Showing posts with label Gout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gout. Show all posts

Mar 22, 2015

A Must Eat Foods For Gout Person

Gout is often referred to as the 'old man's' disease, as it is eight times more prevalent in men than women, and its prevalence increases with age. The ailment is a complex form of arthritis, and causes sudden, severe pain, redness and tenderness in joints. Frequently affected is the joint at the base of the big toe. The pain of gout attacks are often described as acute, and can wake one with a jolt. It is caused by sharp, needle like urate crystals which accumulate around the joint, and cause inflammation, swelling and intense pain. Urate crystals form due to high levels of uric acid in the blood.

Uric acid is a by-product of the process of the breaking down of purines, which are substances found naturally in the body, as well as in certain foods. As it is usually present in the body, it (uric acid) dissolves in one's blood and passes through the kidneys into the urine. However, at times either too much uric acid is produced, or the kidneys excrete too little uric acid. This is when it can build up and form into crystals. While gout can be effectively treated with gout medication, what can also help is following a gout diet. Foods to eat would obviously be those that have a low content of purines.

Foods to Avoid in a Gout Diet

It goes without saying that, one must strictly avoid foods rich in purines. Some of the purine rich foods that are to be avoided with gout are as follows:
  • Herring
  • Organ meats (liver, kidney, brain)
  • Mushrooms
  • Anchovies
  • Asparagus
  • Sweetbreads
  • Sardines
  • Mackerel
  • Mussels
  • Yeast
  • Smelt
  • Grouse, mutton, veal, bacon
  • Salmon, trout, scallops
  • Turkey, goose, pheasant
  • Partridge
  • Haddock
  • Alcohol (not a food, but to be avoided nonetheless).
Gout Diet: Foods to Eat

An ideal gout diet, is a balanced one. All recommendations place great emphasis on a balanced diet comprising fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk products. When on a gout diet, foods to eat (in MODERATE quantities) include:
  • Foods high in vitamin C, which include red cabbage, tangerines, red bell peppers, potatoes, mandarins and oranges. The reason behind this is that vitamin C may reduce the levels of uric acid in your blood. However, too much of vitamin C may increase your body's uric acid levels. Hence, consume it in its natural form and in moderate quantities.
  • Cherries have also been associated with lower levels of uric acid, so one may include cherries, blackberries, blueberries, purple grapes and raspberries (dark-colored fruits) to their diet, in moderate amounts.
  • Safe foods to eat with gout include vegetables such as kale, cabbage, parsley and green-leafy vegetables in your diet. Vegetables that are moderately high in purines are asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, peas, spinach, kidney and lima beans.
  • Include complex carbohydrates such as whole grain breads, cereals and pasta in your diet.
  • There is a possibility that low-fat dairy products may actually have a protective effect against gout, so try to make them your primary sources of protein.
  • Keep your daily consumption of lean meat, fish and poultry to 4 to 6 ounces (114 to 170 grams).
In addition to the foods you can eat with gout, try to keep these guidelines, by the American Medical Association for people with gout, in mind. One must eat:
  • Foods low in protein (15% of calories and sources should be soy, lean meats, or poultry).
  • High in complex carbohydrates (fiber-rich whole grains, fruits, and vegetables).
  • No more than 30% of calories in fat (with only 10% animal fats).
Another strongly made dietary recommendation is to have a daily intake of at least 8 to 16 cups of water, which measures up to about 2 to 4 liters of fluid each day, half of which must be water. However, ensure that none of it is alcohol, as recent evidence suggests that beer may be particularly likely to increase the risk of gout symptoms, especially in men. The reason why even the gout diet foods to eat, must be consumed in moderation is because maintaining a healthy body weight is very important. Healthy weight loss may decrease uric acid levels in your body.

Foods To Avoid That Cause Gout

Gout is caused by a condition known as hyperuricemia, the buildup of uric acid crystals in blood. The excess uric acid gets deposited in joints and tendons, in the form of sharp crystals. Such deposits cause swelling and pain in the affected joints. Persistent hyperuricemia may lead to the formation of lumps called tophi under the skin around joints. Accumulation of excess uric acid crystals in kidneys may also lead to kidney stones.

