Are Roasted Peanuts (Unsalted) Acidic or Alkaline?
Roasted peanuts (unsalted) (prepared) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Unsalted roasted peanuts come in at +7.2, practically level with the salted version. Salt plays no role in the PRAL, but the legume's protein and phosphorus do, and potassium and magnesium offset only part of it. So skipping the salt is worth it for other reasons. At 620 kcal per 100 g, a handful remains a sensible amount.
In the Nuts & Seeds category, roasted peanuts (unsalted) (prepared) rank #21 of 29, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Cashews (+7.1), Roasted peanuts (salted) (+7.0), Peanut butter (+6.8). More acid-forming are Pine nuts (+7.2), Roasted cashews (salted) (+7.2), Brazil nuts (+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.
What balances roasted peanuts (unsalted)
A handful (30 g) of roasted peanuts (unsalted) adds +2.2 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are roasted peanuts (unsalted) 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: Roasted peanuts (unsalted) (prepared) have a PRAL of +7.2 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a handful (30 g) of roasted peanuts (unsalted)?
A handful (30 g) of roasted peanuts (unsalted) adds +2.2 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 30 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid roasted peanuts (unsalted) on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Roasted peanuts (unsalted) are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Roasted Peanuts (Unsalted) 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 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.