Is Green Pesto Acidic or Alkaline?
Pesto, green (prepared) is slightly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Green pesto is slightly acid-forming at +1.3 because Parmesan and pine nuts bring more protein and phosphorus than the basil offsets with its potassium. The olive oil is neutral. Two tablespoons of about 30 g on your pasta add roughly +0.4, so the acid load of the plate comes almost entirely from the pasta underneath.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, green pesto (prepared) ranks #61 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Soy sauce (+1.2), Fenugreek seeds (+0.8), Remoulade (+0.6). More acid-forming are Mayonnaise (+1.5), Sweet mustard (+1.8), Teriyaki sauce (+2.0).
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 green pesto
A teaspoon (5 g) of green pesto adds +0.1 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is green pesto 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: Pesto, green (prepared) has a PRAL of +1.3 per 100 g, so it counts as slightly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
Do I have to avoid green pesto on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Pesto, green is slightly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Pesto, Green 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.