Are Spelt Flakes Acidic or Alkaline?
Spelt flakes (raw) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Spelt flakes are steamed and rolled whole kernels, so they're the same thing as spelt grain, and they also come in at +9.3: lots of protein and phosphorus, and not enough potassium and magnesium to offset them. In muesli with milk, it stays that way. With apple, banana and berries, the bowl becomes much more balanced. The 337 kcal per 100 g refer to the dry flakes.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, spelt flakes (raw) rank #111 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Wheat bran (+9.2), Emmer (farro) (+8.7), Corn pasta (+8.2). More acid-forming are Corn flour (+9.7), Wheat tortilla (wrap) (+10.0), Whole spelt flour (+10.5).
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 spelt flakes
A dry serving (50 g) of spelt flakes adds +4.7 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are spelt flakes 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: Spelt flakes (raw) have a PRAL of +9.3 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much kale offsets a dry serving (50 g) of spelt flakes?
A dry serving (50 g) of spelt flakes adds +4.7 to your daily balance. Kale (fresh) has −11.7 per 100 g, so about 40 g of kale offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid spelt flakes on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Spelt flakes are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Spelt Flakes logged, balance checked.
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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.