How to Test the pH in Your Body: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Maintaining Your Body’s pH Balance
Over many years of reading health-related books and listening to podcasts, I heard references to your body’s PH level and its importance. But I just hadn’t thought about it in a while. Then I heard an interview with Dr. Ahvie Herskowitz, a former Clinical Professor of Medicine at UC San Francisco (UCSF) and founder of Anatara Medicine, a multidisciplinary integrative center in San Francisco. He hit many subjects but I hit the rewind button when he talked about how to test the pH in your body.
I decided to educate myself on the subject and will share my findings. Understanding the pH balance of your body can be vital for maintaining good health. From home tests to dietary considerations, this guide will cover everything you need to know about testing the pH in your body.
And then, the other thing that I always forgot to say being alkaline has been validated to increase your lifespan. So, early urine pH, the first morning pH, if it’s not between 6.5 and 7.5, then you’ve been acidic the whole night and then you’re making 25% less protein.
Dr. Ahvie Herskowitz on The Ben Greenfield Life Podcast
How to Test Your Body’s pH
There are a few different ways to test your body’s pH balance. Here are some of the most common options:
Urine pH Test
Testing your first-morning urine is another simple way to analyze your body’s pH at home. This reading indicates how your kidneys are handling acidity.
Urine pH testing is a reliable way to gauge your body’s pH. Here’s how you can perform the test using pH stick urine tests:
- Purchase a pH Test Kit: These kits are available online or at pharmacies.
- Collect a Sample: Ideally, use a sample from the first urination of the day.
- Dip the pH Stick: Place the stick into the urine and wait for the color change.
- Compare the Color: Match the color to the provided chart in the kit.
Urine pH can vary throughout the day depending on hydration, diet, supplements, and activity. First morning readings provide the most consistent results.
Saliva pH Test
Another easy way to test pH at home is by using pH test strips with saliva. Here’s how it works:
- Spit into a clean cup first thing in the morning before eating/drinking anything.
- Dip a pH test strip into the saliva and compare the color that appears to the scale provided.
- The ideal saliva pH range is between 6.5 and 7.5. Below 6.5 indicates increasing acidity, while above 7.5 indicates increasing alkalinity.
- Repeat this test periodically to monitor changes.
Saliva pH offers a general snapshot of the body’s pH status. Levels typicall decrease throughout the day as food intake and activities affect pH. Testing first thing in the morning provides a baseline reading.
Blood pH Test
Testing blood pH provides the most accurate snapshot of your body’s pH balance since blood pH is so tightly regulated. However, you need to visit a medicine practitioner or lab to have your blood pH tested.
From a blood sample, your pH can be measured down to two decimal places, like 7.42.
For preventive purposes, occasional blood pH testing allows you to finely tune your diet and lifestyle habits to optimize your inner balance.
Why Test Your Body’s pH Levels
Here are some key reasons you should test your body’s pH regularly:
- Gain insight into your overall health – Your pH levels offer a snapshot of what’s going on inside your body. More acidic readings may signal issues you need to address.
- Identify hidden inflammation – Chronic, low-grade inflammation often stems from an overly acidic body. Getting your pH in check helps reduce inflammation.
- Correct nutritional insufficiencies – An acidic reading indicates your diet may lack key minerals and nutrients that help regulate pH. Testing pH can identify foods you need to eat more of.
- Monitor detoxification – As your body eliminates acids and toxins, you may temporarily become more acidic. Testing pH helps you gauge your detox progress.
- Optimize energy levels – When your body is too acidic, it’s forced to use more energy to maintain homeostasis. Balancing pH helps increase daily energy.
- Improve digestion – Acidic conditions impair your digestive enzymes and microbiome balance. Testing and correcting pH improves overall digestion.
- Enhance absorption of nutrients – An acidic environment reduces the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from your food.
- Slow aging – Increased acidity speeds up aging on a cellular level. Keeping your pH in balance helps slow the aging process.
Understanding the pH Scale
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14:
| pH Level | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 4.5-5.5 | Slightly Acidic |
| 5.6-6.9 | Normal |
| 7.0-8.0 | Slightly Alkaline |
Dr. Eric Berg, DC explains how to use your saliva and urine pH to find health problems. In the video, he uses the Hydrion strips.
