The bladder is an organ in your body that stores urine. A high acidity level in your bladder usually means that your urine is acidic. You may be at risk of developing kidney stones if your urine is too acidic. Certain vitamins may help to...
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 you eat can affect the acidity of your urine. Foods high in phosphorus and sulfur make your urine more acidic. These foods are known as acid-ash foods. An acidic urine increases your risk for xanthine, cystine, uric acid and oxalate acid...
Kidney stones can take on a variety of shapes, sizes, textures and colors. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) describes four major types of kidney stones: calcium, struvite (or "infection"), uric acid and...
Many factors can increase the risk of developing painful kidney stones. Such factors include diet, heredity, age, sex and lifestyle. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, white males older than age 50...
Calcium kidney stones form in individuals with high levels of calcium in their kidneys and urinary tract. Over time, calcium can build up in the kidneys and urinary tract as a result of a number of genetic, lifestyle and dietary factors....
Urinary tract infections are bacterial infections of the bladder, kidneys, ureters or urethra. Bladder infections occur more commonly in women than in men, and can usually be successfully treated with antibiotics. Prevention of this painful...
According to "Krause's Food, Nutrition, and Diet Therapy", foods we eat affect the acidity and alkalinity of urine. Foods high in chloride, phosphorous and sulfur increase acidity, while foods high in potassium, calcium and magnesium increase...
The majority of kidney stones form from an accumulation of calcium deposits in the kidneys. These deposits break off as stones and travel through the urinary tract. Kidney stones can be a painful and dangerous ordeal. While there is no specific or...
The walnut-sized prostate gland lies just beneath the male bladder and encircles the urethra that carries urine out of the body. The gland plays a critical role in the male reproductive system, secreting a key component of the seminal fluid that...
Many alternative practitioners believe that following an alkaline diet, which consists mostly of fruits and vegetables, prevents health problems such as cancer. Proponents of the alkaline diet claim that a diet high in meat increases the acidity...
Kidney stones stem from an accumulation of calcium, magnesium, uric acid and other substances naturally found in the excretory system. They occur in the kidneys and urinary tract and may vary in size, shape, density, texture and color, depending...
Sodium bicarbonate, commonly called baking soda, is an effective antacid. Antacids are good for relieving occasional heartburn and indigestion because they absorb and neutralize stomach acid. In addition, some health conditions may warrant taking...
Whey protein is a group of globular proteins that are removed along with water during the making of cheese. Whey protein contains no lactose, so it is a safe form of dairy protein for lactose intolerant people. Research has revealed a variety of...
Diet is one of the factors that can promote or inhibit the formation of kidney stones. The food you eat affects the acidity and alkalinity of your urine. If you have recurrent kidney stones, specifically uric acid or cystine kidney stones, your...
Gout is a form of arthritis that causes tenderness and pain in the joints, particularly the big toe. Sufferers are subject to episodic attacks amid periods of remission. Gout is associated with elevated uric acid levels, which is caused by the...
Gout, a painful type of arthritis, occurs when uric acid builds up in the body. Uric acid is produced when purines -- found naturally in your body and also in certain foods -- break down. Normally, uric acid is filtered from your blood by your...
Kidney stones are mineral deposits in the urine that have clumped together inside the kidneys. Uric acid stones occur when the urine is concentrated with high levels of uric acid. Uric acid is a byproduct of protein synthesis and can be high in...
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse reports that for the year 2000, kidney stones were responsible for 2 million doctor and outpatient hospital visits, at a cost of $2.07 billion. And by 2007, for every 1,000 adults...
Reducing the amount of protein in your diet is one of several steps doctors recommend to help prevent the recurrence of kidney stones. This advice is controversial, however, because limiting protein won't necessarily prevent all types of kidney...
Uric acid is a chemical compound that is produced when your body breaks down substances called purines. Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and travels to the kidneys where it is removed from your body via your urine. Some people do not...
Vitamin C is readily taken in tablet form as ascorbic acid. Many people begin increasing vitamin C intake if they are sick or feel sickness coming on. In some instances, this equals prolonged use of high amounts of vitamin C. According to the Mayo...
Kidney stones form when high concentrations of certain substances are present in your urine. Uric acid is one of these substances; it is affected by purines in your diet and leads to the formation of uric acid stones. Limiting purine-rich foods in...
Kidney stones can develop for various reasons: high calcium levels in the urine, high oxalate levels in the urine, bacterial infections, gout, a hereditary disease, the malabsorption of fat and even a high amount of vitamin C. People with kidney...
Potassium citrate is a supplement that can be used to control kidney stones and reduce the pain and frequency of urine that is very acidic. It is effective because it alkalinizes the urine, or increases the pH. Potassium citrate is also used as a...
Cranberries may be delicious on your Thanksgiving turkey and are lovely strung on the Christmas tree, but the little red berries are actually an extremely healthy food and should be an important part of your year-round diet. Cranberries are not...
Chemicals in most people's urine effectively keep crystals from forming. When this process is inefficient, crystals composed of calcium plus oxalate or phosphate, or from uric acid, form. Some crystals pass through the urinary tract with ease;...
Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid. Manufacturers commonly use this substance as a food additive or preservative or to add flavor to packaged foods and beverages. Sodium citrate is also a sour salt that has both a sour and a salty...
Historically, our diet had many more alkaline or basic foods, and fewer acidifying foods. Identifying and limiting the foods that contain the most acid is helpful for improving and maintaining general health, as well as helping to prevent chronic...
