Are Dandelion Greens Acidic or Alkaline?
Dandelion greens (fresh) are strongly alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
At −9.7, dandelion greens are clearly in the alkaline range, because this wild green combines lots of potassium and calcium at only 34 kcal per 100 g. The bitter taste has nothing to do with acid. Young leaves in a spring salad are therefore much more alkaline than lettuce. A 50 g handful comes to about −5.
In the Vegetables & Salad category, dandelion greens (fresh) rank #8 of 110, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Purslane (−10.3), Kale (−11.7), Spinach (−12.2). More acid-forming are Chicory (−9.3), Potato, with skin (−8.7), Lamb's lettuce (−8.3).
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are dandelion greens 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: Dandelion greens (fresh) have a PRAL of −9.7 per 100 g, so they count as strongly alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much dandelion greens do I need for a noticeable effect?
A serving (150 g) of dandelion greens adds −14.5 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of dandelion greens roughly offsets one of them.
Why are dandelion greens alkaline even though they are not typical alkaline foods?
The PRAL depends on the minerals left over after digestion, not on taste or pH. Dandelion greens provide more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−9.7).
Dandelion Greens 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 Vegetables & Salad: Vegetables & Salad 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.