Are Mustard Seeds Acidic or Alkaline?
Mustard seeds (raw) are strongly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Mustard seeds are oil-rich seeds with plenty of protein and phosphorus, which is why they reach +14.4, even more than sunflower seeds (+11.9). As a spice, this hardly matters. A teaspoon of whole seeds in a jar of pickles or a marinade weighs a few grams and brings less than +1. Only in larger amounts, such as in homemade mustard, does the value show.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, mustard seeds (raw) rank #71 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Hollandaise sauce (+6.1), Ranch dressing (+5.7), White pepper (+5.1). More acid-forming are Nutritional yeast (yeast flakes) (+21.2), Gelatin (+39.2), Baking powder (+339.2).
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.
What balances mustard seeds
A teaspoon (5 g) of mustard seeds adds +0.7 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are mustard seeds 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 seeds (raw) have a PRAL of +14.4 per 100 g, so they count as strongly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much avocado offsets a teaspoon (5 g) of mustard seeds?
A teaspoon (5 g) of mustard seeds adds +0.7 to your daily balance. Avocado (ripe) has −9.9 per 100 g, so about 10 g of avocado offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid mustard seeds on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Mustard seeds are strongly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Mustard Seeds 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 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.