| What does pH stand for? Is it personal hygiene? Or | | | | uric acid reduction process. The low purine gout diet, |
| proper health? Or possibly hydrated? Well no. It | | | | and any diet which has a positive effect on insulin |
| actually stands for the power of hydrogen. But | | | | resistance, are two useful diets in natural gout |
| without going deeper into biochemistry, gout | | | | treatment. Dieting is hard work but most gout |
| sufferers just need to know that raising body pH | | | | sufferers will not achieve a natural gout cure without |
| levels makes the body more alkaline, and lowering | | | | diet. |
| them, more acidic. | | | | "Miracle" foods for gout, such as cherries, celery and |
| Raising your body's pH levels is part of natural gout | | | | perhaps strawberries, (all have been reported to cure |
| treatment. The theory is, supported by studies, that | | | | gout in some cases), will not work for everyone, |
| higher body pH levels (more alkaline) contribute to a | | | | probably only for a small minority. Neither will simple |
| reduction in uric acid levels because uric acid (diluted | | | | natural gout remedies such as avoiding alcohol, |
| from drinking lots of water) becomes more soluble if | | | | although this did work in one famous case in Japan. |
| the body is more alkaline. The higher the acid/alkaline | | | | So a gout sufferer aiming for a natural gout cure is |
| ratio i.e. the higher the pH number on the pH scale, | | | | on a diet. He/she has to carefully consider everything |
| the more alkaline your body, and the more uric acid | | | | eaten or drunk and maybe consider the pH of foods |
| you should dissolve. | | | | too. This is a very tall order. In effect they would be |
| If you reduce your uric acid levels to below 6.0 mg | | | | on two diets simultaneously. |
| dL (men), slightly less in women, it is more likely that | | | | So how do you use the pH potential of foods |
| the troublesome MSU crystals will dissolve and a gout | | | | numbers? Firstly learn the extent to which a food or |
| cure will be achieved. | | | | drink is acidic or is alkaline. Any number above pH 7.0 |
| ACHIEVING A MORE ALKALINE BODY | | | | is considered alkaline, and below pH 7.0 acidic. Study |
| There are various ways to achieve a more alkaline | | | | for a while the pH tables you have downloaded and |
| body but probably the easiest is to drink alkaline | | | | get a rough idea of the values of your most eaten |
| (ionized) water which is water with excess oxygen in | | | | foods. For an easy, more exact reference, put up a |
| the form of OH-, not O2. It's described as being lively | | | | pH foods chart, or printed downloaded lists, on your |
| and much tastier than regular water, and you can | | | | kitchen wall as a reminder. |
| cook with it. The manufacturers of a well known | | | | Keep this natural gout treatment simple. Instead of |
| ionizer brand say food cooked with alkaline water is | | | | two simultaneous diets, exclude some acidic foods |
| tastier. | | | | especially if they are ones you consume a lot. But |
| Another route is via eating more alkaline foods and | | | | continue with your primary gout diet plan. Only |
| drinking alkaline beverages. There is a silence on food | | | | exclude more acidic foods, if your body pH levels are |
| and beverage product nutrition labels. They do not | | | | not rising above pH 7.0 after testing with pH test |
| show the pH values of the product, but foods and | | | | strips for a considerable time and at different times |
| beverages have a pH value. | | | | of day. (The body's pH numbers change frequently. |
| THE pH SCALE | | | | perhaps even minute by minute). |
| The pH scale ranges from 14 (most alkaline) down to | | | | Record the time and value of all your pH |
| 0 (most acidic). pH of 7 is neutral. It is a logarithmic | | | | measurements and ensure you follow the test strip |
| scale. On this scale, as on pH test strips scales, a | | | | manufacturer's usage instructions exactly. Don't |
| single whole number change (whether up or down) | | | | overdo it. Just as a highly acidic body can suffer from |
| means a change of 10 times the previous number. So | | | | acidosis, an over alkaline body can suffer from |
| small number changes on this scale in fact mean very | | | | alkalosis, which causes muscle cramps and spasms |
| significant differences between the alkalinity and | | | | among other problems. |
| acidity of different foods. | | | | Remember too, that there are other ways of raising |
| As well as pH 0 food labels, neither the excellent | | | | pH, notably drinking alkaline (ionized) water. Drinking |
| USDA National Nutrient database, nor most cookery | | | | lots of regular water daily also raises pH. So too do |
| books and articles list pH values of foods and | | | | alkalizing minerals such as calcium, potassium, |
| beverages. And it's not the word off the lips of | | | | magnesium and zinc. Make your pH rise and your uric |
| celebrity chefs. But you can find the pH of foods and | | | | acid levels should fall. Ensure that your body is not |
| drinks on the Internet. One good list is at [ | | | | acidic. |
| USING pH VALUES IN DIET PLANNING | | | | NB. The contents of this article contain medical |
| Most natural gout treatment involves a diet. Firstly, to | | | | information not medical advice. Please always discuss |
| reach your ideal weight if required, as it probably will | | | | remedies with your doctor or other health care |
| be for most gout sufferers. Secondly, to assist the | | | | professional before implementing any treatment. |