Is Pretzel (Lye) Acidic or Alkaline?
Pretzel (lye) (baked) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
At +5.7, the lye pretzel is in the acid-forming range, because the wheat dough brings protein and phosphorus and hardly any potassium. The lye (sodium hydroxide solution) gives it its color and crust but doesn't change the mineral balance. An 85 g pretzel comes to about +5. With butter it stays that way, but a slice of cheese adds quite a bit more.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, pretzel (lye) (baked) ranks #73 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Focaccia (+5.7), Wheat flour (+5.6), Wheat roll (+5.5). More acid-forming are Fusilli (+5.8), Pasta (+5.8), Penne (+5.8).
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.
What balances pretzel (lye)
Two slices (100 g) of pretzel (lye) adds +5.7 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pretzel (lye) 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: Pretzel (lye) (baked) has a PRAL of +5.7 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much spinach offsets two slices (100 g) of pretzel (lye)?
Two slices (100 g) of pretzel (lye) adds +5.7 to your daily balance. Spinach (fresh) has −12.2 per 100 g, so about 50 g of spinach offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid pretzel (lye) on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Pretzel (lye) is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Pretzel (Lye) 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.