Is Edam Cheese Acidic or Alkaline?
Edam cheese (raw) is strongly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Edam is a semi-hard cheese with a medium water content, and that alone is enough for +18.7. Protein and phosphorus are concentrated, and calcium can't keep up. That puts it above cheddar and only slightly below Appenzeller, even though it tastes milder. One slice less and a tomato or a few cucumber slices more on your bread make a noticeable difference to the balance.
In the Cheese category, Edam cheese (raw) ranks #29 of 37, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Paneer cheese (+17.9), Gouda (young) (+17.5), Raclette cheese (+17.4). More acid-forming are Butter cheese (+19.1), Provolone cheese (+19.4), Harz cheese (sour milk cheese) (+20.4).
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 Edam cheese
A slice (30 g) of Edam cheese adds +5.6 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edam cheese 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: Edam cheese (raw) has a PRAL of +18.7 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much avocado offsets a slice (30 g) of Edam cheese?
A slice (30 g) of Edam cheese adds +5.6 to your daily balance. Avocado (ripe) has −9.9 per 100 g, so about 60 g of avocado offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid Edam cheese on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Edam cheese is strongly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Edam Cheese logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Cheese: Cheese 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.