Gout was once known as a disease fit for kings because the condition was associated with a person over indulgence in food and alcohol that only rich and wealthy could afford.
Gout can affect anyone and are due to a variety of causes.
You would not want to have gout because it is very painful and can cripple you for days at a time.
It got worse and terribly painful with every gout attack.
Walking for any length of distance or any kind of physical exertion are sure to cause you pain and can be calculated on every step per effort you put in.
By managing your food intake, you are able to prevent gout.
What is Gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis and it is the most painful, resulted from the needle-like deposits of uric acid crystal between the bones of your joints.
These crystals formation causes the swelling and inflammation of your toe.
Compare to acute gout which affects only one joint, chronic gout affect multiple joints and can leads to recurring episodes of pain and inflammation.
Gout runs in the family and is most common in men.
Gout also affects those with kidney disease, diabetes or anaemia and those on certain medications.
What is uric acid?
The breakdown of foods that contain purines, creates uric acid or metabolic waste causes the formation of uric acid crystals.
Uric acid in your blood travels to your kidneys to be secreted as urine.
Normally it does not cause much problem but when your body has difficulty getting rid of uric acid, high concentration of uric acid will happen.
Excessive uric acid leads to gout as well as the buildup of kidney stones, this condition is called hyperuricemia.
Dietary prevention
Compare to other type of arthritis, gout can be controlled by diet and changes in your lifestyle.
When you put on weight, overweight or obese, you are at higher risk of developing gout, maintaining a normal weight is important.
You must reduce your intake of foods that are rich in purines or avoided them altogether.
Foods high in purines are red meat, offal and some seafood.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages can triggers the episodes of gout, beer plays an important role in gout attack.
Alcoholic beverages are known to limit the ability of your kidneys to clear uric acid from your body and certain types of alcohol especially beer are a rich sources of purines.
It will take awhile to manage your gout by using some form of trial and error method but careful monitoring of your lifestyle and diet can go a long way in preventing and prevent the recurring of gout.
By not eating foods high in purine content enable you to prevent yourself from the onset of Gout.
Purine content in foods
High Content
Anchovies or sardines, herrings, kidneys, liver, sweetbreads (the pancreas and thymus glands of calves or lambs), yeast and alcohol (beer).
Medium Content
Shellfish and other seafood, red meat, poultry, beans, lentils, spinach, oatmeal, wheat, germ and bran.
Low Content
Fruits, vegetables, nuts, breads, cereal, eggs and dairy products.
Foods to eat
• Cherries, strawberries, blueberries and red berries
• Bananas
• Celery
• Tomatoes
• Green leafy vegetables, kale, cabbage and parsley
• High in bromelain foods such as pineapple
• Foods high in vitamin C such as red bell peppers, red cabbage, tangerines, mandarin oranges and potatoes
• Fruit juices and purified water (drink at least 8 glasses daily)
• Low-fat dairy products
• Complex carbohydrates examples breads and cereals, pasta, rice, fruits and also vegetables
• Chocolate and cocoa
• Coffee and tea
• Carbonated beverages
• Essential fatty acids such as fishes like tuna and salmon and also seeds, flaxseed and nuts
• And Tofu, although tofu is a soybeans base legume it is a better choice than meat
Foods that is moderately high in purines may not increase your risk of gout, such foods include; asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, peas, spinach, whole grain breads and cereals, chicken, duck, ham, turkey, kidney and lima beans.
Purines can be found in all types of protein foods and you should not eliminate all sources of purines in your diet just be moderate with your choices.
Maintain a low purine diet to reduce the painful attack of gout.
Posted by: Mo Salle
Read related articles:
• What Causes Gout?
• A Few Cherries A Day Keep Gout Away
Books You Can Buy And Read:
 | Uric Acid |
 | On Gout: Its History, Its Causes And Its Cure |
 | Getting Rid Of Gout |
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