Is Teff Acidic or Alkaline?
Teff (raw) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Like most grains, teff is acid-forming at +6.3, because the protein and phosphorus in the dry grain outweigh the potassium. This tiny millet does contain quite a lot of calcium and iron, but it still ends up slightly above wheat flour (+5.6). Cooked as porridge or baked as injera, teff absorbs a lot of water, and the value per 100 g drops accordingly.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, teff (raw) ranks #86 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Rice cakes (unsalted) (+6.2), Durum wheat semolina (+6.2), Green spelt (+6.1). More acid-forming are Whole wheat flour (+6.3), Wheat flour type 1050 (+6.5), Buckwheat (+6.5).
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 teff
A dry serving (50 g) of teff adds +3.1 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is teff 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: Teff (raw) has a PRAL of +6.3 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much kale offsets a dry serving (50 g) of teff?
A dry serving (50 g) of teff adds +3.1 to your daily balance. Kale (fresh) has −11.7 per 100 g, so about 30 g of kale offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid teff on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Teff is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Teff 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.