Is Classic Muesli Acidic or Alkaline?
Muesli, classic (raw) is alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Classic muesli comes in at −1.6, slightly in the alkaline range. Dried fruit and the outer layers of the grain bring enough potassium and magnesium to offset the protein and phosphorus in the rolled oats. Adding milk barely changes that, since milk is close to zero. A 60 g serving adds about −1, and fresh berries on top push it further in the same direction.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, classic muesli (raw) ranks #4 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Corn, whole kernel (−2.1), Soy flour, full-fett (−5.2), Soy flour, defatted (−11.3). More acid-forming are Sweet corn (−1.0), Potato starch (−0.4), Buckwheat bread (+0.2).
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 classic muesli 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: Muesli, classic (raw) has a PRAL of −1.6 per 100 g, so it counts as alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much classic muesli do I need for a noticeable effect?
A dry serving (50 g) of classic muesli adds −0.8 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of classic muesli roughly offsets one of them.
Why is classic muesli 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. Muesli, classic provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−1.6).
Muesli, Classic 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.
Free for Android · iPhone coming soon
Compare all Grains, Bread & Pasta: Grains, Bread & Pasta 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.