Uric acid is the end product of purine catabolism in the body, and is excreted through urine. An excess of uric acid can occur due to a failure in the excretion of uric acid, genetic predisposition, obesity, cancer as also due to certain medications. Apart from these factors, certain foods with a rich purine content are also linked to an excess of uric acid in the body. Such dietary influence on gout has been explained below, followed by a list of foods that may cause (or contribute to) hyperuricemia.

Gout and Diet

Gout has long been linked to sumptuous meals, and is known as 'Disease of the Kings' or 'Rich Man's Disease'. Seafood, organ meat, poultry, and other purine-rich foods, as well as alcoholic and carbonated beverages have been linked to gout. Though, it is a fact that certain foods cause gout, statistics reveal that only 12% of gout cases are caused by dietary factors.

The basic link between food and gout is 'purines', which are organic nitrogenous compounds present in the cells of every living organism. Purines consumed through dietary sources are broken down to uric acid, which is flushed out of the body through urine. Hence, increased intake of foods rich in purines will lead to an increase in the amount of uric acid in blood, which may cause gout in some people.

Acute gout usually affects a single joint, and is characterized by the sudden onset of symptoms like joint pain, swelling and redness, which subside within a week. If ignored or untreated, this condition may progress to a chronic state involving repeated episodes of inflammation and pain in several joints.

Which Foods Cause Gout?

As mentioned earlier, purine-rich foods cause gout by increasing the uric acid levels of blood. However, not just the amount of purine but the food family also matters. Research indicates that purine-rich vegetables are safer than purine-rich meat and fish, as far as their association with gout is concerned. Alcoholic beverages, sweetened soft drinks, and high-fat foods have been associated with an increased risk for gout.

The different food items that cause or trigger gout have been listed below.

Foods With High Purine Content

Seafood
Anchovies
Sardines
Herrings
Shrimp
Scallops

Meat
Organ meats (kidney, liver, brain, etc.)
Mincemeat
Processed meat
Meat gravy

Others
Beer
Yeast extract

Foods With Moderate Purine Content

Seafood
Lobsters
Clams
All other fish except those mentioned in the above category

Meat
Red meat (beef, pork, lamb)
Poultry
Meat soup
Meat broth
Meat extract

Vegetables
Asparagus
Spinach
Mushrooms
Beans
Peas

Other Foods that Cause Hyperuricemia

Natural Diuretics
Celery
Lemon
Licorice
Eggplant
Cucumber

Beverages
Liquor
Carbonated beverages
Sweetened soft drinks
Sweetened fruit juices

Others
Deep-fried foods
Sweetened foods
Hydrogenated oils
High-fat dairy products

While excessive intake of high-purine foods may cause gout in some people, such foods may worsen the symptoms experienced by those already suffering from this disease. However, the exact food items that trigger gout may vary for each individual. Hence, instead of avoiding all these foods, one must identify and avoid the specific ones that trigger his/her symptoms.

In addition, one must opt for low-fat dairy products, whole-grain products, potassium-rich foods along with foods high in complex carbohydrates and complex proteins. Following a healthy lifestyle and ensuring healthy eating habits is the key to avoid or control gout and the associated symptoms.

Foods That Contains Low Purine

Purine is a substance that is found in the majority of foods that we consume and when purines are broken down by the body it produces uric acid. Uric acid is a waste by-product that is filtered out by the kidneys before being eliminated from the body. However some people are not able to flush out the uric acid from the body which can lead to gout.

Gout is a condition where there is a buildup of uric acid in the body which leads to the formation of urate crystals. These crystals which forms generally in the joints cause swelling and inflammation accompanied with severe pain. Although a gout attack can be treated with medicines, making dietary changes can help to prevent an attack. Limiting the amount of purine by consuming low purine foods is the best way to manage gout. Let us make a list of these low purine food items which will aid in drawing up a low purine diet.

