Is Horseradish Acidic or Alkaline?
Horseradish (fresh) is strongly alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Fresh horseradish comes in at −7.6, in the alkaline range, because the root contains plenty of potassium and calcium with little protein. Its heat has nothing to do with acid. From the jar, it is less alkaline at −4.1, because vinegar, water and often cream stretch the root content. Still, a teaspoon with Tafelspitz (boiled beef) is only a small amount.
In the Vegetables & Salad category, horseradish (fresh) ranks #14 of 110, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Swiss chard (−7.8), Celeriac (−8.3), Lamb's lettuce (−8.3). More acid-forming are Arugula (−7.1), Rhubarb (−6.8), Potato (−6.6).
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.
Horseradish: fresh, prepared
Same food, different state. All values per 100 g.
| State | PRAL |
|---|---|
| fresh | −7.6 |
| prepared | −4.1 |
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is horseradish 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: Horseradish (fresh) has a PRAL of −7.6 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much horseradish do I need for a noticeable effect?
A serving (150 g) of horseradish adds −11.3 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of horseradish roughly offsets one of them.
Why is horseradish 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. Horseradish provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−7.6).
Horseradish, fresh or prepared: which is more alkaline?
Horseradish (fresh) is at −7.6, Horseradish (prepared) at −4.1. So the "fresh" version is more alkaline. Differences come from water content, cooking water or concentration during drying.
Horseradish logged, balance checked.
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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.