Are Lentil Sprouts Acidic or Alkaline?
Lentil sprouts (fresh) are slightly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
At +2.7, lentil sprouts are mildly acid-forming. During sprouting the lentil absorbs water, but protein and phosphorus remain and outweigh the potassium. At 29 kcal per 100 g, the sprouts are still very light. As a topping on salad or soup, a small 20 g handful is enough, which comes to about +0.5.
In the Vegetables & Salad category, lentil sprouts (fresh) rank #108 of 110, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Mushrooms (+2.5), Daikon radish sprouts (+2.4), Radish sprouts (+2.4). More acid-forming are Wheat sprouts (+5.0), Spirulina powder (+15.4).
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 lentil sprouts
A serving (150 g) of lentil sprouts adds +4.0 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are lentil sprouts 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: Lentil sprouts (fresh) have a PRAL of +2.7 per 100 g, so they count as slightly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much apricot offsets a serving (150 g) of lentil sprouts?
A serving (150 g) of lentil sprouts adds +4.0 to your daily balance. Apricot (fresh) has −7.2 per 100 g, so about 60 g of apricot offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid lentil sprouts on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Lentil sprouts are slightly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Lentil Sprouts 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.