Testing Your Diet with Pee & Purple Cabbage

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DESCRIPTION: Plant-based diets tend to be alkaline-forming. This may help protect muscle mass and reduce the risk of gout and kidney stones. The pH of one's urine can be estimated with natural pigments using kitchen chemistry.
Now I have low-flow toilet, so there's very little water in the bowel to start with. The effect might not be as dramatic if diluted in a larger quantity of water. More bathroom chemistry can be found in Pretty in Pee-nk (nutritionfacts....) and Asparagus Pee (nutritionfacts.....
What does acid have to do with bones? You might have missed the prequel to this video, Alkaline Diets, Animal Protein, & Calcium Loss (nutritionfacts.....
How else can we protect our muscles? We can eat healthy enough to avoid statin drugs (see Statin Muscle Toxicity, nutritionfacts....) and the neurotoxins that can cause movement disorders (Muscle Tremors & Diet, nutritionfacts.....
Superfood Bargains (nutritionfacts....) is the video in which purple cabbage takes the gold, though it was unseated in Biggest Nutrition Bang for Your Buck (nutritionfacts.....
Why do I always go on and on about dark green leafy vegetables? Check out my 58 videos on greens (nutritionfacts....) and find out!
Have a question for Dr. Greger about this video? Leave it in the comment section at nutritionfacts.... and he'll try to answer it!
Image Credit: Fundamental Photographs, diy.org, wallpapercraze.com, Listentoreason via flickr, and Biusch via Wikimedia.
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[@TitusLivy777]

You consistently post the most interesting, helpful, science-based videos on the internet. Thank you for providing this valuable service!

[@AlexCananC]

OMG im buying a cabbage tomorrow! I'm vegan and the rest of my family eats meat and my parents are doctors. i hope we can all do this and see the results!

[@jyo5764]

show them doctor greger's videos to convince them to go vegan too i mean they are doctors after all im sure your parents know what it means to be healthy

[@ArachnidSoul]

I'm curious. What were the results Alex?

[@theorsakfamily1732]

@Alex C. What happened? :-)

[@redhotz21]

Alex C , what happened with your family's cabbage test?

[@trindinwright6374]

Alex C i feel like he has to get back on to tell what happened! 😳

[@iwentvegan4481]

The best way to do this test is to pee in a cup and pour a small amount of the cabbage juice into the cup. It turned blue when I did it. I tried this with some vinegar to see if it would turn pink, it did. this test worked great for me, everyone should try this.

[@karlstenator]

Never thought the day would come where I'd buy a red cabbage, blend it and pee on it. First time for everything I guess...

[@andrewfarmer5571]

Karl Hosking at least you did it for science! (And hopefully it turned blue)

[@superkatertot5425]

I LOVE RAW RED CABBAGE - I eat it daily!!

[@mega4s1000]

I like it when Dr Greger says "gorgeous purple".

[@acerimmeh]

Will it work if I pee straight in the saucepan while it's boiling?

[@adiposerex5150]

I tried that but burned my butt on the stove.

[@bluered605]

acerimmeh this is hilarious 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@shavuklia7731]

Hahahahahah, oh my goodness, that made me laugh out loud

[@no-3607]

You have to chew the cabbage to a mush then aim well with a mirror on a selfie stick

[@olgadelcamposuarez2420]

😂😂😂

[@BOMAH29]

Time to blend some purple cabbage... For Science!!!

[@speedtribejp]

I will eat the purple cabbage, and pee on the litmus paper.

[@justgivemethetruth954]

Forget the kids .... I will have a lot of fun testing this out! BUT ... yes, what are the proportions, how much cabbage juice to how much urine?

[@TPQ1980]

I just love this guy's voice.

[@superkatertot5425]

Since I want to test daily, for a while, can I just put some purple juice from cabbage in a glass cup and pee in it? What should the ratio of pee to cabbage liquid be? OK to store the rest of the liquid in the fridge? For how long? THANKS!

[@floraulin]

Wouldn't the quantity of juice affect the test result? how much is enough purple cabbage vs urine sample?

[@flawns]

One problem with this test is: How much of the liquid do we pour in? All of it? sum of it? bit by bit?

[@pierrotmonami9506]

+U WUT M8? i tried and when i put just a very little drop of lemon juice in half a glass of red cabbage juice, and it turned from sky blue to pink red... so i think it is not a matter of proportions

[@valnaples]

Baptiste, I have 1/2 of one in my crisper since I've been eating it all week long in my salads..hee! (and doc is right about how inexpensive red cabbage it...I got a whole head of it for $1.00! )...so guess I'll be experimenting too!

[@furyofbongos]

Arguably the best channel on KZbin.

