Naturally Lower Ammonia Levels in the Body: 7 Effective Methods

Ammonia in your body is like a silent storm—it builds up quietly but can wreak havoc when left unchecked. You may not notice it initially, but fatigue, brain fog, or even muscle weakness could be signs your levels are too high. The positive update? You don’t need drastic measures to bring them down. Simple, everyday choices can make a big difference—starting with how much water you drink. Curious what else works? Let’s examine seven natural ways to keep ammonia in check and feel your best.

Increase Hydration to Facilitate Ammonia Excretion

Should your body’s ammonia levels be high, drinking more water can help flush it out faster. Increasing hydration dilutes ammonia in your blood, making it easier for your kidneys to filter and remove it through urine.

Aim for at least 2-3 liters of fluid intake daily to support kidney function and ammonia removal. Should you be receiving treatment like lactulose, staying hydrated prevents dehydration, which can worsen hyperammonemia.

Dehydration slows kidney function, trapping more ammonia in your system—especially risky should you have liver disease. Carry a water bottle, set reminders, or infuse water with fruit for flavor.

Even small sips throughout the day add up. Your kidneys work hard, so give them the fluid they need to keep ammonia levels in check.

Adopt a Balanced Diet for Optimal Liver Health

Since your liver plays a key role in processing ammonia, what you eat directly affects how well it manages waste.

A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains supports liver health and helps reduce ammonia levels by improving nutrient processing and urea cycle efficiency.

Swap heavy animal proteins for plant-based proteins like beans and lentils—they decompose slower, producing less ammonia.

Probiotics, found in yogurt and fermented foods, boost gut health, aiding digestion and ammonia clearance.

Stay hydrated to help kidneys flush out toxins.

Don’t skimp on vitamins and minerals—zinc and B vitamins keep your liver working smoothly.

Small, smart food choices make a big difference in how your body handles ammonia, so nourish it well.

Engage in Regular Exercise to Boost Metabolism

Getting active helps your body process and clear ammonia more efficiently.

Exercise boosts liver function and blood flow, helping your system filter toxins better.

Even simple workouts like walking or cycling can make a big difference in keeping your ammonia levels in check.

Enhances Toxin Elimination

By making regular exercise part of your routine, you can help your body process and eliminate ammonia more efficiently. Whenever you move, your metabolism speeds up, which supports your liver in breaking down ammonia and clearing it from your system. Activities like jogging, swimming, or cycling boost blood flow, aiding digestion and detoxification. Even moderate exercise can make a difference, keeping your physical well-being in check while reducing ammonia buildup.

Staying active isn’t just about fitness—it’s a key step in keeping ammonia levels balanced.

Improves Liver Function

Anytime you stay active, your liver gets a major boost—and that’s great news for keeping ammonia levels in check. Regular exercise improves liver function by enhancing blood flow, helping your body process ammonia more efficiently.

Aim for at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity like walking or cycling each week to support overall metabolic function. Strength training twice a week also helps by building muscle, which reduces ammonia production.

A healthier liver means better elimination of ammonia, which can reduce ammonia levels naturally. Plus, staying active lifts your energy levels and mood, promoting your well-being.

Even small changes, like taking the stairs or a brisk walk, make a difference. Your liver works hard—give it the support it needs with movement.

Supports Metabolic Detoxification

Exercise doesn’t just strengthen your muscles—it also revs up your metabolism, helping your body dismantle and clear ammonia more effectively. As you move regularly, you boost your metabolic rate, which speeds up detoxification and supports liver health.

Here’s how exercise helps:

1. Aerobic activities like brisk walking or swimming increase blood flow to your liver, enhancing detoxification.
2. Resistance training keeps your metabolism elevated long after you finish, helping your body process ammonia efficiently.
3. Regular physical activity reduces excess fat, lowering overall ammonia production during digestion.
4. Consistent movement strengthens your body’s natural detox systems, making it easier to manage ammonia levels.

Practice Stress Management Techniques

Managing stress can help your body process ammonia more efficiently.

Try mindfulness or meditation to calm your mind, and deep breathing exercises to relax your body.

Gentle movements like yoga can also ease tension and support liver health.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Since stress can make it harder for your body to manage ammonia levels, mindfulness and meditation offer a practical way to ease that burden.