Low Purine Foods Lists

Food Name Total Purines in mg
Apple 14
Broccoli 81
Strawberry 21
Potato 16
Orange 19
Dried Fig 64
Cucumber 7.3
Kale 48
Lettuce 13
Grape 27
Watercress 28
Cheddar Cheese 6
Green Pepper 55
Oyster Mushroom 50
Marinated Green Olives 29
Peanuts 79
Leek 74
Cantaloupe 33
Kiwi fruit 19
Cauliflower 51
Brussels Sprouts 69
Carrot 17
Aubergine 21
Banana 57
Soya beans 80
Cabbage 22
Cherry 7.1
Hazelnuts 37
Green Peas 84
Pineapple 19
Peach 21
Rhubarb 12
Chicory 12
Vienna Sausage 78
Spinach 57
Tofu 68
Yogurt 8.1
Tomato 11

High Purine Foods List

If you are suffering from gout then you need to avoid eating foods that are high in purine. Here is a list of foods that are high in purine.
  • Anchovies
  • Sweetbread
  • Consomme
  • Gravy
  • Sardines
  • Goose
  • Mincemeat
  • Mackerel
  • Mushrooms
  • Caviar
  • Tuna fish in Oil
  • Mussels
  • Sardines
  • Scallops
  • Bouillon
  • Red meat
  • Fish Roe
  • Foie Gras
It is best to avoid these food items. In addition to these dietary changes, a person suffering from gout should also take care of the following things.
  • Limit the amount of fat and increase the water intake. Drinking adequate amounts of liquid will keep the body hydrated and will help in flushing out the extra uric acid.
  • You also need to go easy on alcohol and should avoid drinking beer, whiskey, rum and gin as they contain very high amounts of purine.
  • If you are overweight you have a greater tendency of having a gout attack. It is best to lose the extra flab by opting for moderate exercise regularly. Do not indulge in any fad diets or quick weight loss schemes as you will end up harming your body.
  • Maintain an ideal body weight and follow a diet that is high in complex carbohydrates and low in protein.
  • Switch to brown rice and whole wheat bread and eat dairy products that are low-fat like skimmed milk, low-fat cheese and organic yogurt.
  • When you dine out or attend a party do not go overboard with the food and stick to healthy options like a clear soup instead of a cream based soup.
  • If you are having a salad, order a low-fat vinaigrette dressing instead of creamy dressings smothered in mayonnaise.
  • People suffering from gout should have no more than two to three eggs a week.
  • Avoid eating tofu and red meat altogether and have freshwater fish which is low in purine.
  • You also need to avoid organ meat like liver, brain, kidneys and heart of chicken, turkey or lamb.
So, this was all about low purine foods and how it should be incorporated in your diet to avoid a gout attack. Following a diet of low purine food for gout has been proved quite successful to decrease gout attack.

Cherry Juice is Best Medicine To Treat Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis which is found in both men and women. The most cases, patients affected by gout experience pain in the big toe. However, it can also affect other joints of the body, including the elbows, fingers, ankles, hips, heels, thumbs, etc. In recent years, results of research conducted showed that cherry juice is an effective method of treating gout. However, before we discuss on remedial value of cherry juice, let us try to know more about the causes and effects of gout.

Gout: Causes and Effects
  • Uric acid is produced in human body during the process of breaking down of chemicals called purines. Normally, this uric acid is thrown out of the body in the form of urine.
  • Sometimes, our body is likely to experience an abnormal rise in production of uric acids. In other cases, the kidneys become incapable to excrete uric acid from the body.
  • When the level of uric acid increases in the blood, it transforms into urate crystals which are sharp like needles and get collected in the different joints of the body, making the person experience a painful inflammation. This leads to a condition called gout.
  • The most common symptom of gout is extreme joint pain, especially in the big toe. The area where a person experiences the pain may swell and appear purplish or red in color.
  • Some people have also said that they feel a warm sensation in the affected area.
  • There are chances of people getting fever while suffering from gout.
  • The condition of gout can be hereditary. Similarly, people who are overweight, addicted to alcohol or cigarettes are prone to get affected by gout. Regular use of certain medications like aspirin, levodopa, diuretics,etc, increases chances of getting afflicted by gout.
Cherry Juice for Treatment

