Gout is a condition where uric acid crystallizes between the connective tissue of the joints in the body. It usually affects the big toe, but inflammation can occur in the ankles, knees, shoulders, wrists and fingers. The result is excruciating pain that can take upwards of a week or more before subsiding. Some two million Americans are affected by gout. There are no cures, although medicines like Allopurinol attempt to slow down the production of uric acid that leads to the onset of a gout attack..
Uric acid is a by-product of the digestion process. In healthy adults, the body is capable of eliminating uric acid through the kidneys. For the gout sufferer, the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys fail to eliminate the excess. Excess acid finds its way to the joints and muscle tissue of the body where they form needle-like crystals. The crystals irritate the joints to produce swelling, redness, and with it, throbbing pain. Once the acid has crystallized, it can take weeks before the crystals dissolve and can be flushed from the body. If the condition persists too long or attacks occur too frequently, fingers and toes can be severely deformed.
Next to drugs, there are safe ways that help avoid the onset of the disease or, if an attack occurs, help to reduce the swelling and length of an attack.
The Need to Lose Weight
The majority of Americans today are overweight An overweight condition is largely responsible for the many diseases that are so prevalent in today's society. Obesity leads to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, including gout. Getting to a normal weight is essential for the prevention of gout.
However, weight loss must be gradual as crash diet and rapid weight loss can bring on further gout attacks. Gout sufferers should take a slow approach to losing weight.
A Natural Diet of Fruits and Vegetables
Today's typical diet consists of highly processed and refined foods. Many fruits and vegetables on store shelves come from commercial farming operations where the soil has been treated with chemical fertilizers and the crops repeatedly sprayed with pesticides. The consume eats these foods that create inflammation and abnormal blood sugar levels.
The only diet that works is a natural diet of high fiber, low carbohydrate foods. Fruits and vegetables should make up to 75% of a daily diet to prevent the onset of gout.. The South Beach diet has shown to be helpful for most gout sufferers.
The Need for Pure Water
Pure water helps the kidneys flush out excess uric acid. Once an attack of gout is in full swing, all alcoholic beverages must be avoided as they can make the condition worse. The same applies to soft drinks and diet sodas as they contain a great deal of sugar and their acidic content can aggravate gout.
Water should be clean as common tap water may contain fluoride and drug residues that pass through the filtration system.
The Benefits of Cherry Juice
Cherry juice helps neutralize uric acid. Four glasses of cherry juice every day should become a routine once an attack is in full swing. Eating cherries and other dark fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, red grapes, bananas, celery, broccoli and spinach can help reduce the length and severity of an attack.
Cherries can help dissolve the acid crystals in the joints so the body can better eliminate uric acid.
Stay Away from ASPIRIN®
ASPIRIN® can raise uric acid levels. Motrin and Advil are better choices and can help reduce swelling and ease the pain of an attack.
Similarly, many blood pressure medications can increase the severity of gout. It's best to check with a doctor as switching over to different blood pressure medications can help lessen the risk of developing a gout attack.
Start a Good Detoxification Program
A good detoxification program helps eliminate sediment wastes that lead to the formation of kidney stones that occur for many gout sufferers. A good bladder and kidney flush during an attack can help the body eliminate uric acid before it has the chance to crystallize in the joints.
A detoxification program should be a regular part of the lifestyle and not just during an attack. Considering the poor lifestyle many live today, detoxification is as necessary as supplementation.
Vitamin C for Gout Relief
Ascorbate vitamin C with bioflavonoids, found in many fruits, along with rutin is especially useful in relieving an attack of gout. 1/4 teaspoon of vitamin C in water taken every 4 hours for a week and 500 mg every day for a month can bring instant releif.
The pain of gout, as any sufferer will attest, is better prevented than treated. Like any of today's diseases, a change of lifestyle can eliminate future attacks.
Sources:
medicine.ox.ac.uk: "Weight Loss, Diet and Gout"; (Accessed Feb. 4, 2011)
nlm.nih.gov: "Allopurinol" (Accessed Feb. 4, 2011)
natural-health-remedies-4u.com: "Gout Natural Remedies" (Accessed Feb. 4, 20110
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