Are Multigrain Cereals Acidic or Alkaline?
Multigrain cereals (raw) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Several types of grain concentrate protein and phosphorus, and their potassium can't keep up, so multigrain cereals come in at +7.7, in the acid-forming range. A classic muesli with dried fruit is clearly lower. A 50 g bowl adds about +4. A banana or a handful of berries on the side wins back a large part of that.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, multigrain cereals (raw) rank #102 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Quinoa (+7.4), Spelt pasta (+7.3), Wholemeal spaghetti (+7.3). More acid-forming are Spelt roll (+7.8), Rice noodles (+8.0), Millet, whole kernel (+8.1).
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.
What balances multigrain cereals
A dry serving (50 g) of multigrain cereals adds +3.9 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are multigrain cereals 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: Multigrain cereals (raw) have a PRAL of +7.7 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much spinach offsets a dry serving (50 g) of multigrain cereals?
A dry serving (50 g) of multigrain cereals adds +3.9 to your daily balance. Spinach (fresh) has −12.2 per 100 g, so about 30 g of spinach offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid multigrain cereals on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Multigrain cereals are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Multigrain Cereals 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 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.