When a person is diagnosed with gout, the first thing a doctor may recommend is a painkiller to relieve the excruciating pain in the joints. Though the pain lessens, it is just a temporary relief and it may trigger again after one stops taking pills. Along with this, the physician may prescribe certain medication for treating gout. However, the problem with these pills is that they have lots of side effects and can cause harm to your body, if taken over a long period of time. Hence, consuming cherry juice is stated as a safer option to cure gout.

Cherry juice as a remedy for gout was accidentally discovered by Dr. Ludwig W. Blau from Texas in 1950, when he himself had gout. Later, he tested the effects of cherries and cherry juices on other people who suffered from gout and found positive results. Since then, several tests and researches have been conducted to see the benefits of this juice for gout treatment, and it has been found that cherries help in lowering uric acid in the body substantially, thus helping to treat gout.

How Does Cherry Juice Work?

Cherries contain antioxidants and flavonoids that are necessary for the body to fight a number of diseases. Antioxidants and flavonoids are components that have the ability to fight free radicals that cause cancer. Apart from that, flavonoids are responsible for the color of the fruits and plants. Cherries are made of flavonoids called anthocyanins that give them the rich red color. However, the main function of anthocyanins is that it is an anti-inflammatory agent which causes the uric acid level in the blood to decrease, thus helping in healing the tissues of joints that got damaged due to gout.

Gout and Black Cherry Juice
  • Though studies have shown that all the varieties of cherries and cherry juice are good for treating gout, black cherry juice is the most preferred among them.
  • Whichever form of cherry juice you choose for treating gout, one thing you have to keep in mind is that it should be of a very good quality. If you prefer sweeter cherry juice, you can go for cherry juice concentrate for gout treatment.
  • Initially, the patient should drink a cup of cherry juice at least twice a day. If you have opted for the concentrated cherry juice, mix two tablespoons of the concentrate with water and drink this two times, everyday. This has to continue till the symptoms of gout lowers, after which one can decrease the dosage.
  • The results of drinking this juice will vary from person to person. While some people experience relief from pain within a few hours, there are others who have to consume cherry juice regularly for weeks and sometimes even months to experience any change.
  • The amount of cherry juice one has to consume after the symptoms subside tends to differ for different people. Some people have reported that they just need to take one tablespoon of cherry juice in a month, while there are others who have to strictly follow the daily intake of cherry juice.
People who are facing the problem of gout should try cherry juice, and I am sure that they will get to see positive results. However, one must remember that apart from cherry juice, it is also necessary to make some permanent dietary changes and follow the gout diet to get rid of this problem completely.

Jan 26, 2013

Gout Natural Treatments

The word "gout" typically evokes a classic image of a middle-aged, overweight man suffering an attack after over-consumption of a diet of red meat and alcohol. This is partly true, but there are also many other causes that bring on this painful affliction.


Gout is basically caused by the over-production of uric acid, or reduced excretion of uric acid by the kidneys, both causing a buildup in the body. Uric acid crystals then form in the joints of the feet, elbows, ankles, knees, wrists and fingers, and may also involve the kidneys, blood and soft tissue.

Other risk factors of developing gout include genetic causes, excessive high protein diets which raise ketone levels in the blood, kidney damage, cancer, psoriasis, lead toxicity, large amounts of purine-containing foods, excessive Vitamin C (more than 3gm daily) or Vitamin B3 (more than 50mg daily).

