Is Parsley Root Acidic or Alkaline?
Parsley root (fresh) is strongly alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Parsley root is clearly alkaline at −9.5, lower than carrot or parsnip, thanks to potassium, calcium and magnesium with little protein. It usually goes into the pot as part of soup greens, where some of the minerals pass into the broth. As a purée or roasted vegetable, you get all of it: 150 g then adds about −14.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, parsley root (fresh) ranks #24 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Coriander leaves (−9.7), Agar-agar (−9.8), Miso (soybean paste) (−13.0). More acid-forming are Herb salt (−9.3), Parsley (−6.9), Ginger root (−6.7).
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 parsley root 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: Parsley root (fresh) has a PRAL of −9.5 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much parsley root do I need for a noticeable effect?
A teaspoon (5 g) of parsley root adds −0.5 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of parsley root roughly offsets one of them.
Why is parsley root 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. Parsley root provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−9.5).
Parsley Root 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.