Are Shrimps Acidic or Alkaline?
Shrimps (raw) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Raw shrimp sit in the acid-forming range at +10.8, because they consist almost entirely of lean protein with matching phosphorus and bring little potassium. Cooked, the value rises slightly to +11.1, as some water escapes during cooking. For a small portion in a stir-fry with lots of vegetables, that hardly matters. For a plate of plain scampi, it does.
In the Fish & Seafood category, shrimps (raw) rank #44 of 56, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Perch (+10.8), Mackerel (+10.6), Lobster (+10.4). More acid-forming are Salmon (+11.2), Buckling (smoked herring) (+11.3), Tuna (+11.4).
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.
Shrimps: raw, prepared
Same food, different state. All values per 100 g.
| State | PRAL |
|---|---|
| raw | +10.8 |
| prepared | +11.1 |
What balances shrimps
A fillet (125 g) of shrimps adds +13.5 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are shrimps 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: Shrimps (raw) have a PRAL of +10.8 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much avocado offsets a fillet (125 g) of shrimps?
A fillet (125 g) of shrimps adds +13.5 to your daily balance. Avocado (ripe) has −9.9 per 100 g, so about 140 g of avocado offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid shrimps on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Shrimps are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Shrimps, raw or prepared: which is more alkaline?
Shrimps (raw) is at +10.8, Shrimps (prepared) at +11.1. So the "raw" version is more alkaline. Differences come from water content, cooking water or concentration during drying.
Shrimps 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 Fish & Seafood: Fish & Seafood 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.