Is Smoked Ham Acidic or Alkaline?
Smoked ham (prepared) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Smoked ham comes in at +8.2 because lean pork brings a lot of protein and phosphorus, and its small amount of potassium can't counter that. Air-dried raw ham is a bit higher at +9.4 because it has lost more water. Two slices totaling 30 g on bread bring about +2.5, and PRAL doesn't capture the sodium.
In the Meat & Sausages category, smoked ham (prepared) ranks #18 of 67, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Chicken thigh (+8.0), Beef mince (+7.9), Mixed mince (beef and pork) (+7.8). More acid-forming are Veal (+8.3), Chicken wings (+8.3), Pork chop (+8.5).
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 smoked ham
A serving (125 g) of smoked ham adds +10.2 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is smoked ham 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: Smoked ham (prepared) has a PRAL of +8.2 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a serving (125 g) of smoked ham?
A serving (125 g) of smoked ham adds +10.2 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 120 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid smoked ham on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Smoked ham is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Smoked Ham 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 Meat & Sausages: Meat & Sausages 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.