Is Pretzel Stick Acidic or Alkaline?
Pretzel stick (baked) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
The dough is the same as for the pretzel, so pretzel sticks are also acid-forming at +5.7: wheat flour with protein and phosphorus and hardly any potassium. The lye that gives the crust its color and flavor doesn't shift the balance. Filled with cucumber, tomato and lettuce, a pretzel stick makes a snack that is much closer to balance than one with ham and cheese.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, pretzel stick (baked) ranks #74 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 stick
Two slices (100 g) of pretzel stick adds +5.7 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pretzel stick 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 stick (baked) has a PRAL of +5.7 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much avocado offsets two slices (100 g) of pretzel stick?
Two slices (100 g) of pretzel stick adds +5.7 to your daily balance. Avocado (ripe) has −9.9 per 100 g, so about 60 g of avocado offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid pretzel stick on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Pretzel stick is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Pretzel Stick 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.