Acid in Fruits and Foods

If your body produces kidney stones that are composed of either calcium oxalate, uric acid or cystine, you may benefit from less acid and increased alkaline in your urine. You can achieve this by reducing your intake of certain fruits and other foods that make urine more acidic, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. On the other hand, if your body produces kidney stones composed of calcium phosphate, a less common type of kidney stone, you may benefit from increasing your intake of fruits and foods that make your urine more acidic and less alkaline.

Significance

When you metabolize certain foods, the elements sulfur and phosphorus are naturally formed, as noted on RD411.com. These elements are what is known as acid-ash. Acid-ash causes your urine to be acidic. A diet high in acid causes the pH balance of your urine to be low. Foods with acid-ash have pH values below 7, according to nh1ccone.com.

Misconceptions

No fluids in your body other than urine are affected by the acidity of your diet, reports Quackwatch. Kidney stones are the only medical condition treated by adjusting the acidity of the fruits and foods in your diet, despite health claims to the contrary.

Fruits

Cranberries, plums and prunes are the only fruits that are acidic.Contrary to popular belief, citrus fruits and juices, though naturally acidic, are not acidic once they have been digested and metabolized by the body.

Other Acid-Ash Foods

It is best to follow a low-protein diet if you want to lower the acidity of your food intake, says StoneCenter. High-protein foods increase the acidity in your urine. Foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs and cheese are classified as high acid-ash foods. Grains such as breads, cereals, and cookies also make your urine more acidic. Other acid-ash foods include bacon, brazil nuts, filberts, walnuts, lentils and corn.

Considerations

You will probably not find it difficult if you need to follow a diet high in foods that will make your urine acidic. If the reverse is true, you should know that if you drink 2 quarts of water or real lemonade per day and reduce your sodium intake, this can help prevent the development of more kidney stones.