Is Parboiled Rice Acidic or Alkaline?
Parboiled rice (raw) is slightly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Raw parboiled rice sits at +3.7, below raw white (+4.7) and brown rice (+4.2). It is acid-forming because of the protein and phosphorus in the dry grain, with little potassium to offset them. Cooked, the value drops to +1.5, because the grain absorbs a lot of water. So for your plate, work with the cooked weight, which is about three times as high.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, parboiled rice (raw) ranks #46 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Spelt pasta (+3.7), Corn grits (polenta) (+3.7), Sourdough (starter from rye flour) (+3.6). More acid-forming are Ciabatta (+3.7), White bread (+3.7), Flatbread (+3.8).
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.
Parboiled rice: raw, cooked
Same food, different state. All values per 100 g.
| State | PRAL |
|---|---|
| cooked | +1.5 |
| raw | +3.7 |
What balances parboiled rice
A dry serving (50 g) of parboiled rice adds +1.9 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is parboiled rice 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: Parboiled rice (raw) has a PRAL of +3.7 per 100 g, so it counts as slightly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much spinach offsets a dry serving (50 g) of parboiled rice?
A dry serving (50 g) of parboiled rice adds +1.9 to your daily balance. Spinach (fresh) has −12.2 per 100 g, so about 20 g of spinach offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid parboiled rice on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Parboiled rice is slightly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Parboiled rice, raw or cooked: which is more alkaline?
Parboiled rice (raw) is at +3.7, Parboiled rice (cooked) at +1.5. So the "cooked" version is more alkaline. Differences come from water content, cooking water or concentration during drying.
Parboiled Rice logged, balance checked.
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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.