[@gattotrash5720]

Ooooh ! I know what to do with my homemade natural food colouring that I forgot in the fridge for months !!

[@bagiee1]

An acidic body, is an acidic body. Most "diseases" that ppl have in today's world do not come from high alkaline levels (which can be bad too), but from high acidic levels. Meat (any type of meat) and dairy, are acidic foods. Fruits and veggies are alkaline foods, and they can provide us all the amino-acids that we need. (Probably they thumbed him down because he said "fish is a leading cause of the increase in the human brain mass.")

[@pluckyfella7]

What a fascinating sciencefest for one to do for health reasons. So pH in this case means “pee Hue”, right? lol. 😂😂

[@energyquicksand]

Great fun to learn something interesting and useful. I just keep a PH strip handy but I have some red cabbage in the garden so I think I'll boil some of the outer leaves, that I'd normally compost, and give this a whirl. Just wondering how much liquid at apply to the urine sample?

[@pupspepper]

cabbage, when science can be fun :)

[@theonce-ler7732]

Yay I peed blue! Look's like a 7.5er to me

[@Danuxsy]

mine turned out brown wtf, guess I shat in there too.

[@Danuxsy]

@Delicious Depression lmao, I forgot I had made this comment.

[@sarahsierz233]

Can't wait to try it thank you Dr. McGregor!!

[@JodieHosey]

Totally doing this for myself and fun science experiment for the kids!

[@Annibals]

Thanks so much for this

[@lubasulpovar5081]

Thanks Dr Greger for your great videos🤗 Q-What's your opinion about sauerkraut form Red Cabbage? Thanks for your answer😀

[@paulmaxwell8851]

Sauerkraut from red cabbage tastes very different from that made with green cabbage. I don't like it, but some people prefer it. I eat my red cabbage raw in a coleslaw, where I find it's delicious. To each their own!

[@drmabdulrazzaq]

You are awesome. God bless you.

[@Daren_PNW]

Has anyone found the most comprehensive food guide pH scale/chart/thing online?

[@amychanel7868]

LOVE this. Where I live I can't buy litmus paper and was searching madly on the internet how to figure out the pH of urine else-wise. And voila! there you were. Going to try it today. PS: I always have purple cabbage in the crisper. PPS: Heard about you from the magnificent Kris Carr.

[@paulmaxwell8851]

Litmus paper is easily available online, cheap, regardless of where you live. But the cabbage water trick is easy and free.

[@Jabberwock87]

mine went blue too =) fruit and veg forever

[@yawnaisian]

What if you eat dark green leafy veggies, red cabbage, hot chillies, vinegar, beets, and orange turmeric... I guess the pee test will fail because of the pigments in those plants. Not to be gross, but my urine is always orange and red despite excellent hydration because of all the pigmented veggies I eat... If I'm ever deprived of those veggies, my urine is clear with my typical level of hydration.

[@Khepramancer]

That method of pH measurement is pretty fascinating : D

[@veganminstrel]

The purple cabbage water turned my toilet bowl water blue before i even urinated in it. For a more accurate result, don't do this test in a toilet bowl.

[@user-je7pp2wg3m]

What I was thinking

[@RunAMuckGirl2]

Any thoughts on using baking soda to increase your body's alkaline level?

[@MichelleVisageOnlyFans]

I peed straight into my blender! Is it ok?

[@dexterlacroy4132]

Yes, if you drink it. You can also defecate on your dinner plate - if it turns brown you need more greens

[@yawnaisian]

Only if you're Tim Sheiff.

[@burkinadelphie]

gotta try the purple cabbage. Fiber

[@Evange]

"You should use what you probably have right now in your crisper..... purple cabbage." You don't know me! You don't know what's in my crisper drawer! *checks crisper drawer* God damnit! Are you a wizard or something?

[@WardieWard]

Maybe Jimi Hendrix was confused with his purple haze 'up in my brain' when it was actually in his toilet bowl. Notwithstanding, great video.

[@Chris-V2011]

Ok guys,just done the test and the colour hasnt changed one bit for me,so i guess i dont eat enough green stuff.For infos,this is what i eat:breakkie:oats,coconut shreds,pumpkin&sunflower seeds,crushed linen seeds,raisins&dried cranberries with soy milk,heaps of bananas throughout the morning;rice or pasta with beans/lentils,etc... at lunch and potatoes in salad,with spinach,applesauce etc...for tea,fruit for snack while watching telly .

[@FranklinPUroda]

Then what causes the thinning (fragility) of one's bones? Osteoporosis?

[@harryviking6347]

very interesting...will absolutely try this...

[@nitsan]

love your videos :)

[@PreciousMe]

Excellent video and fun! May try this. Thanks

[@vulturnuszan]

that's awesome, I'm so trying this little experiment...

