Posts

Optimal pH and Effective Weight Management

/0 Comments/in /by

What does urine pH tell us?

Urine, like other body fluids, can be acidic or alkaline.  Acidic substances have a pH of less than 7, while alkaline substances have a higher pH.  Urine is typically slightly acidic, with a pH of around 6-7 but can range from 4.5 to 8.  Urine pH changes depending on your diet, specific disease processes, and the medications you take.  The excretion of acid or alkaline urine helps maintain the body’s acid-base balance between acidity and alkalinity.  Factors that affect urine pH include vomiting, diarrhea, lung disease, hormones, kidney function, and urinary tract infection.  Average values ​​range from pH 4.5 to pH 8.0.

A urine pH value above 7 indicates that the urine is primary.  Urine pH increases in cases such as kidney failure, urinary tract infections, vomiting, and eating mostly veggies and fruits. Low pH in the urine indicates that the urine is mainly acidic.  In acid urine, the pH value is below 7.  In cases such as acidosis, dehydration, diarrhea, and eating mostly meat, dairy products, and grains, the urine pH decreases and becomes acidic.

It is essential to pay attention to nutrition in order to keep the dietary acid load under control.

  • Alkaline food groups are vegetables, fruits, seeds, and legumes.
  • Acidic foods groups are meat, poultry, dairy products, and grains.

An optimal pH value indicates that the diet is balanced

balance eating with ph

It is seen that all critical events and diseases depend on the pH value of the body.  It is known that the food a person eats changes the pH value of the body.  This value varies according to the mineral density of the food.  When food is used to obtain energy, waste occurs due to the metabolization of such foods.  It is argued that acidic or alkaline waste changes the body’s pH.  Based on urine with acidic pH, it can be presumed that there is Diabetes mellitus, Fever, in the body, and it can be said that the person follows a high protein diet.  On the other hand, when looking at urine with an alkaline pH value, it can be said that the pH value of the urine has increased to an alkaline level as a result of severe vomiting, urinary infection, and it can be understand that the person likely follows a vegetarian diet or eats mainly veggies and fruits. 

Based on this information, a urine pH ratio range around 6 – 7, depending on our diet, shows that we have reached the optimal pH level with the diet we follow.

Related: Rebalance Your Alkaline Urine’s pH with Diet

Urine pH and Weight Management

ph and weight

The mechanism of weight loss and weight gain is a very complex process, and this mechanism may vary depending on more than one factor.  Many factors are involved in this process, from the level of inflammation to the calories consumed, from the metabolic rate to the hormonal level, and so forth.  Additional aspects frange from intracellular electrolytes to energy production, depending on the pH.  Therefore, pH is significant in body weight control. The nutrients are taken into the body and the acidic or alkaline levels of the urine can also be associated with the weight gain and loss process. An alkaline diet is recommended to convert urine with an acidic pH to an alkaline level.  However, protein groups should be included into the diet to optimize alkaline urine pH. 

Eating Mainly Alkaline Foods

Advantages

  • A healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits
  • Provides adequate dietary fiber intake
  • Avoidance of processed foods

Disadvantages

  • Protein may be insufficient 
  • May lack necessary vital acids such as amino acids, e.g. meat and/or grain group 

Eating Mainly Acidic Foods

Advantages

  • Provides high protein intake, supports satiety, and increases metabolism rate
  • Contains essential amino acids that muscles need

Disadvantages

  • Can cause insufficient fiber intake
  • Lacks  most vitamins and minerals

Each food and each food group has a different role and importance for the body.  In order to control body weight, it is important to follow the recommended advice, have a balanced diet, and keep the body pH level at an optimum level. 

 

Rebalance Your Alkaline Urine’s pH with Diet

/0 Comments/in /by

WHAT IS AN URINE PH LEVEL TEST?

A urine pH level test verifies or checks the alkalinity and acidity in a urine sample. The things that affect your urine’s basic or acidic nature solely depend on your diet, the pharmaceuticals you consume, and the sicknesses or diseases that you suffer from.

For instance, having a high or low alkaline level could mean that there is a high tendency that you could develop kidney stones. To remedy this,  you could try altering your diet to strike a balance in your urine pH level.

