Is Oat Drink (Unsweetened) Acidic or Alkaline?
Oat drink (unsweetened) (raw) is alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
At −1.2 per 100 ml, unsweetened oat drink is slightly alkaline, even though oats themselves are acid-forming. During production, the grain is diluted with a lot of water, much of the protein and fiber stays behind in the residue, and some potassium stays dissolved. At 29 kcal per 100 ml, it is light. That makes it a mild option in coffee or muesli. Fortified versions often contain added calcium.
In the Plant-Based Alternatives category, oat drink (unsweetened) (raw) ranks #9 of 21, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Almond milk (unsweetened) (−1.3), Soy milk, unsweetend (−1.6), Soy drink (unsweetened) (−1.6). More acid-forming are Coconut yogurt (plain) (−1.1), Coconut drink (−0.5), Vegan cheese (coco-based) (−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 oat drink (unsweetened) 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: Oat drink (unsweetened) (raw) has a PRAL of −1.2 per 100 ml, so it counts as alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much oat drink (unsweetened) do I need for a noticeable effect?
100 ml of oat drink (unsweetened) adds −1.2 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of oat drink (unsweetened) roughly offsets one of them.
Why is oat drink (unsweetened) 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. Oat drink (unsweetened) provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−1.2).
Oat Drink (Unsweetened) 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 Plant-Based Alternatives: Plant-Based Alternatives 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.