[@andrewschaefer9479]

Oh yeah, the kids are going to have a blast with this one!

[@cookletsdothis]

I watch a video or two a day on the health benefits of a vegan diet to help motivate me.

[@ceolbeats7182]

Motivate??? 1vid does all Cowspiracy 😱

[@realsc00ter]

I will try this and post results

[@lanigallagher6683]

Furyofbongos you rock! I second your motion as he speaks the truth

[@MeliGirlM]

The saying "You learn something new everyday" was never truer. I can't wait to try this!

[@YellowChevron]

The lil kid in me just can't wait to try this!

[@cosmickitty9533]

Omg I want to try! Vegan almost one year and vegetarian before that so I should have some decent results.

[@ceolbeats7182]

Did u

[@cosmickitty9533]

@@ceolbeats7182 No! haha still vegan though

[@ceolbeats7182]

@@cosmickitty9533 🤣😂 As the vid said, either result, you can alter via diet😉least u don’t eat dead animals👍Ever checked out Nutritionfacts.org pod cast??? Brill info? & Bite size vegan site??? U prob know this👐🏼

[@cosmickitty9533]

@@ceolbeats7182 yeah I've watched those channels before. I haven't really been watching much vegan stuff though lately. How long have you been vegan?

[@joegaines8826]

I prefer to be boring. If I eat enough leafy green vegetables (which I know I don't) what should my morning urine pH be with pH test paper?

[@harry_bonkers]

nice lifehack Dr. G! last year i had uric acid showing in my general medical analysis. ive been vegan for the past 6 months and im curious to see where i stand now :) time to pee!!

[@richardturner5861]

Does this mean that i drink the water from the boiled purple cabbage? I want to have some fun with my doctor the next time she asks for a urine sample heh heh heh heh :-)

[@jennoscura2381]

Richard Turner That would be fun to give a purple sample for a drug test. I do know that high consumption of beets can make your urine more red in color.

[@richardturner5861]

Thanks, transhealthy. I'll keep that in mind definitely.

[@richardturner5861]

Thanks, where can i get methylene blue?

[@richardturner5861]

Is it safe to drink?

[@lapatria100]

and...i'll be doing this - this afternoon. GREAT VIDEO

[@fullTimeVeganinOhio]

So does the current ph of the water in toilet or tap matter? I think our water is 8.2

[@carstenschop3141]

But I read that, when your gut gets too alkaline your reabsorption of ammoniak isveryhigh, wich causes numerus side effeckts, thats why i stopped taking basic powder in the morning, didn´t feel well afterwards. also don´t most good gut bakteria prefer slightly acidic ph levels ?

[@45138449]

I follow a plant base diet (for about 4 years now), I did the test and it turns out that I have a acidic urine (around pH=2,5). How is that possible??

[@bonniemullen9820]

Love this science experment♥️ I love purple cabbage😘 I eat it all the time in Marcus recipes Spicy Tye Cabbage, book love on a plate, inspired by Cara Brotman💑👙💃🕺🍌🍏🍉🍎🍑🍑🍆🍐🍇🍓🥝🍈🍋🍋🥝🥒🥑🍆🍅🥗🥗🥗🥗🍲🍵🥂

[@LegacyFarmandHomestead]

Dark blue for me!

[@Bucketheadcube]

Thank you for all this information ! I have a purple cabbage today in my kitchen, so you know what Im gonna experience ! =)

[@aroundandround]

So if your urine is the other extreme at #11 yellow, should you go easy on the dark greens and pick up some meat maybe?

[@UnnaturalVegan]

I'm so doing science with this!

[@IslandC0der]

Nice to see you here!

[@darkvctry7482]

So eating alkaline foods will increase Serum alkaline levels too ? From what I'm gathering this only increase urine and saliva.

[@MangoMr9]

Fantastic video thank you so much!

[@random55912]

Does it work with Chicoree too? It's got the same color.

[@ZamudioAbel]

In any case... Just eat dark green leafy veggies and all will be good.

[@oxenbarnstokkriii8152]

8 or 9 to my eyes. Happy ;)

[@lifeiswargodisall7415]

Great info, thanks. I love purple cabbage but I'm afraid it contains lectins and oxalate, to both of which I'm very sensitive. Please does anyone know anything about that (whether it really contains oxalate)?

[@Magnulus76]

It's not especially high in oxalates. Spinach is far higher.

[@kronk358]

Why would you care about oxalates if youre peeing on it?

[@chrissyshunda]

Wow! Thanks!

