Is Quinoa Acidic or Alkaline?
Quinoa (raw) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
The value of +7.4 applies to raw quinoa, the dry grain, in which protein and phosphorus are concentrated. Cooked, it drops to +2.7, because the grain absorbs water and ends up weighing a good three times as much. For your plate, it's best to use the cooked value: 60 g dry becomes a side dish of about 200 g.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, quinoa (raw) ranks #101 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Spelt pasta (+7.3), Wholemeal spaghetti (+7.3), Wholemeal pasta (+7.3). More acid-forming are Multigrain cereals (+7.7), Spelt roll (+7.8), Rice noodles (+8.0).
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.
Quinoa: raw, cooked
Same food, different state. All values per 100 g.
| State | PRAL |
|---|---|
| cooked | +2.7 |
| raw | +7.4 |
What balances quinoa
A dry serving (50 g) of quinoa adds +3.7 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is quinoa 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: Quinoa (raw) has a PRAL of +7.4 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a dry serving (50 g) of quinoa?
A dry serving (50 g) of quinoa adds +3.7 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 40 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid quinoa on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Quinoa is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Quinoa, raw or cooked: which is more alkaline?
Quinoa (raw) is at +7.4, Quinoa (cooked) at +2.7. So the "cooked" version is more alkaline. Differences come from water content, cooking water or concentration during drying.
Quinoa 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 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.