Is Durum Wheat Semolina Acidic or Alkaline?
Durum wheat semolina (raw) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Durum wheat semolina sits in the acid-forming range at +6.2 because the wheat kernel holds concentrated protein and phosphorus but hardly any potassium. It's used to make pasta, couscous and semolina porridge, and the preparation decides. As porridge with milk, it lands just above zero. As cooked pasta, it comes in at about half, because water dilutes the value.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, durum wheat semolina (raw) ranks #84 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Green spelt (+6.1), Spelt bread (+6.1), Puffed rice cereal (+6.0). More acid-forming are Rice cakes (unsalted) (+6.2), Teff (+6.3), Whole wheat flour (+6.3).
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.
What balances durum wheat semolina
A dry serving (50 g) of durum wheat semolina adds +3.1 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is durum wheat semolina 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: Durum wheat semolina (raw) has a PRAL of +6.2 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much avocado offsets a dry serving (50 g) of durum wheat semolina?
A dry serving (50 g) of durum wheat semolina adds +3.1 to your daily balance. Avocado (ripe) has −9.9 per 100 g, so about 30 g of avocado offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid durum wheat semolina on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Durum wheat semolina is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Durum Wheat Semolina logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Grains, Bread & Pasta: Grains, Bread & Pasta 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.