Natural remedies that can alleviate gout and lower uric acids

There are some natural remedies that alleviate gout, including the following:
  • Celery seed extract has anti-inflammatory compounds and may prevent further gout attacks by eliminating uric acid in the body.
  • Berry fruit such as cherries and strawberries contain anthocyanosides with anti-inflammatory and uric acid lowering abilities. Eat them fresh or blend into a delicious smoothie.
  • Vitamin C (500mg daily) can also help to reduce uric acid levels but too high a dose may have the opposite effect.
  • Ginger and turmeric can increase circulation and reduce inflammation. Add them to your food or take as a supplement.
  • Antioxidants such as vitamin E, bilberries, grape seed and pine bark extracts have the added benefits of lowering inflammation and reducing uric acid levels.
Dietary changes to prevent gout attacks

It is very important to lower your intake of purine foods such as organ meats, asparagus, seafood, yeast and mushrooms, as purines are also formed in the body by the metabolism of proteins. Tofu is a great source of protein that increases uric acid elimination, as does a higher complex carbohydrate and low-fat diet.

It is equally necessary to avoid alcohol and it may even be possible to end gout attacks just by giving it up and and increasing intake of water, juices and herb teas that dilute urine and increase elimination of uric acid.

Medications that are prescribed for treatment of gout

Various medications for gout may be prescribed by your doctor, one of which may be colchicine. Extreme care must be taken with this drug as it should only be taken under strict guidelines. Overuse or long term use can have toxic or even fatal effects.

Vitamin C precaution: People with kidney disease should consult their health care professional when taking vitamin C supplements. It can increase the absorption of iron from foods, so those with hemochromatosis should not take vitamin C supplements.

Cherries An Effective Treatment for Gout?

Gout is a common type of arthritis (inflammation of the joint), caused due to increased concentration of uric acid in the blood.


Uric acid is released by the breakdown of purines. In gout, the uric acid gets deposited in the joints, tendons, kidneys and other tissues, where it causes inflammation and consequent damage.

How Do Cherries Treat Gout?

Cherries are of particular use in the effective and prompt management of gout.

People suffering from gout have abnormally high levels of uric acid in the blood. Under certain specific circumstances, the body either produces too much of uric acid or excretes too little. Consequently, the serum levels of uric acid shoot up. As the uric acid concentration increases, uric acid crystals are formed. These crystals accumulate in the joints and cause pain and swelling.

Cherries are loaded with anthocyanidins. Anthocyanidins are flavanoids that exert strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity. These anthocyanidins inhibit the activity of the enzyme xanthine oxidase that is involved in the production of uric acid.

Clinical trials and laboratory assessments reveal that consuming about 250 grams of cherries per day helps lower the blood uric acid level appreciably and prevents attacks of gout.

Also, the anthocyanidins block the COX 1 and the COX 2 enzymes, and thus act as powerful anti-inflammatory agents, which in turn reduces inflammation, swelling, pain and discomfort associated with the disorder.

Including Cherries in the Daily Diet of a Gout Patient

While selecting cherries, look for those which are cool and moist. The skin should be bright and glossy. The fruit should be firm, but not hard. Avoid those which are soft and squishy, and have cuts and bruises. Brown discoloration is an indication for decay.

Here are some wonderful and delectable ideas to add the fruit to the daily diet to get a minimum of 250 grams of cherries per day:
  • Instead of strawberry shortcake, opt for cherry shortcake. Halve a low fat food cake and layer it with diced sweet cherries and a dollop of vanilla yogurt. It makes a yummy, yet wholesome dessert.
  • Top yogurt with sliced cherries, or blend cherries in a food processor and mix with yogurt to get a delicious and nutritious smoothie.
  • Cherry soup is an excellent way of getting the daily dose of the fruit. Sweet or sour cherries can be used for the soup. Cook the cherries in water. Simmer until they are soft. Then puree them. Add honey as per taste and chill. Serve cold.
In addition to the cherry diet, ensure that the intake of purine rich foods – herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, organ meat, yeast, legumes, mushroom, peas, shellfish and spinach is low. A low-purine, low-fat, low-protein and high-fluid diet promises complete freedom from gout.

Reference:

Curr Opin Rheumatol, "Gout: Can Management be Improved?", Schlesinger, N., and H. R. Schumacher, Jr., 2001.
Tex Rep Biol Med, "Cherry Diet Control for Gout and Arthritis," Blau, l. W., 1950.