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Gout uric acid is one of the primary contributing factors to the painful symptoms experienced by gout sufferers. Therefore, controlling the production of this substance is key to getting symptoms under control. One of the techniques that are now being used to accomplish this is by changing the pH level of the body in order to manipulate its uric acid production.

pH stands for the power of hydrogen and refers to the acidity level in the body. That is, when the pH levels of the body are raised, it becomes more alkaline, while lowering pH levels makes the body more acidic.

Therefore, by raising the pH levels in your body, you are effectively putting into practice a natural gout treatment. The theory behind this is that by making the body more alkaline, the uric acid levels will be reduced. This is because uric acid can be diluted by drinking water, and the more alkaline the body is, the more water-soluble uric acid becomes. And so, the higher the ratio of alkaline to acid in the body, that is, the higher the pH level of the body (or the number on the pH scale) the more alkaline your body will be, and the more uric acid will be dissolved into the water you drink.

If the uric acid level of the body is kept below a certain level (6.0mg/dL for men and slightly less than that for women) then gout crystal formation will be much less likely to occur.

In order to make your body more alkaline, the most commonly recommended technique is to drink alkaline (ionized) water. This is water that has additional OH oxygen as opposed to O2. You can drink it or cook with it.

Alkaline foods and beverages can also be eaten in order to increase the pH level of the body. This is trickier for some people, though, since the pH level of foods is not mentioned on the nutrition labels on food product packaging. However, there are some foods that are known for their alkalinity, as well as being good for helping to control gout symptoms for other properties such as anti-inflammatory. These include:

- Cherries (the darker, the better)
- Celery
- Strawberries

Alcohol, which is highly acidic, as well as other acidic foods should be avoided as they rapidly decreases the pH level of the body, negating the impact that the alkaline foods would have.

If you want to know more about increasing the pH level of your body in order to help treat your gout, you should speak to your doctor. He or she will be able to advise you as to whether this is the right kind of treatment for you, and will be able to assist you in choosing the right foods and finding a supplier for ionized water.

You may find that in addition to changing the pH level of the body, gout uric acid can also be reduced with the application of certain herbs, but be sure to consult you doctor first to ensure there are no interactions with any prescribed medications.