Why Urine Based pH Strip Tests Do Not Work


Measuring Acidity and Alkalinity

Determining the pH value of the body is possible. However, standard acid levels vary in different areas of the body. For example the normal pH in the intestines is 8, while the stomach is 1.2.

Until recently, the common pH measurement methods included: blood testing, which measures pH between 7.35 and 7.45; saliva testing, which measures from 6.35 and 6.85; and urine testing for a measurement between 4.8 and 8. If a laboratory does the urine test it is quite precise; however the self-tests using litmus paper strips often result in unreliable readings since so many factors affect urine pH throughout the day.

Some of the main categories of factors that affect urine pH include: excessive or prolonged exercise, disease, drugs, dehydration and diet. The result is a body that is required to excrete a certain amount of acid each day. For example, excessive

exercise generates lactic acid, which is excreted in the urine, in turn lowering the pH of the urine. Therefore a urine measurement is not a true reflection of the state of the overall body.

Another example of why the self-test using urine is not accurate is the timing of the last meal. The typical Western diet includes food rich in animal protein, refined and processed foods, fast foods, white sugar and flour, coffee, soda pop and alcohol. Chronic disease, such as diabetes, is associated with increased acid production, such as may deplete one’s water volume, which stimulates a reflex mechanism for the kidneys to conserve water and excrete acid.