Detecting Acidity using pH Testing

If you’re interesting in finding out whether acidification is a problem in your life, there’s good news. The tests for acidity are both accurate and easy to use. Measuring urinary pH and/or the pH of your saliva are two goods tests that are available right now. In addition to determining the level of acidity within the body’s internal environment, pH testing can also give an inside view of the body’s ability to metabolize acids, which is an extremely important function.

Testing Urinary pH

Urine is one of the body’s elimination paths for excess acids. Measuring the amount of acid the body is processing gives a good indication of the degree of acidification present. Excessive amounts deplete tissues of their mineral content and cause them to be irritated. Normal pH levels for urine fall within the range of 6.5 to 7.25. This neutral range indicates the body’s internal environment is in balance and it is processing normal amounts of acid.

Elevated levels of pH detected in the urine can mean two things. The readings could indicate the renal system is working overtime to rid the body of excess acid. That scenario is acceptable. But readings such as these could also indicate that acid has saturated your body. If this is the case, you will experience other health problems.

Testing urinary pH levels is simple and for best results you should purchase testing strips that are designed specifically to measure urine. Your local pharmacy and even some health food stores sell these strips. You’ll find pH testing strips for measuring pH levels of many substances and even litmus paper. You should, however, resist the temptation to purchase these products. Since the colors of the reactive agents bleed, you’ll end up with more variations of color than you’ll be able to interpret.

When your internal body contains too much acid, so too will your urine. There is a direct relationship between the two. pH strips work by changing color depending on the levels of acid and alkaline detected in the substance being tested, which in this case is urine. When you’re looking at the pH strip results pay attention to the color and its intensity. The variations in color are what determine alkaline and acid levels. Intense changes in color usually indicate extreme pH readings.

You don’t need a medical degree to interpret the results. To make interpreting urine pH results easier, testing strips come with a color chart. Simply match the color on the strip with the color on the chart and you’ll know the pH level of your urine. The chart colors correspond with the range of colors the particular testing strip is capable of producing.

Different testing strips vary in the range of measurement they offer. On some, the range is 5.5 to 8. On others, the range is greater, from 4.5 to 9.0. The color variations will either run in .50 units or .25 units. Either strip will offer a clear distinction between the colors so the one you choose really is a matter of personal preference.

To perform a urine test, hold the strip under the urine stream so that the strip becomes moist. Just a second or two should be sufficient. Immediately upon contact with urine, the pH strip will change color. Grab the color chart and hold the strip next to it. Select the color on the chart that matches the color on the strip and follow the chart over to the scale. That is the urine’s current pH level. If your internal pH level is in balance, the scale will indicate 7, or neutral.

Does Acidification Cause Illness?

Current is the key here because to make a reliable urine pH level determination, it’s necessary to test your urine at different times during the day, for several days. The amount of acid in the body fluctuates throughout the day as you eat, exercise, get stressed, and as the body works to eliminate the excess. It’s important to use some sort of log to track your pH level testing results. Record the date and time of the test as well as the test result. Doing so will give you a true representation of your body’s acid levels.

You do want to test the urine you pass after waking from sleep and track the readings. The pH level likely will be high though because of the build-up of fluid that has been filtered by the kidneys during sleep. Next time you need to urinate, test again. After that, take two more tests: one right before lunch and the other before dinner. Don’t wait until after you eat. What you consume in food and beverages will impact pH level readings and won’t be accurate. If you choose, you can test your urine throughout your day to complement the base information.

Interpreting the pH level test results

This part of the process is easy. There will be three possibilities. The urine will be neutral (readings between 6.5 and 7.25). It will be acid (results under 6.5) or alkaline (results above 7.25). If the test results indicate the urine is acid, then it is. There is no mistaking this result. The two other readings, neutral and alkaline, require further investigation. Should you be worried?

When urine test results indicate pH readings of 6.5 and below, it means without a doubt your internal environment is acidic. How acidic the environment is will be determined by the readings. If they’re 6.25 or 6.5, the environment is slightly acidic. However, readings consistently falling within the range of 4.5 to 5.5 are indicative of an extremely acidic environment. The state of your health could be in jeopardy. You must immediately take steps to help your body eliminate the excess acid.

When urine test results indicate pH readings in the neutral zone of 6.5 to 7.25 congratulations may be in order. This is the target zone and generally indicates that overall you are in good health. However, this can be misleading and it is in this scenario that the results of your first urination of the day matter. You want those readings to be acidic because it means the kidneys are functioning properly.