[@OptimumHealthCafe]

i need to try this

[@PureSunshineFruition]

There are plenty of amino acids in leafy green veggies plus we recycle much of our proteins so we don't need to ingest any animal foods whatsoever ;)

[@peterfaber9316]

I like this. I eat keto, but with lots of vegetables. In fact, every day we have red cabbage on the dinner table, we eat it raw (mixed with a little bit of maio.) This will be a fun experiment.

[@---ie2ms]

Peter Faber what did you get?

[@ceolbeats7182]

Vegan keto

[@elenaserranoalcala5912]

It sounds like it is not worth it purchasing a really expensive water filtration system like Kangen water if we can just eat our leafy greens and our bodies should be okay with alkalizing our bodies right?

[@SoSkinny69]

I need to tell my friend who's science teacher. Very cool vid as usual.

[@juneribaldi7093]

Yes.

[@raw-viking]

I've GOT to try this! :)

[@AstralS7orm]

Missing essential step: after you've done with the experiment, you eat the cabbage salad.

[@earthlingadam7401]

Wouldn't you want your urine to be acidic. Metabolic processes produce acidic waste which are filtered out through the kidneys. If urine is acidic that means you are getting rid of acids. If it is base, you are not filtering properly and are holding acidic waste. Is my logic flawed?

[@---ie2ms]

Earthling Adam Could also mean, that your body is barely producing acid, which is something good!

[@damonstoudamiree]

Bello!

[@derderdo]

what foods do you "cheat" with?

[@cherrytree_walk]

AWESOME!

[@TmexIronman]

what about if its 11, ie far right

[@FlorinGN]

Yaay, experiment time 😂😂😁😁

[@goldphysh]

Genius of an ide with the cabbage test! I do not plan on giving up meat anytime soon but do stick with grass fed and raw dairy (which is more alkaline).

[@AstralS7orm]

Is it? Are you counting per calorie or per volume? If per calorie then the statement is true, because it contains about 35% fat, lots of it being animal fat. "Based" does not mean "solely consists of". Of course the diet is also rich in refined sugars and starches, limited in other nutrients. (most of them phytonutrients) Hamburgers, chicken, fries and soda are typical items and are quite deadly. Half are mainly animal products.

[@pierrotmonami9506]

loved this, i tried it and it was sky blue (and i eat quite a lot of animal protein, like 180 g beef steak before this test)

[@VandersonT_]

pierrot monami wow. your genes need to be tested! 100 bucks for who find this kid and bring it here so we can dissect him for my research

[@VandersonT_]

pierrot monami wow. your genes need to be tested! 100 bucks for who find this kid and bring it here so we can dissect him for my research

[@pierrotmonami9506]

i think i did it wrong the first time, i tried once or twice after that and it wasn't clear blue at all lol

[@naturesbliss2903]

What if your urine is clear or mostly clear? Isn't that an indication of ph balance?

[@timheuser4551]

Geulez loves Dragons , no. That is an indication of your hydration level.

[@deo-nis]

Anthocyanins are responsible for coluor change. But I would steel use pH meter :)

[@kronk358]

You shouldnt steel. It'll make you rust.

[@23100Battlefield]

Im about to go try this Il let you know what color my urine was!

[@23100Battlefield]

i put too much and the color didnt change :(

[@redhotz21]

Exotic Parallel did you try a 2nd cabbage test?

[@HighCarbVeganAdventurer]

I'm gonna try that :D

[@LindaR423]

Cool

[@yositlsilva5101]

woww this is a keeper!

[@roteraffe7726]

i eat a lot of Beetroot so my urin is often slightly pink in color

[@TheAndyVegan]

WOW! That was awesome

[@arispsaltis8107]

Since women have less muscle mass to spend treating acidosis with aging and are more prone to bone loss after 40 is it possible that the theory is correct on women only? Has any study been done only on women?

[@gfy2979]

So I went to store and say..."Where can I find this pee and purple cabbage?"

[@lbh3d]

Would food coloring work?

[@user-je7pp2wg3m]

No. Synthetic dye isn't ph sensetiv I don't think

[@MichelleVisageOnlyFans]

Why kids? I'm havin' a blast just hearing about it on here! LOL! Can't wait to buy my red cabbage first thing tomorrow! :)))

[@CharGC123]

But won't the PH of your water affect the results? Ours is quite hard and alkaline.

[@michelangelobuonarroti916]

Maybe buy some distilled water and then pee in a cup or bowl instead of the toilet.

[@kronk358]

Use a shewee and a gatorade bottle

[@CharGC123]

What if your water is very alkaline, wouldn't that affect results?

[@forestcat7150]

Good point, we have hard water here, calcium deposits, would assume that would buffer the result

[@CharGC123]

@@forestcat7150 Ditto here.