A sharp and throbbing pain in the left foot woke Peter in the middle of the night. When he looked down, he could notice that his big toe was swollen and red, and so tender and sore that he could not even bear the touch of the sheet. This happened a few more times.
Wendy could not function at work and she feared to finish her coffee, because every time she had to go to the bathroom she nearly passed out from the severe pain in her stomach and pubic area. It was the second time as she had kidney stones in one year.
If you or your friends or relatives struggle with kidney stones, joint pain or gout, you probably know how debilitating these conditions are.
Global RPH says that about 2 million people struggle with gour, a form of arthritis, and 75-90% are men. Gout leads to painful conditions like kidney stones, as a result of the uric acid buildups in the blood or urine.
Many factors lead to high levels of uric acid in the body, but the latest studies suggest that uric acid buildups are associated with acidic foods. These studies also showed that one can reduce the acidity in the body by introducing alkaline foods to the diet. This will also reduce instances of gout and other kidney and joint problems.
Scientific Evidence
The latest study involved a group of healthy female students. Each of them showed no medical problems at the regular physical examinations. The 5-day study compared urine samples of acidic -- high-protein and less vegetable/fruit based diet and alkaline -- low-protein and high-fruit/vegetable diet.
Scientists measured the volume of urine, the pH value, organic acid levels, creatinine, uric acid, titratable acid, all cations (Na+,K+,Ca2+,Mg2+,NH4+) and anions (Cl−,SO42−,PO4−) necessary for the estimation of the acid and base levels.
The results showed a connection between high acidic serum levels and diet, or the metabolic degradation of foods. In the acidic group the level of uric acid in the serum was much higher that the levels in the alkaline group, and therefore uric acid is reabsorbed more easily in acidic urine than in alkaline urine, where it is more easily excreted.
Increase Your Alkalinity
The study also found that high-protein foods, or foods rich in amino acids, create acidic by-products. This group includes meat, eggs, and certain dairy products like butter. Products like corn, alcohol, sugar, salad oil, and mayo also produce acidic by-products in the organism.
On the other hand, foods that increase alkalinity include: leafy greens, pumpkin, miso, basil, cucumber, cabbage, kiwi, pineapple, mushrooms, yams, vinegar, walnuts, bell peppers, etc.
The scientists also said that the same study should be performed on male students, older population and people with hyperuricemia, to create a generalization when it comes to dietary intervention.
Dietary intervention is the best prevention for conditions caused by uric acid buildups, such as joint pain and gout. Alkaline diet is effective in preventing such disorders.
Alkalizing cocktails
Try these two alkalizing cocktails to decrease the acidity in your body:
1. Ginger-fruit iced tea
Ingredients:
- ginger tea, organic
- purified and alkaline water
- 1-2 tbsp fresh lemon and/or lime juice
- 1/4 cup grapefruit juice, organic
Preparation:
Make some ginger tea using purified, alkaline water and steep it for 5 minutes or until you get the desired color. Let it cool for a while.
Add in some lemon and/or lime juice, then also add the grapefruit juice. Drop in some ice cubes and enjoy. You can also drink it hot in winter months.
2. Very-Berry-Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized bananas, ripe
- 2 cups frozen berries (strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry)
- 1-2 cups kale (remove the spine, use variety of your choice)
- 2-3 tbsp pumpkin seeds, raw
- 1/2 -- 1 cup purified water
Preparation:
Blend all the ingredients together until you get a smooth texture. It is better if you use medium-high blender.