If these readings aren’t acidic, it likely means the kidneys are not functioning properly and acids are not being eliminated from the body. Your internal environment in this scenario probably is acidified regardless of the test results. You’ve got to take immediate steps to deal with this situation. The goal is to focus on eliminating the excess via the urine and the skin. When acidification is a problem, it generally means these two elimination paths are weak. You need to help strengthen them.

Alkaline pH readings, readings that consistently are above 7.5 are not necessarily a good thing, either. Remember, the goal is pH readings that fall in neutral territory. There are three potential scenarios at play here.

Scenario #1: High alkaline levels result from diet and also from taking mineral supplements even though they may not be necessary. Sometimes they are necessary but they are being consumed in excess. Because of their dietary preferences, vegetarians typically consume more alkaline and fewer grains and dairy. Vegetarians need to realize the importance of protein consumption, especially how it helps keep the body’s internal environment in balance. These types of deficiencies are not good, even if intentions are.

Mineral supplements should only be taken when necessary. It’s always best to get the right balance of alkaline from eating the right foods. Supplements are supposed to "supplement" the diet. Too many people have come to believe that it is easier to supplement than to plan nutritionally-balanced meals. This often leads to over-supplementation. If your pH readings are in the alkaline range, and you take alkaline supplements, it’s important to cut back on the amount you take.

Scenario #2: Problems associated with the adrenal glands or parathyroid glands can cause pH levels to rise above 7.5. Several other illnesses can cause this type of high reading. Fortunately this scenario is rare, and those with the types of problems listed above generally are already following a treatment plan to help correct the imbalance.

Scenario #3: This situation is the most common and it is not caused by diet. Even though it appears more alkaline is present, what is actually happening is that the body is attempting to deal with high acidity levels. In this scenario, high alkaline readings are due to the body’s gathering of any and all alkaline substances it can find in an effort to combat extremely high acidity. The supply of alkaline substances comes primarily from organ tissues. Such a situation can also mean the kidneys, in their attempt to buffer acids, are producing ammonia. This is not good either.

An inability to properly metabolize acids is the primary cause of scenario no. 3. The respiratory system cannot eliminate the acids because they are not properly oxidized. But the body needs to eliminate the acid therefore the kidneys must work twice as hard. When the body accumulates acids, even though they are weak acids, a dangerous situation develops. The body reacts by gathering as many alkaline elements it can find to help neutralize the abundance of acid. Again, this is the most common reason excessive alkaline ends up in the urine.

The situation develops not because there is too much alkaline in the body, but rather because too many alkaline substances are being used as neutralizing agents and this depletes the body’s reserves to dangerously low levels. When such a scenario is suspect, it’s important to take a closer look at any other health problems you are experiencing to determine whether their presence is due to acidification. Even though excess alkaline appears in the urine, it’s very important in this case to take immediate steps to reduce acid levels.

In summary, performing multiple urine pH tests throughout the day, and detailing the results in a log, is the best way to determine the internal body’s true pH balance (or imbalance). Tracking the time of day as well as the actual pH reading helps identify patterns that can signify the presence of an abundance of acid. Once identified, it’s important to immediately take steps to correct this situation.

Testing the pH of Saliva

Testing saliva is another reliable way of determining the internal body’s pH level. This type of testing helps determine the level of mineral reserves inside the body. If an adequate amount is present, test results will be in the neutral range of 7.0 to 7.5. However, if mineral reserves are low, as happens when these reserves are being utilized to combat excessive acidity, pH saliva test results will fall below 7.0.

Testing again is a simple matter of moistening a pH saliva test strip. The reactive side of the test strip must be positioned against the tongue. Once in place hold there for a few seconds. The strip will change color once it becomes moist. Grab the color chart and compare the color on the strip to the color on the chart and you’ll have your reading.

Again, when testing the pH of your saliva, you will need to gather and track multiple test results. A single reading is not enough to draw a realistic conclusion. As with the urine test, a saliva pH test first thing after you wake will likely result in the detection of excessive acid levels. That is due to the build-up of bacteria that occurs while you sleep. Test about an hour after you brush your teeth after waking, and then again before eating lunch and before eating dinner. If you test after you eat, you should wait at least 30 minutes for more accurate results.

Interpretation of saliva pH results isn’t difficult. A pattern of readings between 7.0 and 7.5 indicate pH levels are neutral. The body’s internal environment is in balance and you’re likely in good health.

Acid pH is present when saliva test results fall below 7.0. Readings at this level indicate acidification within the internal environment. The body is depleting its store of alkaline substances in an effort to buffer an abundance of acids. Readings between 6.5 and 6.75 indicate minimal acidification, but saliva results that fall between 4.5 and 6.0 represent extreme acidification.