Is Soy Protein Powder Acidic or Alkaline?
Soy protein powder (raw) is strongly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Soy protein powder comes to +50.7, because it is almost pure protein with phosphorus, and most of the soybean's potassium is removed during isolation. One 30 g scoop gives about +15, more than 100 g of pan-fried veal. Blend it into a shake with banana and berries to offset part of that.
In the Plant-Based Alternatives category, soy protein powder (raw) ranks #20 of 21, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Seitan (+14.0), Tofu, plain (+8.3), Tofu, smoked (+8.0). More acid-forming are Soy protein isolate (+67.0).
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 soy protein powder
100 g of soy protein powder adds +50.7 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is soy protein powder 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: Soy protein powder (raw) has a PRAL of +50.7 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much kale offsets 100 g of soy protein powder?
100 g of soy protein powder adds +50.7 to your daily balance. Kale (fresh) has −11.7 per 100 g, so about 430 g of kale offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid soy protein powder on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Soy protein powder is strongly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Soy Protein Powder 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 Plant-Based Alternatives: Plant-Based Alternatives 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.