Your body must maintain a balance between acid and alkaline to function properly. According to Dr. Ben Kim, your body maintains a blood pH of between 7.35 and 7.45 to stay healthy. The pH scale -- or "power of hydrogen" -- measures the acidity or alkalinity of any substance on a scale of 1 to 14. Seven is neutral, lower numbers are more acidic, and higher numbers are more alkaline. Acidosis, which occurs when your blood pH falls below 7.35, can affect your central nervous system and lead to a coma. Severe acidosis can be fatal. Alkalosis, or blood pH levels above 7.45, can lead to muscle spasms and convulsions, which can also cause death.
Step 1
Test the pH level of your saliva, which is typically more acidic than blood. Normal results should be between 6.5 and 6.8. Test strips are sold over-the-counter and change color in the presence of an acid or alkaline substance. Test your saliva at least one hour before or two hours after eating. Work saliva into your mouth and swallow; repeat a second time. The third time you gather saliva int your mouth, insert a test strip. Follow the directions included in the test kit to know how long it will take for the strip to change color. Compare your strip to the included color chart to determine the pH level of your saliva. Saliva testing is a good indication of your digestive enzyme activity.
Step 2
Test the pH of your urine. You'll need to collect a fresh sample. The National Institutes of Health says, "Urine pH can be affected by various factors after collection, such as leaving the urine standing in an uncovered container. Bacteria usually increase the pH, as they break down urea in the urine into ammonia." Urine might not be as accurate as saliva for testing pH, as levels can fluctuate dramatically during the day. A morning sample should be between 6.0 and 6.5, but a sample later in the day can be between 6.5 and 7.0 and still be acceptable. You'll still use pH paper that changes color; compare your sample to the color key included in your test kit.
Step 3
Have a blood test performed. You can have the pH level of your blood tested, but because your body has buffer systems in place to keep your pH balance, don't expect to see fluctuations. Although your diet might impact your acid/alkaline level, it's a long-term issue -- don't expect to see results a few weeks after changing your diet. The modern Western diet is very acidic -- animal proteins, sugar, alcohol and saturated fats are acid-forming. Alkalizing dietary choices include vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
Tips and Warnings
- Certain medications can change the pH level of your urine. Sodium bicarbonate can increase pH level, while diuretics can decrease pH. Kidney failure and urinary tract infections can raise your urine pH level, and diabetic ketoacidosis can produce a low urine pH level.
