Is Mustard (Medium Hot) Acidic or Alkaline?
Mustard, medium hot (prepared) is slightly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Medium-hot mustard is slightly acid-forming at +2.3. The ground mustard seeds bring protein and phosphorus, but the vinegar and water base dilutes the value a lot. In practice, it doesn't matter: a teaspoon of about 5 g moves your balance by roughly a tenth. The fried sausage underneath counts many times more.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, mustard (medium hot) (prepared) ranks #65 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Teriyaki sauce (+2.0), Sweet mustard (+1.8), Mayonnaise (+1.5). More acid-forming are French dressing (+3.0), Caesar dressing (+4.2), White pepper (+5.1).
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 mustard (medium hot)
A teaspoon (5 g) of mustard (medium hot) adds +0.1 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is mustard (medium hot) 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: Mustard, medium hot (prepared) has a PRAL of +2.3 per 100 g, so it counts as slightly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
Do I have to avoid mustard (medium hot) on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Mustard, medium hot is slightly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Mustard, Medium Hot 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 Herbs, Spices & Sauces: Herbs, Spices & Sauces 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.