This shows how essential your urine pH is as it’s one such medium to check your overall health. 

FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE URINE pH LEVELS?

As earlier mentioned, there are a number of things that affect your urine pH levels and we will be looking at them one by one.

Dieting: Your set of eating habits are one of the most essential factors in determining your urine pH level. Reaching and maintaining a neutral pH can be done by balancing your diet. While the foods such as dairy, fish, meat, and grain increase the level of acids that the kidney has to filter into the urine, the majority of veggies and fruits produce alkaline compounds in the body, which diminishes those acids.   Additionally, insufficient consumption of protein and grain sources can keep the acidic level down, but when excessively consumed, there can be a significant increase. These facts prove that a balanced diet is essential in reaching optimal urine pH levels.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): One of the common causes of increased urine pH levels is a urinary tract infection. Many of the organisms that cause this infection produce an enzyme called urease.  This enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of the urea compound, separating it into carbon dioxide and ammonia. Through this process, your urine pH level increases.

Certain medications: Many drugs affect urine pH levels, so it’s best for medications to be taken under medical supervision.

Related: Are You too Acidic? Alkaline Foods to Correct pH Imbalances 

IMPORTANCE OF REACHING OPTIMAL URINE pH LEVEL

ideal urine ph

Reaching an optimal urine pH level is quite important because it serves as a good health indicator and preventive measure against a number of diseases.

The optimal range for a urine pH level is between 6 and 7.  Preventing the development of illnesses and diseases such as kidney stones, metabolic syndrome, UTI and so many others is dependent on striking an essential balance and reaching optimal urine pH levels. 

WAYS TO REACH OPTIMAL URINE PH LEVELS

Maintaining an appropriate pH balance in your body is equivalent to optimizing your overall wellbeing and health. Attaining a pH balance is your best defense against diseases and sicknesses. It significantly improves health and vitality.

Achieving or reaching optimal urine pH levels is not difficult or as complicated as it sounds. Food’s pH effect largely depends on the mineral content the food contains as well as the ash, which remains as soon as the food gets processed within the body.  Some foods could leave acidic ash while some could leave an alkaline ash.

Simply put, alkaline foods are fresh vegetables and fruits.  Protein sources, dairy products, and grains have an acidic effect on the body.  Moreover, noise, lack of physical exercise, and stress can also increase the body’s acidification.

Subsequently, every human being is different and reacts differently to this change. While some people are more susceptible than others, your goal in your diet should be to include vegetables, fruits, seeds and legumes, and certain amounts of other food groups such as grains, nuts,  meats, and dairy products.

Aside from food, always remember to engage in regular physical exercise to aid in attaining and maintaining a balanced urine pH level.

DIET TIPS FOR REACHING OPTIMAL PH LEVEL

food for balancing urine ph

– Add a vegetable side dish or salad near your meat, poultry, or seafood dish.

– Enrich your salads with grains and nuts.

– Create healthy options such as yogurt + fruit in your snacks.

– Consume nuts in your snacks.

– Add cheese to your breakfast.

– Make an energy smoothie with fruit and milk.

– Combine your legumes with grains like brown rice.

BALANCED MENU EXAMPLES

  • Sweet potatoes with steak.
  • Legumes alongside brown rice and salad
  • Broccoli, buckwheat, and almond salad
  • Cauliflower, sautéed broccoli with chicken 

FINAL THOUGHTS

In summary, the urine pH level is one essential indicator of good health, and it is ideal if it stays within the optimal range at all times. 

Everything You Need to Know About Urine pH

/0 Comments/in /by

You’ve likely heard of pH at some point in your life, whether that be when checking pool chemicals, in science class, or, in regards to this post, in medical scenarios having to do with urine. pH is the measure of how acidic or basic something is. The range goes from 0-14, with 7 being neutral. If something’s pH is less than 7, that means it’s acidic. Likewise, if something’s pH is above 7, that means it is a base. It’s essential to know the basics of pH as it plays a vital role in all of our lives every day. 

