Are Pretzel Sticks Acidic or Alkaline?
Pretzel sticks (prepared) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Pretzel sticks come in at +5.4 because the wheat dough contains protein and phosphorus, and baking drives out almost all the water. The salt on top isn't part of the PRAL formula, even though it's the defining feature of this snack. A 30 g handful brings about +1.6. The value says nothing about sodium or the 389 kcal per 100 g.
In the Sweets & Snacks category, pretzel sticks (prepared) rank #77 of 91, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Cheese cream torte (+5.2), Crackers (salty) (+4.8), Carrot cake (+4.6). More acid-forming are Butter biscuits (+5.8), Spekulatius cookies (+5.9), Chocolate cake (+6.2).
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 sticks
A small serving (40 g) of pretzel sticks adds +2.1 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pretzel sticks 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 sticks (prepared) have a PRAL of +5.4 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much avocado offsets a small serving (40 g) of pretzel sticks?
A small serving (40 g) of pretzel sticks adds +2.1 to your daily balance. Avocado (ripe) has −9.9 per 100 g, so about 20 g of avocado offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid pretzel sticks on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Pretzel sticks are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Pretzel Sticks 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.
Free for Android · iPhone coming soon
Compare all Sweets & Snacks: Sweets & Snacks 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.