Is Dill Acidic or Alkaline?
Dill (fresh) is strongly alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Dill is a fresh leafy green, full of potassium, calcium and magnesium with little protein, which gives it the high value of −13.1. That's a lot for a fresh herb. Basil comes in at about half. In practice, you use just a sprinkle, since a tablespoon of chopped dill weighs only a few grams. On cucumber salad or salmon, it still points in the right direction.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, dill (fresh) ranks #20 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Vegetable broth, powder (−14.1), Bay leaf (−17.2), Curry powder (−17.3). More acid-forming are Miso (soybean paste) (−13.0), Agar-agar (−9.8), Coriander leaves (−9.7).
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 dill 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: Dill (fresh) has a PRAL of −13.1 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much dill do I need for a noticeable effect?
A teaspoon (5 g) of dill adds −0.7 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of dill roughly offsets one of them.
Why is dill 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. Dill provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−13.1).
Dill 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.
Free for Android · iPhone coming soon
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.