Are Pine Nuts Acidic or Alkaline?
Pine nuts (raw) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Pine nuts are acid-forming at +7.2 because, along with lots of fat, they also bring plenty of protein and phosphorus. A 10 g tablespoon, toasted and sprinkled over a salad, adds about +0.7. In pesto, the other ingredients set the direction: green pesto is just above zero, red pesto with sun-dried tomatoes deep in the minus.
In the Nuts & Seeds category, pine nuts (raw) rank #22 of 29, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Roasted peanuts (unsalted) (+7.2), Cashews (+7.1), Roasted peanuts (salted) (+7.0). More acid-forming are Roasted cashews (salted) (+7.2), Brazil nuts (+8.0), Almonds (+10.5).
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 pine nuts
A handful (30 g) of pine nuts adds +2.2 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pine nuts 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: Pine nuts (raw) have a PRAL of +7.2 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much spinach offsets a handful (30 g) of pine nuts?
A handful (30 g) of pine nuts adds +2.2 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 pine nuts on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Pine nuts are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Pine Nuts logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Nuts & Seeds: Nuts & Seeds 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.