Are Lentils Acidic or Alkaline?
Lentils (boiled) are slightly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion. Acid-forming, but only mildly. Boiled lentils have a PRAL of +3.1 per 100 g, which makes them one of the mildest protein sources.
Classification
At +3.1, boiled lentils are in the acid-forming range, because the legume's protein and phosphorus outweigh its potassium. Dry, they're at +4.8. When cooked, they absorb water, which dilutes the value. Canned lentils come in at +3.7. In a dal with spinach, tomatoes and turmeric, the vegetables take back a good part of that.
In the Legumes category, lentils (boiled) rank #20 of 26, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Peas (+2.5), Chickpeas (+2.4), Kidney beans (+1.9). More acid-forming are Red lentils (+3.9), Sweet lupins (+5.2), Sweet lupins (+5.4).
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.
Lentils: boiled, canned, raw
Same food, different state. All values per 100 g.
What balances lentils
A serving of boiled lentils (150 g) of lentils adds +4.6 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are lentils 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: Lentils (boiled) have a PRAL of +3.1 per 100 g, so they count as slightly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a serving of boiled lentils (150 g) of lentils?
A serving of boiled lentils (150 g) of lentils adds +4.6 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 60 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid lentils on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Lentils are slightly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Lentils, boiled or canned: which is more alkaline?
Lentils (boiled) is at +3.1, Lentils (canned) at +3.7. So the "boiled" version is more alkaline. Differences come from water content, cooking water or concentration during drying.
Lentils 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 Legumes: Legumes 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.