These practices lower stress levels, which helps your liver function better and reduces inflammation linked to hyperammonemia. Even small daily sessions can make a difference for your well-being and neurological symptoms.

1. Cortisol Control: Mindfulness reduces cortisol, easing strain on your liver so it processes ammonia more efficiently.
2. Mental Clarity: Meditation sharpens focus, helping you spot initial signs of elevated ammonia levels.
3. Emotional Balance: Less stress means fewer cravings for foods that spike ammonia, supporting dietary changes.
4. Inflammation Relief: Calming your mind lowers inflammation, improving your body’s ability to handle ammonia.

Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing exercises can be a transformative factor in regard to keeping stress—and ammonia levels—in check.

As you practice deep breathing, you activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps reduce ammonia production triggered by stress. Slowing your breath for just five to ten minutes daily can improve oxygen flow, improve liver function, and support your body’s ability to process ammonia more efficiently.

Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing promote relaxation, lowering cortisol levels and protecting you from stress-induced hyperammonemia. Pairing deep breathing with mindfulness meditation boosts emotional well-being, easing mental strain that can worsen ammonia buildup.

Yoga or Gentle Movement

Building on the benefits of deep breathing, yoga and gentle movement offer another powerful way to keep stress—and ammonia levels—under control.

Whenever you practice yoga or gentle movement, you’re not just stretching—you’re supporting your body’s natural detoxification processes. Here’s how it helps:

1. Reduce stress: Yoga combines deep breathing exercises with mindfulness, lowering cortisol and easing tension that can disrupt ammonia processing.
2. Boost liver function: Gentle movement improves circulation, helping your liver work efficiently to clear ammonia.
3. Enhance detoxification: Flowing poses and stretches stimulate blood flow, aiding your body’s natural cleanup.
4. Prom: Meditation: Meditation techniques in yoga keep you grounded, reducing anxiety that can worsen metabolic imbalances.

Even a few minutes daily can make a difference—your body will thank you.

Prioritize Adequate Sleep for Detoxification

Anytime you don’t get enough sleep, your body struggles to keep up with essential detox processes—including clearing ammonia.

Your liver, which handles ammonia breakdown, works best while you’re well-rested. Without adequate sleep, your metabolic processes slow down, letting ammonia build up.

Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep nightly to support liver function and keep ammonia levels in check.

Poor sleep can even worsen hyperammonemia, so prioritize a consistent sleep routine. Turn off screens before bed, keep your room cool, and stick to a schedule.

These small steps help your body’s ammonia clearance and overall health.

Keep in mind, sleep isn’t just about rest—it’s while your body repairs itself. Give it the time it needs, and you’ll feel the difference.

Avoid Alcohol to Support Liver Function

Just like sleep helps your body clear ammonia, what you avoid can make a big difference too—starting with alcohol.

Your liver works hard to process ammonia, but alcohol consumption forces it to prioritize breaking down toxins instead. This can lead to elevated ammonia levels, stressing your liver function and even raising the risk of hepatic encephalopathy.

Here’s how cutting back helps:

1. Reduces liver workload: Less alcohol means your liver can focus on processing ammonia efficiently.
2. Lowers blood ammonia levels: Avoiding alcohol prevents ammonia buildup in your bloodstream.
3. Supports liver repair: Reducing intake gives your liver a chance to restore liver function over time.
4. Protects brain health: Lower ammonia levels mean less risk of confusion or memory issues.

Small changes in alcohol habits can greatly support liver health and keep ammonia in check.

Incorporate Probiotics for Gut Health

Since your gut plays a key role in managing ammonia levels, probiotics can be a significant advancement for keeping them in check. These beneficial bacteria, found in yogurt, kefir, and fermented foods, support gut health by balancing your intestinal flora.

As your gut microbiome is healthy, it helps decompose proteins more efficiently, reducing excess ammonia during protein metabolism. For people with liver diseases like hepatic encephalopathy, probiotics could lower ammonia levels by binding to it in the gut and aiding its excretion.

A balanced approach—like adding probiotic-rich foods daily—can improve overall gut health and prevent ammonia buildup. Try utilizing a variety of probiotics, such as sauerkraut or kombucha, to diversify your gut bacteria.

This simple step can make a big difference in keeping ammonia levels stable.