sit at −3.2 because they bring potassium and their protein content is negligible. The tart note of the skin comes from fruit acids, which are fully metabolized. On a cake, the fruit pulls the balance down, while the yeast dough with flour and egg pushes it up. A 150 g bowl on its own adds about −5.
In the Fruit category, damson plum (fresh) ranks #51 of 80, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Clementine (−3.2), Mango (−3.3), Gooseberry (−3.3). More acid-forming are Strawberry (−3.0), Persimmon (−3.0), Starfruit (−3.0).
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 damson plum 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: Damson plum (fresh) has a PRAL of −3.2 per 100 g, so it counts as alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much damson plum do I need for a noticeable effect?
One piece or a handful (120 g) of damson plum adds −3.8 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of damson plum roughly offsets one of them.
Why is damson plum alkaline even though it tastes sour?
The PRAL depends on the minerals left over after digestion, not on taste or pH. Damson plum provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−3.2).
Damson Plum logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Fruit: Fruit 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.