Is Matjes Herring Acidic or Alkaline?
Matjes herring (prepared) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Matjes herring comes in at +7.1, in the acid-forming range, because the young herring supplies plenty of protein and phosphorus but hardly any potassium. Its high fat content dilutes this a little per 100 g; fat itself doesn't count. Served the classic homestyle way with apple, onions and boiled potatoes in their skins, it becomes a plate where the potatoes largely balance out the fish.
In the Fish & Seafood category, matjes herring (prepared) ranks #15 of 56, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Cod (+6.9), Codfish (+6.9), Plaice (+6.8). More acid-forming are Pangasius (+7.3), Redfish (ocean perch) (+7.4), Haddock (+7.5).
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.
What balances matjes herring
A fillet (125 g) of matjes herring adds +8.8 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is matjes herring 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: Matjes herring (prepared) has a PRAL of +7.1 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much kale offsets a fillet (125 g) of matjes herring?
A fillet (125 g) of matjes herring adds +8.8 to your daily balance. Kale (fresh) has −11.7 per 100 g, so about 80 g of kale offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid matjes herring on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Matjes herring is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Matjes Herring logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Fish & Seafood: Fish & Seafood 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.