Combat High Uric Acid/Frequent Urination on Keto

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(Joseph) #1

Hi Keto Forum,

For about the past 2 months on keto, I have been urinating so frequently at night and then once I am awake I cannot go back to sleep! This has lead to serious insomnia symptoms/issues. Also, when I urinate, it hurts coming out and there is a slight pain in the groin area.

After speaking with my PA and from my research yesterday, I have learned that this frequent urination is due to a high uric acid in my urine because of the acidity from the ketones. Dr. Eric Berg recommends taking potassium citrate, A LOT of Veggies needed for alkaline minerals to balance pH, Lemon Juice, Sea Salt (1 Tsp Keto, 1/4 Tsp on Hi Carb), and Vitamin K-2 to counteract this uric acid so that I can stop urinating at night.

Also, Dr. Anna Cabera recommends an 80/20 diet of 80% alkaline foods, to combat acidity from the 20% meat/cheese, fasting, and the ketosis.
Aside from this, the main recommendations I have seen to combat the uric acid are drinking lots of water (alkaline as well), replenishing electrolytes, consume more salt.

Dave Asprey and Mark Sisson have also discussed the downsides of keto can be curbed/eliminated by doing a keto cycling diet where you eat more healthy carbs some days or 1 day but stay within a keto zone to maintain fat burning efficiency. Their main point was that as long as you are staying fat efficient and have at least .3 - .5 mmol conc. ketones then you are living health enough.

Does anyone have any input on other reliable methods to quickly neutralize uric acid in the urine? Also, what are your opinion on the alkaline diet component to helping acidity and/or doing a keto cycling with more carbs ? Has anyone experienced the acidity issue or other keto flu symptoms and found new success with alternate methods afterwards?

Thanks!

(Allie) #2

I just mixed half a teaspoon of baking soda in a mug of warm water and drank it a few times a day when I had this. It sorts itself out once adapted.

(Duncan Kerridge) #3

Tbh those symptoms could also point to other issues such as your prostate. If it were me I think I’d be off to the docs to get checked out.

I’ve not heard many people describe that level of nighttime peeing or pain from early days keto peeing.

(Robert C) #4

I have never heard of this and would press your PA on this point.

I have never heard of being able to determine if one’s uric acid level is high other than through a blood test or assuming it is high because of actual gout symptoms (and it is known that you can have high uric acid levels even without any gout symptoms).

Also, it sounds like the PA is confusing ketones (a byproduct of ketosis) - which are not (as far as I am aware) ever the cause of frequent urination - with the term ketoacidosis (ketoacidosis is a buildup of acids in your blood and has nothing to do with ketosis). This mixup is common in the medical community and if your PA sounded confident in his / her diagnosis - get another one (confident in being “wrong” is scary).

I feel this has lead you down the wrong rabbit hole to begin with, I would take a step back and review all you have researched. Also, knock off all fluids by 4 PM.

(Betsy) #5

Joseph, are you eating dairy?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #6

My experience is just the opposite from the OP. I have been getting up in the night since young childhood, sometimes as often as three times, and since I went keto, I can now sleep through the night. Compared to what it used to be, my bladder capacity has become phenomenal.

Part of it may be that I started eating more salt to prevent constipation and migraines, and drinking to thirst, so I am well-hydrated.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #7

Uric acid around the joints is Gout. Diets high in purines contribute to increased uric acid in the blood. I understand you aren’t asking specifically about gout but here’s what the Mayo Clinic recommends to people with high levels of uric acid

Recommendations for specific foods or supplements include:

  • Organ and glandular meats. Avoid meats such as liver, kidney and sweetbreads, which have high purine levels and contribute to high blood levels of uric acid.
  • Red meat. Limit serving sizes of beef, lamb and pork.
  • Seafood. Some types of seafood — such as anchovies, shellfish, sardines and tuna — are higher in purines than are other types. But the overall health benefits of eating fish may outweigh the risks for people with gout. Moderate portions of fish can be part of a gout diet.
  • High-purine vegetables. Studies have shown that vegetables high in purines, such as asparagus and spinach, don’t increase the risk of gout or recurring gout attacks.
  • Alcohol. Beer and distilled liquors are associated with an increased risk of gout and recurring attacks. Moderate consumption of wine doesn’t appear to increase the risk of gout attacks. Avoid alcohol during gout attacks, and limit alcohol, especially beer, between attacks.
  • Sugary foods and beverages. Limit or avoid sugar-sweetened foods such as sweetened cereals, bakery goods and candies. Limit consumption of naturally sweet fruit juices.
  • Vitamin C. Vitamin C may help lower uric acid levels. Talk to your doctor about whether a 500-milligram vitamin C supplement fits into your diet and medication plan.
  • Coffee. Some research suggests that drinking coffee in moderation, especially regular caffeinated coffee, may be associated with a reduced risk of gout. Drinking coffee may not be appropriate if you have other medical conditions. Talk to your doctor about how much coffee is right for you.
  • Cherries. There is some evidence that eating cherries is associated with a reduced risk of gout attacks.
(Jane) #8

Are you supplementing with magnesium close to bedtime? It took me a while to figure it out, but if I took magnesium maleate near bedtime I was up all night peeing!