Is Vegan Cheese (Cashew-based) Acidic or Alkaline?
Vegan cheese (cashew-based) (raw) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Cashew-based vegan cheese is at +5.0 and acid-forming because cashews bring protein and phosphorus, which are concentrated during fermenting and pressing. Compared with Tilsit cheese at +17.3, it is still much milder. The coconut oil-based version is at −0.2 but contains hardly any protein. A 30 g serving of cashew cheese adds about +1.5.
In the Plant-Based Alternatives category, vegan cheese (cashew-based) (raw) ranks #15 of 21, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Soy yogurt (unsweetened) (+3.3), Soy yogurt (+1.7), Vegan cheese (coco-based) (−0.2). More acid-forming are Tempeh (+6.8), Tofu, smoked (+8.0), Tofu, plain (+8.3).
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.
What balances vegan cheese (cashew-based)
100 g of vegan cheese (cashew-based) adds +5.0 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is vegan cheese (cashew-based) 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: Vegan cheese (cashew-based) (raw) has a PRAL of +5.0 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much spinach offsets 100 g of vegan cheese (cashew-based)?
100 g of vegan cheese (cashew-based) adds +5.0 to your daily balance. Spinach (fresh) has −12.2 per 100 g, so about 40 g of spinach offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid vegan cheese (cashew-based) on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Vegan cheese (cashew-based) is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Vegan Cheese (Cashew-based) logged, balance checked.
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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.