The contents of your urine can tell a lot about the health of your body. The pH of the urine is a parameter that indicates the degree of acidity. If the pH is low, the acidity is high, while if it is high it means that the urine is more alkaline than acid. The same parameter can tell you if you are at risk of suffering from health problems, including gout or kidney stones. In general, the Western diet tends to lower the pH in the body, so you should increase the pH in your urine to reduce the chances of developing some disease. Modify your diet to include more fruits and vegetables. In extreme cases you can consider following a drug treatment, if your doctor recommends it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Understanding the Meaning of the Urine pH Value
Step 1. See your doctor if you have urinary problems
There are a number of health conditions and disorders that can affect urine and urination habits. Whenever you have pain in your abdomen, side, or groin, make an appointment with your doctor to find out what's wrong. Discuss any negative symptoms related to urination with him. In some cases, increasing the pH of the urine can be beneficial, but in others it is necessary to follow a treatment based on antibiotics or other drugs to solve the problem. It is important to get an accurate diagnosis from an expert, discuss possible treatments with your doctor, and ask if increasing the pH of your urine can help if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- You urinate more or less frequently than usual or are only able to urinate in small amounts
- You feel pain or burning when urinating
- Your urine is very dark;
- Your urine is foul-smelling.
Step 2. Try to increase the pH of your urine if you have kidney stones
Some types of stones are formed when the level of acids and other substances in the body is too high. In these cases, alkalizing the urine (raising the pH) can help dissolve it. Note that you may need to undergo therapy at the same time and that not all types of stones can be eliminated this way, so consult your doctor to find out which treatment is best for you. Signs and symptoms that may indicate kidney stones include the following:
- Pain in the side
- Pain that originates in the side and spreads to the abdomen or groin
- Intermittent pain of varying intensity;
- Presence of blood in the urine (pink, red or brown urine);
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Feeling of pain when urinating;
- More frequent urination or a feeling of urgency to urinate
- Nausea and vomit;
- Fever and chills.
Step 3. Try to increase the pH of your urine if you have gout
If there is too much of a certain type of acid (uric acid) in your body, you can get gout. It is a disease that can cause acute pain, redness and swelling of the small joints, not infrequently those of the big toes. If you experience severe pain in your big toes, which is not attributable to a blow or injury, make an appointment with your doctor to get a diagnosis. If you've been diagnosed with gout, try increasing the pH of your urine to reduce your uric acid level. This is a good way to prevent other attacks.
Step 4. Check the pH of your urine in the house
If you are looking to make them more alkaline, track the changes by measuring the pH daily. If the degree of alkalinity exceeds certain values, your health may be affected, just like when the acidity is too high. Go to the pharmacy and buy a home urine test. Just collect a sample in a clean container and use the strips as indicated in the package leaflet. Immerse a strip in the liquid for the expected time, then compare the color that appeared with that of the diagram on the container to determine the pH value.
- Increase the urine pH above 7 if you are trying to dissolve kidney stones.
- Collect a urine sample. Start urinating for several seconds and halfway through the flow collect a urine sample in the clean plastic cup.
- The urine test package usually contains a sterile beaker and container with test strips inside.
Method 2 of 3: Natural Remedies to Increase the pH of Urine
Step 1. Eat lots of fresh fruit
Include plenty of it in your diet to increase the pH of your urine. Most fruits are alkalizing (raise the pH), but some varieties are more influential than others. Fruits that have a greater alkalizing effect include:
- Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries;
- Peaches, persimmons, apples, apricots and pears;
- Mandarins, lemons, oranges and limes;
- Papaya, pineapple, watermelons, melons and bananas;
- Grapes, raisins and cherries;
- Avocado and green olives.
Step 2. Eat more vegetables
Try to include fresh vegetables in every meal. Increase the portions of vegetables and reduce those of meat to induce an increase in urine pH. The most suitable varieties for an alkalizing diet include:
- Asparagus, celery and artichokes;
- Onions, endive and kohlrabi;
- Black cabbage, mustard leaves, turnip greens and cabbage;
- Pumpkin and courgettes;
- Eggplants, beets and peppers;
- Parsnips, sweet potatoes and baked potatoes;
- Broccoli, cabbage and okra;
Step 3. Replace meat with meals
Replace regular portions of meat with legumes, such as beans or peas. Legumes raise the pH of the urine and are a good source of protein. Lentils are also an alkalizing food and a healthy meat substitute.
Step 4. Snack on nuts and oil seeds
A handful of nuts and seeds is a great example of a healthy snack you can eat in the middle of the morning or at snack time. Both foods contain healthy body-beneficial fats that can replace those made from meat. Some varieties of nuts and seeds are more alkalizing than others, for example chestnuts, pumpkin seeds and cashews.
Almonds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are also useful for increasing the pH of the urine, albeit in a less influential way than the previous ones
Step 5. Flavor your dishes with highly alkalizing herbs and spices
Instead of using table salt as you have done so far, add flavor to the ingredients with herbs and spices that raise the pH value of the urine. Season your dishes with whole sea salt and black pepper and include the following flavors in your cooking:
- Ginger;
- Parsley;
- Basil;
- Garlic;
- Coriander;
- Laurel;
- Cayenne pepper;
- Soy sauce;
- Cinnamon.
Step 6. Reduce your consumption of acid-causing foods
In addition to eating ingredients that alkalize the body, you should minimize the amounts of foods that acidify the urine. Red meats, poultry, eggs, fish and dairy products have an acidifying action in the body and are commonly found in our diet. Reduce consumption by keeping portions under control, base your meals mainly on fruit and vegetables, accompanied only by small amounts of the aforementioned proteins.
Step 7. Stop drinking alcohol
Alcohol makes the urine more acidic. Drink a glass of mineral water, grapefruit or pineapple juice or a cup of ginger tea which, unlike alcoholic beverages, increase the pH of the urine.
Talk to your doctor if you think you need help to stop drinking alcohol
Step 8. Take a natural supplement to increase the pH value
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice and strictly follow the instructions on the package leaflet. After a week, repeat the urine test to see if the pH has actually risen.
These supplements generally contain mineral salts, such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, which do not cause side effects, but should not be taken for prolonged periods and without first consulting your doctor
Method 3 of 3: Increase the pH of Urine with Drugs
Step 1. Take sodium bicarbonate
This is a drug you can take to raise the pH of your urine. Medicines that are prescribed for this purpose are only appropriate for certain conditions and can seriously harm your health if they are taken improperly, so strictly follow the prescribed directions. Usually sodium bicarbonate is given by injection by the doctor.
- Sodium bicarbonate is not indicated in case of vomiting, alkalosis (caused by a low level of acids in the body) or calcium or chloride deficiency.
- If you are already taking any other medications or supplements, have any allergies, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a heart, liver or kidney disease, notify your doctor promptly.
Step 2. Ask about potassium citrate if you have kidney stones
Certain medications can be used to treat specific diseases caused by very acidic urine. Talk to your doctor about potassium citrate, a drug used to treat kidney disease and stones.
This drug can cause numerous side effects and is not indicated for all types of kidney stones
Step 3. Learn about the possibility of treating yourself with calcium citrate
It is a drug that can be useful and indicated for increasing the pH of the urine, but its effectiveness depends on the health condition, the symptoms and what is causing the urinary problems. Ask your doctor if it can be helpful for you.
