Is Sushi (California Roll) Acidic or Alkaline?
Sushi, California roll (prepared) is slightly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
The California roll sits at +2.2, making it the mildest of the three sushi options, because avocado and cucumber supply potassium and the surimi brings less protein than raw fish. Salmon sushi comes in at +3.2, tuna sushi at +4.0. An eight-piece roll of about 200 g shifts your balance by a good +4.
In the Meals & Fast Food category, sushi (California roll) (prepared) ranks #58 of 118, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Pasta bolognese (+2.2), Hummus (+2.2), Bouillabaisse (+1.9). More acid-forming are Chicken soup (+2.3), Vegetarian wrap (+2.4), Ramen noodles (instant) (+2.5).
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 sushi (California roll)
A meal (300 g) of sushi (California roll) adds +6.7 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sushi (California roll) 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: Sushi, California roll (prepared) has a PRAL of +2.2 per 100 g, so it counts as slightly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a meal (300 g) of sushi (California roll)?
A meal (300 g) of sushi (California roll) adds +6.7 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 80 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid sushi (California roll) on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Sushi, California roll is slightly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Sushi, California Roll 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 Meals & Fast Food: Meals & Fast Food 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.