This post will be exploring the basics of urine pH. Your urine’s pH must be on point, as if it is too high or too low, you can be at risk of various, severe medical conditions. With that being said, you should make it a point to check your urine’s pH often and be proactive, as this will help you to avoid any major issues down the line. Now, with recent medical innovations, you don’t have to go to a doctor or medical center to get your pH checked; you can do it right in the comfort of your own home. If the pH in your urine is off, this could be an indicator that something is wrong. In some cases, whatever is wrong could be major and potentially life-altering; however, the person may not have realized anything was wrong before check his or her pH.

When you know the basics of pH, you will better be able to live an overall healthier life. You will avoid any stressful medical conditions and will be able to rest easy, knowing that you are going above and beyond when it comes to your own health.  However, what if you don’t know anything about pH or how to check it? What if you didn’t even know that you could check your urine’s pH? This post will aim to give the average person a better understanding of ph and detail all one needs to know to maintain or achieve a healthy pH.

What is Urine pH?

Urine pH can be a complex thing to understand; however, everyone must have a good understanding of it.  Human urine is typically slightly acidic, with a range from 4.5 to 8 and typically around 6-7. Several different things impact your urine’s pH, such as your diet, diseases, and certain medicines.  If your urine pH is too high or too low, you could be suffering from a medical condition such as a urinary tract infection, kidney stones, etc.  By checking the pH of your urine and finding that it is abnormal, you may discover a health condition, that you need to change your diet, or that you should switch medications.

vivoo ph box

Related: Vivoo pH Box

Why Should We Test Urine pH?

Your urine pH can indicate many different things and may offer insight into something you wouldn’t have otherwise discovered.  When you find out the pH value of your urine, you will be able to make the appropriate lifestyle choices.  For example, suppose your urine is significantly alkaline.  In that case, your physician may advise you to get off of a certain medication or may prescribe you medication because it’s understood you have a urinary tract infection.  With that being said, one of the main factors affecting urine pH is diet.  Abnormal results indicate that a change should be made in one’s diet.  Checking your urine’s pH will allow you to be proactive and avoid the stress and physical pain of medical issues such as a UTI or kidney stone.

When to test your pH?

There are several times when it is crucial to check your urine’s pH, such as:

  • When you start a new medication
  • You think you may have a UTI
  • You think you may have a kidney stone
  • Depending on the way that you eat
  • You think you may have a kidney issue

However, it will be in your best interest to check your urine’s pH as regularly as possible, and with Vivoo, this is easy.

pH Levels

To understand what your pH levels are telling you, you need to know the very basics of normal and acidic pH levels. Here are some facts you should know:

Normal urine ph range

A neutral pH is 7.0, and most people’s urine pH level is around 6.0. However, if your urine pH is slightly below or above the optimal range, you shouldn’t be concerned.

Abnormal pH value in urine

An abnormal pH value can provide you with important information about what is happening in your body or how your diet affects your body, in this case, reasons such as dietary habits or the possibility of diseases should be evaluated.

Vivoo for testing urine ph

Causes of acid and alkaline urine pH

A high urine pH may be due to:

  • Kidneys that do not properly remove acids 
  • Kidney failure
  • UTI
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Vomiting
  • A diet high in vegetables and fruits, low in protein and grains

A low urine pH may be due to:

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Diarrhea
  • Excessive alcohol use
  • Too much acid in the body fluids (metabolic acidosis)
  • Starvation 
  • High protein diet
  • Dehydration
  • Eating high in processed foods, especially sugar

What is the relationship between urine pH and dietary content?

Your diet can play a significant role in your urine’s pH. For example, if you follow a diet full of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and low in meat, you will likely have a high alkaline level. Or, if you consume mostly meat, your urine’s pH will likely be more acidic.

Diet’s PRAL and Effect on Urine Ph

PRAL stands for “Potential Renal Acid Load,” a measurement of the amount of acid the body produces due to diet.  PRAL is measured in 1 milliequivalent acid per day.   Positive PRAL values ​​indicate that more acid has been produced from ingested food.  Negative PRAL values ​​indicate that base has been produced in the body as a result of digested food.  When we mention “base” being produced, we are referring to base-forming solutions- mineral elements that are alkaline or basic in solution.   The body’s pH is the amount of acid relative to the amount of base.  

