The Acidic Foods To Avoid With Gout Diets

                

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Most people when choosing a gout friendly diet will look to cut out or reduce foods high in purine, as metabolizing purine in the body leads to increased levels of uric acid, which is the cause behind gout symptoms. However, high purine foods may not be the only foods to avoid with gout.

Some researchers have established a link between body acidity and gout. The more acidic your body is, the higher the possibility of developing gout. Conversely, having a more alkaline system encourages rapid uric acid elimination.

As the body becomes more acidic, uric acid elimination slows down dramatically. This is due to the pressure the body comes under trying to process both the uric acid and the acidic foods. The kidneys become strained and are less effective in expelling excess uric acid.

Acidity is measured using a pH value ranging between 0 - 14, with 0-6 being acidic, 7 is neutral and 8-14 is alkaline. Where gout is concerned it is less about the pH value of the food, rather what that food does to the pH level of the body during and after digestion.

The higher the pH levels of the body (an alkaline state) the easier it is for uric acid to be dissolved in the blood stream and eliminated via the kidneys. The lower the pH i.e. the more acidic the body pH the harder it is to process uric acid.

Therefore, a constantly low pH value can cause your body to decrease it's processing of uric acid, leading to hyperuricemia.

Hyperuricemia is a medical term for a raised uric acid level in the blood, and can lead to gout. As the levels of uric acid become higher there is nowhere for any more uric acid to go, so it is deposited in crystal form in the spaces and connective tissues between the joints.

Usually gout strikes the big toe joint or one of the other joints in the foot or ankle, although it can rear its ugly head in any joint. The reason that gout occurs most commonly in the foot or ankle is because those joints furthest away from the heart and uric acid crystallizes in lower temperatures.

Uric acid is formed during the processing and breaking down of purines in the body. This is a natural substance that is produced during cellular building and is also found in a lot of the foods we eat. Purine-rich foods include:
Red meats
Shellfish
Legumes
Offal
Mushrooms
Yeast extracts
Processed meats

To tackle raised uric levels in the blood it is wise to restrict your intake of these foods until your gout is under control and uric acid levels have stabilized.

Acidic foods that impact the pH of your body are:
Beef
Lobster
Pheasant
Ice Cream
Processed Cheese
Barley
Processed Flour
Some Nuts
Soybean
Soda
Cocoa
Yeast
Hops
Table Salt
Sugar
Fried Food

Like anything, it is not a good idea to drastically change your diet overnight. The best way for your body to process the changes is to introduce amendments slowly that your body can get used to the different foods and keep its processing running on maximum.

You should be aiming to reduce your body's pH level slowly. You can monitor these changes by purchasing a home urine or saliva testing kit. Try to balance your diet to include 70% of foods alkaline in nature and 30% acidic.

You can find out more about the natural ways to soothe gout symptoms on our web site.

By having a greater understanding of which foods to avoid with gout, you have a better chance of bringing your symptoms under control and preventing further gout flare-ups.

By Lisa McDowell. Sign up for a free newsletter & discover how a knowledge of foods to avoid with gout can be an effective natural cure for gout.