Is Emmer (Farro) Acidic or Alkaline?
Emmer (farro) (raw) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Emmer (farro) is an ancient grain and an ancestor of durum wheat, and its PRAL behaves like its relatives': lots of protein and phosphorus in the dry grain, too little potassium and magnesium to offset it, so +8.7. That puts it just below spelt. Cooked as a side dish or baked into bread, the acid load spreads over more weight, and with vegetables on the side your plate evens out.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, emmer (farro) (raw) ranks #108 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Corn pasta (+8.2), Millet flakes, whole grain (+8.1), Millet, whole kernel (+8.1). More acid-forming are Wheat bran (+9.2), Spelt, whole kernel (+9.3), Spelt flakes (+9.3).
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 emmer (farro)
A dry serving (50 g) of emmer (farro) adds +4.4 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is emmer (farro) 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: Emmer (farro) (raw) has a PRAL of +8.7 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 emmer (farro)?
A dry serving (50 g) of emmer (farro) adds +4.4 to your daily balance. Avocado (ripe) has −9.9 per 100 g, so about 40 g of avocado offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid emmer (farro) on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Emmer (farro) is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Emmer (Farro) 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.