PRAL is helpful in estimating the effect of diet on urine acidity.  Acid is produced in the body as a result of normal processes such as digestion and metabolism.  Some dietary methods cause more acid buildup in the body than others. The lungs and kidneys tightly regulate whole-body pH to maintain a healthy life.  Therefore, the body first starts to work the kidneys and get help from the lungs in order to get rid of the acid buildup through urine.

Low-carbohydrate and high-protein diets increase the acid load and cause changes in the urinary system, but have little effect on the blood and pH levels.  Fruits, vegetables, and fruit juices are rich in alkali and have a low acid load and low PRAL score.  Cereal products, meat, milk, and fish products are low in alkalinity and have a higher acid load and high PRAL score.  Because adequate protein intake is essential in preventing the formation of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, increasing the amount of fruit and vegetable consumption may be more effective than reducing protein intake to achieve a healthy pH level. Unless there is a deficiency of some type of mineral, dietary practices which disrupt the acid and alkaline balance of the body should be avoided because they will increase the risks of disease.  If an imbalance results due to excess acid, it may be regulated by making minor changes to diet and lifestyle.

How to higher acidic urine pH

If you are looking for at-home ways to fix the acidity in your urine, try one of these tips:

  • Avoid consuming milk and other dairy products,
  • Consuming animal protein sources should be reduced, 
  • Consuming plant-based protein sources like legumes should be increased,
  • Vegetable and fruit consumption should be increased.

Alkaline foods include

As stated earlier, alkaline can majorly impact the body’s pH. Foods and their PRAL value that will alkaline in your pH include:

  • Watermelon ( -2)
  • Jalapenos (-4.3)
  • Basil (-10)
  • Garlic (-2.6)
  • Onion (-4.6)
  • Avocado (-8.6)
  • Mushrooms (-4.5)
  • Ginger (-7.8)
  • Soybeans (-5,7)
  • Tofu (-12.3)
  • Green beans (-3.1)
  • Bananas (-6.9)

Related: Are You too Acidic? Alkaline Foods to Correct pH Imbalances 

Making Your Urine More Alkaline Naturally  / normal urine ph

How to Lower Alkaline Urine pH

If  you want to work on lowering your alkaline levels on your own, here are some tips to help you do just that:

  • Add grains to your diet
  • Add high-protein foods to your diet

Related: Making Your Urine More Alkaline Naturally

Maximize Your Dietary Iron Intake

Some acidic foods to incorporate into your diet if you have high alkaline levels include

  • Red meats, (+12.5)
  • Poultry meats, (+7.5)
  • Fishes, (+5)
  • And other seafood,
  • Cheese (+5 <> +20
  • Milk (+ 0.2)
  • And other dairy products, 
  • Eggs, (+9.4)

Medical Conditions & Risks

There are all kinds of medical conditions and risks associated with your body’s pH, especially with your urine’s pH. Some medical conditions and risks are more severe than others; however, all should be taken seriously. If you think that you have a medical condition or are at risk of a serious illness correlated to your urine’s pH, seek medical attention right away.

If a person has a high pH level, some of the most common medical conditions that he or she should be concerned about include a UTI, kidney stones, or other related kidney issues. However, a person may have a high urine pH because of prolonged vomiting as this rids the body of stomach acid that helps regulate the body’s overall pH balance.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, when a person has low urine pH, this could be attributed to a specific medication, frequent diarrhea, starvation, or diabetes.

Urine pH role in diseases

Urine pH can indicate many different diseases, such as respiratory disease, diabetes, UTIs, and metabolic disorders. If you check your urine’s pH at home and find that it is consistently too high or too low, you should look into what that could be telling you. Your issue could be minor and easy to fix; however, it could also indicate some sort of disease. You should talk to your doctor about what kind of disease your abnormal pH could be an indication of.

Diseases and issues caused by an acidic pH

In addition to kidney stones, people with an acidic pH may suffer from the following complications if they do not get the appropriate medical attention:

  • Kidney disease
  • Bone disease
  • Delayed growth

National Hydration Day | June 23  

How can one prevent such things? Doctors recommend staying hydrated, monitor alcohol consumption, watch blood sugar levels, especially if you have diabetes.

