Is Wheat Germ Acidic or Alkaline?
Wheat germ (raw) is strongly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Wheat germ comes in at +20.1, more than twice the value of wheat bran (+9.2), because the germ concentrates protein and phosphorus as a store for the new plant. As a muesli topping, though, you usually use just one tablespoon of about 10 g, which is roughly +2. With apple, berries or banana in the bowl, that is quickly balanced out.
In the Grains, Bread & Pasta category, wheat germ (raw) ranks #121 of 121, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Oat bran (+17.1), Oat flour (+12.2), Spaghetti (+10.9).
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 wheat germ
A dry serving (50 g) of wheat germ adds +10.0 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wheat germ 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: Wheat germ (raw) has a PRAL of +20.1 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much kale offsets a dry serving (50 g) of wheat germ?
A dry serving (50 g) of wheat germ adds +10.0 to your daily balance. Kale (fresh) has −11.7 per 100 g, so about 90 g of kale offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid wheat germ on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Wheat germ is strongly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Wheat Germ 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 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.