Are Walnuts Acidic or Alkaline?
Walnuts (raw) are acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Among nuts and seeds, walnuts at +5.6 are much milder than sunflower seeds (+11.9). Their high fat content dilutes protein and phosphorus, and they bring a fair amount of potassium and magnesium. A 30 g handful adds just under +2 and a good 215 kilocalories. In a salad with grapes and lamb's lettuce, that is quickly balanced out.
In the Nuts & Seeds category, walnuts (raw) rank #15 of 29, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Flaxseeds (+4.2), Sesame seeds (+3.9), Almond butter (+3.7). More acid-forming are Chia seeds (+6.3), Cashew butter (+6.8), Peanut butter (+6.8).
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 walnuts
A handful (30 g) of walnuts adds +1.7 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are walnuts 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: Walnuts (raw) have a PRAL of +5.6 per 100 g, so they count as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a handful (30 g) of walnuts?
A handful (30 g) of walnuts adds +1.7 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 20 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid walnuts on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Walnuts are acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Walnuts 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.
Free for Android · iPhone coming soon
Compare all Nuts & Seeds: Nuts & Seeds 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.