Is Low-fat Milk Acidic or Alkaline?
Milk, low-fat (raw) is neutral: PRAL close to zero: hardly shifts your acid-base balance.
Classification
Low-fat milk comes in at +0.1 per 100 ml, in the neutral range, because protein and phosphorus on one side and calcium and potassium on the other cancel each other out almost exactly. Fat content plays no role here; whole milk lands at the same value. So a glass of milk doesn't burden your balance, while cheese made from the same milk clearly does.
In the Dairy category, low-fat milk (raw) ranks #11 of 25, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Cream (35% fat) (+0.1), Goat milk (+0.1), Schmand (sour cream, 20% fat) (0.0). More acid-forming are Lactose-free milk (+0.1), Milk (3.7% fat) (+0.1), Skim milk (+0.1).
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 low-fat milk 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: Milk, low-fat (raw) has a PRAL of +0.1 per 100 ml, so it counts as neutral in your daily acid-base balance.
Does low-fat milk count in the acid-base balance at all?
Hardly. At +0.1 per 100 ml, low-fat milk is in the neutral range between −0.5 and +0.5. You can eat it without shifting your balance.
Milk, Low-fat 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 Dairy: Dairy 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.