How to Maintain a Healthy pH Balance
Diet plays a significant role in maintaining pH balance. Consuming a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits, avoiding highly acidic or alkaline substances, and staying well-hydrated are essential.
Eat More Alkaline Foods
Some foods create acidity in the body, while others have an alkalizing effect. Focus on eating more veggies, fruit, herbs, spices, healthy fats, and anti-inflammatory foods. Limit acid-forming items like processed grains, sugary foods, alcohol, conventional dairy, and meat.
Here is a quick list of some alkaline foods to include more of:
- Vegetables – especially leafy greens, broccoli, celery, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, carrots, beets, avocado
- Certain fruits – citrus, melons, grapes, kiwi, mango, papaya, pineapple, tomatoes
- Herbs and spices – parsley, basil, ginger, turmeric, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, curry
- Healthy fats – olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, nuts and seeds
- Anti-inflammatory foods – wild salmon, bone broth, green tea, flax seeds
- Mineral water – can be alkalizing depending on mineral content
Supplement with Minerals
Certain key minerals help remove acidity and balance pH. Focus on getting more magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium bicarbonate into your diet. You can also take supplements, but be sure to discuss proper dosing with your doctor.
Drink More Alkaline Water
Hydration is essential for flushing out acidic wastes and regulating pH. Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of purified or alkaline water daily. Adding lemon can help further alkalize the water. Be sure to minimize your intake of acidic beverages like soda and alcohol.
Reduce Stress
Chronic stress promotes acidity by raising cortisol and depleting important minerals. Adopting stress-relieving practices like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and spending time in nature can help buffer acids.
Exercise
Regular exercise helps remove lactic acid buildup and enhances the circulation of oxygen and nutrients to balance pH. Aim for 30-60 minutes daily of moderate activity like brisk walking, light jogging, swimming, or gentle strength training.
Support Detoxification
Your body has its own detoxification systems designed to eliminate acidic wastes and toxins that disrupt pH. You can aid this process by sweating, staying hydrated, and taking binders like activated charcoal or bentonite clay. Be sure to discuss detox options with your doctor.
Conclusion
Testing the pH of your body can be done conveniently at home using pH stick urine tests. Understanding your pH can help you make informed choices about your diet and lifestyle. If you suspect any issues, don’t hesitate to consult a healthcare provider.
Focus on eating more alkaline foods, properly supplementing with key minerals, staying hydrated, reducing stress, exercising, and supporting your body’s detoxification systems. We hope this article helped you figure out how to test the pH In your body using your saliva, urine, or blood pH.
Why is my body acidic?
A few common reasons your body may be too acidic include a diet high in processed foods, refined sugars, alcohol, and caffeine, chronic stress, lack of exercise, dehydration, poor gut health and nutrient deficiencies. An overly acidic body is linked to inflammation, decreased energy, slower metabolism, insomnia, hormone issues, headaches and more.
How often should I test my body’s pH?
It’s recommended to test your pH levels about 1-2 times per week when you’re first trying to improve your pH balance. Once you’ve reached an optimal range, you can test 1-2 times per month to monitor your progress. Testing first thing in the morning using saliva or urine gives the most consistent results.
What is the fastest way to balance my pH?
Making adjustments to your diet is the fastest way to improve an acidic pH reading. Focus on eating more fresh fruits and vegetables while limiting acidic foods. Drinking more alkaline water with lemon and taking supplements like magnesium can also provide a quick pH boost.
Can pH strips be inaccurate?
Yes, pH strips can sometimes provide inaccurate readings depending on how they are used. Only dip the strip in your sample for a few seconds and follow the instructions carefully. Using expired test strips can also skew results. Blood testing offers the most accurate pH reading.
Troy Wallace
Troy Wallace is Certified Basketball Speed Specialist and shares his experiences in trying to stay as healthy as possible to stay on the court. He is active in coaching youth basketball in YMCA, Team Work Sports Nebraska, and, currently, in the Jr. Warriors program in Omaha, NE. Visit Troy's Full Author Bio Page or email him directly.
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