Is Lentil Stew Acidic or Alkaline?
Lentil stew (prepared) is alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Even though lentils alone are acid-forming, lentil stew is just in the alkaline range at −0.6 per 100 ml. Potatoes, carrots, celery and leek in the pot supply enough potassium to offset the legumes' protein. Add frankfurters, and the balance tips. A splash of vinegar at the end, as is customary in Swabia, doesn't change the math.
In the Meals & Fast Food category, lentil stew (prepared) ranks #29 of 118, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Spring rolls (−0.6), Mushroom soup (−0.7), Miso soup (−0.8). More acid-forming are Lentil soup (−0.6), Minestrone (−0.5), Frozen potato dumplings (half and half) (−0.5).
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.
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lentil stew 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 stew (prepared) has a PRAL of −0.6 per 100 ml, so it counts as alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lentil stew do I need for a noticeable effect?
A meal (300 g) of lentil stew adds −1.7 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of lentil stew roughly offsets one of them.
Why is lentil stew 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. Lentil stew provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−0.6).
Lentil Stew logged, balance checked.
Basentracker adds up every meal automatically and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. The same values as on this page, all 977 foods, photo scan, recipes.
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Compare all Meals & Fast Food: Meals & Fast Food 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.