Is Thyme Acidic or Alkaline?
Thyme (fresh) is strongly alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Fresh thyme comes in at −5.8, which makes it alkaline, thanks to the potassium, calcium and magnesium in its small leaves. In practice, though, the amount is tiny: a sprig weighs about one gram and adds barely −0.1. Thyme seasons your pot roast or roasted vegetables, but the main ingredients determine the balance.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, thyme (fresh) ranks #33 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Rosemary (−6.2), Ketchup (−6.5), Curry ketchup (−6.5). More acid-forming are Chicken broth, powder (−5.5), Mint (−4.3), Chives (−4.3).
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.
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is thyme 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: Thyme (fresh) has a PRAL of −5.8 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much thyme do I need for a noticeable effect?
A teaspoon (5 g) of thyme adds −0.3 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of thyme roughly offsets one of them.
Why is thyme alkaline even though it is not a typical alkaline food?
The PRAL depends on the minerals left over after digestion, not on taste or pH. Thyme provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−5.8).
Thyme 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 Herbs, Spices & Sauces: Herbs, Spices & Sauces 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.