Gout has been with us for around 2500 years and was traditionally thought to be a rich man’s disease because of its association with rich foods and excessive alcohol consumption.
In recent times however, with our western diet and lifestyle, gout has become much more common.
Gout, left untreated, may cause permanent joint damage so it’s important to treat it early.
It’s not all doom and gloom though. There are a number of healthy lifestyle choices, herbs and nutrients that can help to reduce both the severity and frequency of Gout attacks so you’re back on your feet in no time.
Uric acid drives gout
Gout is associated with disordered uric acid activity and may present as either increased uric acid production, reduced uric acid clearance or a combination of both. Uric acid is an end-product of purine digestion; purines are found in certain foods and drinks such as red meat, poultry, shellfish and beer. Excess uric acid moves quickly from your blood and accumulates as crystal formations in your joints, leading to pain and inflammation.6 factors that can increase your risk of Gout
Although disordered uric acid activity is the main culprit, these 6 factors can increase your risk of Gout attacks:- Family history
- Being male
- Obesity
- Diet high in purine containing foods
- Increased alcohol intake
- Kidney disease
Typical symptoms of Gout
Gout attacks usually occur very suddenly, often during the night and are characterised by acute, exquisite pain and inflammation. Gout usually affects your big toe, although other joints may be affected too. Other symptoms include:- Severe joint pain and tenderness
- Swelling, heat and stiffness of the affected joint
- Joint may be red or discoloured
- Chills and fever as gout attack progresses
- If left untreated, attacks may become more frequent and severe
Natural Treatments for Gout
Healthy lifestyle choices- Weight loss helps reduce uric acid levels
- Reduce alcohol, particularly beer; alcohol increases uric acid production and reduces uric acid clearance, while beer has a higher purine content than wine or spirits
- Drink plenty of water to promote uric acid clearance
- Restrict purine rich foods in your diet; red meats, yeast, poultry, organ meats, fish and shellfish. Spinach, asparagus, beans, lentils and mushrooms contain moderate amounts of purines
- Restrict refined carbohydrates and saturated fats
- Cherries and unsweetened cherry juice reduce uric acid levels and help prevent attacks
- Sour cherry contains very high levels of antioxidants beneficial for Gout sufferers, more so than sweet or tart cherries
- Celery seed reduces the concentration of uric acid in your blood, prevents uric acid accumulation in your joints and increases urinary clearance of uric acid
- Alfalfa increases uric acid clearance, reduces acidity in your body and decreases inflammation.
- Vitamin Chelps maintain healthy uric acid levels with higher vitamin C intake associated with lower blood uric acid levels
- Potassium helps reduce acidity in your body supporting healthy uric acid levels