Several different things could be to blame if your urine’s pH is overly acidic, such as:

  • Aspirin
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Dehydration
  • A high-protein diet that is also low carb; specifically low in fruit and vegetable carbs

Diseases and issues caused by an alkaline pH

Those with an alkaline pH are at risk of UTIs and kidney stones, however, they are also at risk of other more severe kidney issues. To lower the alkaline in one’s urine, he or she drinks 6-8 8oz glasses of water a day. However, if the alkalinity of one’s urine does not fix itself on its own, one may need to seek medical intervention, as he or she could become subject to:

  • Kidney stones
  • Frequent and painful UTIs
  • Other kidney-related disorders

Some of the main culprits of high alkaline pH in urine include:

  • Vomiting; rids the body of stomach acid
  • A diet high in vegetables and fruits
  • A medical condition
  • Medication
  • Asthma

What are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are among the most common issues associated with an imbalance in urine pH, but what exactly are kidney stones?

Vivoo Kidney Box

Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and acid salts that stick together in the urine. Typically kidney stones do not cause any permanent damage, though they are often extremely painful as they pass through the urinary tract. When a person has a kidney stone, the only way for him or her to get rid of it is to pass it; though in rare cases, when a kidney stone is extremely large, one may have to have a medical procedure performed. If a person has a kidney stone, he or she will likely feel pain in the abdomen and feel nauseous.

To avoid getting kidney stones, one should stay hydrated and ensure that their urine’s pH is always in check. 

Related: Vivoo Kidney BOX

Understanding UTIs

UTIs, or urinary tract infections, are another one of the most common medical conditions associated with an abnormal urine pH. A UTI is an infection in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, urethra, or bladder. Both men and women can get a UTI; however, they are more common in women. Often, UTIs will occur in the urethra or the bladder, though in more severe cases, they will occur in the kidneys.

UTIs can occur due to several different reasons, such as:

  • The shape of one’s urethra; women have shorter urethras, which makes it easier for bacteria to get into their bladders
  • Not urinating after sexual intercourse
  • Diabetes
  • Changes in hormones
  • Kidney stones
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Injury to the spinal cord

When one is experiencing a UTI, he or she will likely suffer from the following side effects:

  • Back pain
  • Nausea
  • Increased urge to urinate
  • Blood in the urine
  • Pain while urinating
  • Pelvic pain

The number one treatment for UTIs is antibiotics and ample amounts of water. Some people are more prone to getting UTIs than others. To prevent UTIs, one should check the pH of their urine regularly and make it a point always to stay hydrated. 

The Significance of Urine pH

Overall, staying on top of your urine’s pH is essential to living a healthy life.  With the innovations of Vivoo urine strips, people can check their urine’s pH regularly and make the appropriate lifestyle changes if they find that their pH is abnormal. 

Checking your pH regularly may save you from suffering painful or inconvenient medical issues, such as a urinary tract infection or a kidney stone.  Or, by periodically checking your urine’s pH, you may find a medical problem that you didn’t know you had.

It will be worth your while to invest in Vivoo so that you can stay on top of your urine’s pH. When you pay special attention to maintaining a healthy pH, you will improve your overall quality of life and will potentially save yourself the stress and physical pain down the line. 

Are You too Acidic? Alkaline Foods to Correct pH Imbalances 

/0 Comments/in /by

After your urine test, if you find out that your urine is too acidic, you might consider changing your daily habits. Don’t worry, the majority of the human population has acidic urine, and you can easily change the pH of urine. The first step is to modify your diet because it is the primary indicator of urine pH. To reduce the acid in your body and urine, you should replace acid-rich foods with alkaline-rich foods. By making your body more alkaline, you will reduce the chances of digestive problems, having low energy, unhealthy skin, mouth, and teeth. Just a few switches can enhance your overall health and prevent many other diseases. 

