Urine, the product of the kidneys, is produced to eliminate the waste materials of metabolism, manage body fluid balance and maintain acid-base balance. It is composed of mostly water and also other matter unneeded by the body. The breakdown products from blood cells impart the straw to transparent-yellow colour.
Urine passed at a reasonable velocity may form medium bubbles. This shouldn’t worry you. However, you should be concerned when foam, numerous small-miniscule bubbles, occurs and seem to rise an inch or more off the surface of the toilet water. Even if, yours doesn’t bubble to this extent, but foams every time you urinate, it still calls for concern. Your physician may recommend a urine test or analysis to demonstrate presence or absence of sugar, protein, bile, red and white blood cells, bacteria, ketones, Ph (acidity or alkalinity of urine) and specific gravity. In brief, chemical or microscopic study of the urine is needed to determine diseases/symptoms, insufficiencies and organ failures.
Basic parameters of urine analysis: the physician inspects the urine for the following basic parameters:
1) Colour
2) Consistency – degree of thickness or thinness; viscosity
3) Clarity – degree of clearness or turbidity (cloudiness)
4) Sediment – presence or absence, and type of sediment
5) Odour – either absence of odor or the presence of strong, offensive or unusual odors
6) Foam – characteristics of foam formed either initially, or when shaken vigorously.
What could cause foamy urine?
Most common cause is proteinuria, protein in the urine, which may be a sign of kidney inefficiency. When your kidney’s filtering units are not working properly, this can lead to a build-up of protein in the urine. The protein then creates a foamy appearance when it hits the water in the toilet. The first symptom of kidney disease is a change in your urinary function. The change may be in the nature of urine you pass-cloudy, smelly, foamy or bubbly. Other changes may include the amount and frequency of the urine. Please note that excessive intake of dietary protein may sometimes cause proteins to be filtered out into the urine, without any underlying health condition. However, watch out for any excesses and do seek expert advice.
Gas– Degree of foam present in the urine generally indicates the amount of dissolved gas present in the urine when it is passed. Persons who pass very foamy urine generally suffer from digestive gas, bloating and flatulence.
Fistula – Abnormal connection between bowel and urinary tract can cause the passage of gas or air, which may be seen as bubbles/foam in the urine.
Rapid urination- The stream of urine that follows an urgent urination, hits the water in the toilet rapidly and may then cause foam to develop.
Dehydration- May cause the urine to become concentrated and this can then result to foaming in urine.
Bile issues– Bilirubin causing bilirubinuria may also be the reason.
Certain medications as well as infections are causative factors too.
How about stress or insomnia?
Some people observe that after nights of terrible sleep, they wake up in the morning and urine foams a lot. But on nights of good sleep, not a bubble in their morning urine. Like wise, for days of much stress, tiredness, and generally not having it good, urine may foam. But on a good day when energy is super and metabolism up, no foam is observed.
Once you have ruled out any serious issues with your physician, these herbs may help reduce foam and improve the overall state of your urine:
Dandelion- Leaves contain flavonoids that cleanse the kidneys, purify the blood, and ensure healthy flow of urine. This herb will generally increase your urine output as well as help alleviate conditions associated with the foamy urine.
Momordica charantia (bitter gourd, akpana udele-Igbo, ejirin-Yoruba)- Drink one glass of fresh bitter gourd juice each morning on an empty stomach. In case you have access to the seed powder, stir one teaspoon in warm water.
Turmeric and cinnamon– These two wonderful kitchen spices would ease patients’ proteinuria and greatly benefit even those with kidney disease.
Water melon– Is a natural diuretic and will help the flow of clear urine. Take a whole water melon in a day and drink up to 12 glasses of water. This is not recommended for diabetics.
Bromelain– Found in pineapples will help to speed up protein digestion, thereby reducing foamy urine. This enzyme also imparts anti-inflammatory properties to pineapple and is helpful in trimming down symptoms of urinary track infection, if any is presented. Either eat the core of pineapple or purchase bromelain supplements from health food stores. Take 500 mg daily.
Papain- Found in pawpaw is also an enzyme that digests protein, breaking it down into amino acids, its basic building blocks. Every part of the plant – leaf, stem, root and latex sap contains papain, the richest source being the immature fruit. Papain is also available as a supplement, or you might consume the immature, green pawpaw to ingest the enzyme.
A combination of pineapple and pawpaw will always make a wonderful juice. Remember not to choose the over ripped fruits. Add the juice of one lemon to make your drink “zingy”. Enjoy!
Stay hydrated- It is recommended to maintain adequate hydration by drinking plenty of water daily to avoid having concentrated and foamy urine. Drink not less than 12 glasses of water during the day. And do so in such a way it will not equally be burdensome to the system. This will help keep your urine transparently clear.
Vegetables- Try a diet that is at least 50 per cent green vegetables, such as parsley, spinach and nettles for 14 days.
Reduce the intake protein. The proper amounts will depend on individual factors.
Don’t rush to flush the urine down the drain. Please take a minute to have a second look. Your urine may be foamy without your knowing it. Stop any foam now!