First, let’s understand how the system in your body works. Your metabolism burns the food you eat and leaves a residue as metabolic waste. The waste can be acidic, neutral, or alkaline, depending on what you eat. For example, when you eat a burger, pizza, sausage, or doughnuts, the metabolism breaks them down, and the residue (known as acid ash) comes out. The excessive acid is taken out by urine, and the body’s pH is kept balanced. That’s why when you eat too much acidic food, your urine pH is highly acidic.

strong bones and muscles

The Merits of Alkalizing Foods:

  • Bone health improves
  • Stronger muscles
  • Reduction in hypertension and stroke
  • Cardiovascular health is enhanced
  • Memory and brain functions elevate 

Changing Nutrition to Balance Urine pH

Greens

The majority of vegetables are alkalizing foods, so as the first step of your alkalizing journey, you can increase the number of greens in your nutrition plan. Avocado, leek, bell peppers, lettuce, artichoke, asparagus, celery, parsley, spinach, kale, and cucumber are effective alkalizing foods.

Are You too Acidic? Alkaline Foods to Correct pH Imbalances 

Cauliflower and Broccoli

These tree-like vegetables contain phytochemicals, which enhance the immune system and reduce inflammation. They also have an alkalizing effect, so add them to your grocery list to balance the pH of your body and urine.

Citrus Fruit

Citrus fruits, such as lemon, oranges, and lime are acidic foods with a pH of nearly 2.0. Surprisingly, after they are metabolized in the body, they have an alkalizing effect. Besides that, citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C and detoxify your body. You can eat them fresh, and you can also add them to your water bottle to color things up and alkalize your system.

citrus fruits

Root Vegetables

Beetroot, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots are alkali foods that will be helpful to elevate the pH of urine. We advise you to roast them with spices and seasoning, but be careful not to overcook them to keep the nutritional values high.

Are You too Acidic? Alkaline Foods to Correct pH Imbalances 

Onion, Garlic, Ginger

Onion and garlic are the base of Mediterranean cuisine, and adding these vegetables to your food will raise the flavor of your dish and the pH of your urine. Indian cuisine also relies on these two ingredients, plus ginger. You can add onion to your salad or dish, garlic to your meals, and some bitter flavoring to your tea with grated ginger. 

Fruits 

Fruits can be tricky, because some of them are acidic, while some of them are alkaline. They are all rich in minerals and vitamins, so it’s good to add them to our daily consumption. You can also replace highly acidic desserts with nutritionally rich fruits. Kiwi, figs, pears, nectarines, pineapple, grapefruit, watermelon, apples, and apricots are good alkaline fruits when consumed in their season.  

Are You too Acidic? Alkaline Foods to Correct pH Imbalances 

Grains and Beans

Grains are generally acidic foods, but amaranth and quinoa are the ones that alkalize the pH of urine. Grain products such as bread, pasta, and other processed grains are acidifying, so if the pH of your urine is low, you should consider reducing them in your diet for a period of time. Beans like green beans, lima beans, and string beans are alkalizing, while other types, such as kidney, fava, and white beans, are low-level acidifiers.

  • Reduce Acidic Food Consumption

Fish, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, and some grains are acidic for your body. It is not ideal to cut all of these foods from your diet since they are rich in protein and good for your health. Try to reduce them and examine the changes after a period of time.

  • Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption

The sugar in alcohol acidifies your body, and alcohol itself is not good for your overall health. It will be beneficial to reduce your alcohol consumption level to balance your urine pH.

  • Regulate Your Drinks

Increasing fluid intake is a good way to alkalize the pH of urine, but you should make your choices wisely. For example, coffee and energy drinks are high in caffeine and push you to eat sugar-rich foods afterward. Instead of this kind of drink, choose herbal teas or water. You can add lemon or ginger to your drink to add a new taste.

Are You too Acidic? Alkaline Foods to Correct pH Imbalances 

Some Life Tips to Alkalize the pH of Urine:

  • 80% of your nutrition should consist of alkalizing foods, the remaining 20% being neutral or acidic. 
  • Vegetables are generally alkalizing, so try to increase them in your diet. 
  • Try to consume organic, fresh, and seasonal fruits and vegetables to get more nutritional content and minerals.
  • Eat your vegetables in the least processed form and fruits as raw.
  • Drink alkaline water and increase your water consumption.
  • Exercise at least 20 minutes and 3 times a week.
  • Reduce your stress level by meditating or doing yoga.

 

Related: Making Your Urine More Alkaline Naturally