Gout vs Gender

                

>>  Get Your Treatment Now <<

 

Gout is an acute form of arthritis that results in sudden and chronic attacks of severe pain and inflammation in the joints; primarily the big toe, feet and legs. Although anyone can develop this condition, gout is more common among men than women. In fact, compared to women, men are four times more likely to develop gout. It is estimated that of the one million Americans who have gout, more than 80% are men.

Why are men so much more susceptible to gout than women? Gout is linked to hyperuricemia (abnormally high uric acid levels). Men have a substantially higher amount of uric acid in their system than women. During puberty, uric acid production increases in males and continues to climb. Therefore, by the time men reach their 40?s, their uric acid levels have been high for a prolonged period of time and can result in gout.

Women, on the other hand, tend to only become more susceptible to gout after they experience menopause, and are more likely to develop the arthritic condition in their 60?s. This is because after menopause, uric acid levels in women reach the levels of men, due to the fact that their estrogen levels have dropped. Estrogen helps to keep uric acid production under control.

What is uric acid? It is a waste product your body forms after it has broken down purines, which are natural substances, found in every cell within our body and are in virtually all the foods we eat. Purines are essential to the body because they provide the chemical structure that creates genes. In addition, uric acid functions as an antioxidant in the body, as it protects blood vessels and prevents their linings from becoming damaged. Therefore, a certain amount of purines and uric acid are essential to maintain the health and wellbeing of our bodies.

However, if uric acid levels become too high within the blood or in other parts of the body, it can build up and accumulate and form uric acid crystals. These crystals can be deposited into the joints, and organs.

What causes high uric acid levels? There are different causes for high uric acid levels including:

? Overproduction of uric acid ? The kidneys are in charge of filtering uric acid and releasing it through urine. However, if the body is producing too much uric acid the kidneys cannot expel enough of it. On the other hand, uric acid build up can also result if the kidneys are diseased and don?t function properly; if the person has an inherited enzyme abnormality; or blood cancer.

? Over consuming foods high in protein ? Foods high in protein are also high in purines and include organ meats (IE kidney, liver etc.) fish (IE sardines, mackerel, herring, muscles and anchovies), and food containing yeast.

? Medication ? Certain medications, especially diuretics, have been known to cause high levels of uric acid.

Obesity, eating lots of salty foods and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol can also contribute to high uric acid levels. Therefore, as you can see, due to the fact that men already have high levels of uric acid in their system, it doesn?t take much for a build up of uric acid to develop over time and progress into gout.

If you are looking for more help for Gout symptoms please visit CureGoutNow.com and sign up for a free newsletter.

Food and Gout: Know What To Avoid

                

>>  Get Your Treatment Now <<

 

Food and gout can be a dangerous combination. If you suffer from this condition, eating the wrong thing can lead to a painful attack that can last for hours, days, or even weeks.

Gout is a type of arthritis that can strike without warning. And what you eat and drink can make you more prone to gout attacks. So by avoiding, or cutting down on, certain foods and beverages, you can help cut down on your chances of suffering from this painful condition more than you have to.

Gout sufferers should avoid or limit foods that contain purine.

Gout is caused by swelling of the joints. When purines (substances produced naturally by your body, and also found in certain foods) break down, a waste product called uric acid is formed. When your body produces too much, or isn't able to get rid of enough, uric acid, this by-product can build up, causing crystals to form in your joints. The result is gout, and all the pain and inflammation that go with it.

Most foods contain purine. But eating foods high in purine can elevate the amount of uric acid in your system, and lead to a gout attack. Some foods to look out for are:

* Organ meats, like kidney and liver.

* Seafood, like mussels, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and herring

* Foods rich in protein, like pork roast, poultry, and roast beef.

* Vegetables like asparagus, cauliflower, lentils, mushrooms, and spinach.

* Whole grain breads and cereals, and oatmeal.

You should eat no more than 5 to 6 ounces of lean meat, fish, or poultry a day. If you're suffering from frequent gout attacks, consider cutting down even more on proteins. Also, limiting yourself to one serving a day of other purine rich foods will also help. If you eat oatmeal for breakfast, you might want to pass on having spinach for dinner.

Gout sufferers should avoid or limit alcohol.

Gout sufferers should really try to avoid alcohol. Alcohol not only contains a lot of purine, it also boosts the amount of uric acid produced by your body.

To avoid gout attacks, limit yourself to one drink per day, especially if you're drinking beer, which contains more purine than wine and spirits. If you're having a gout attack, it's best to avoid alcohol all together.

Gout sufferers should drink lots of water.

Drinking lots of water every day has many health benefits, especially for those with gout. Water can help flush uric acid from your system. Drinking plenty of water will also prevent dehydration, which can trigger a gout attack.

Everyone, especially those with gout, should drink at least five or six tall glasses of water every day.

Keep these tips in mind, and you can prevent painful gout attacks before they have the chance to strike.

For more health tips, visit The Tip Trove.

How To Control Your Symptoms of Gout

                

>>  Get Your Treatment Now <<

 

Diet is one of the best ways to deal with the symptoms of gout. Gout is an inflammation of the joints in your body. It most often occurs in the joint of the big toe and the ankle joints. While there are many different treatments for gout, diet and paying attention to your nutrition needs is one of the best ways to deal with symptoms of gout.

The Diet For Gout

If you would like help controlling the symptoms of gout through diet, research has produced a large quantity of information that suggests following the regimen below may help treat your debilitating condition.

First, try to drink plenty of water. Keeping water in your diet can help to flush the uric acid from your body. Uric acid crystalizes on your blood stream and settles in your joints, causing the painful inflammation. Drinking the water will help prevent this entire process from staring. Be sure to eat unprocessed foods as much as possible. Consuming fresh foods that have not been refined will really help control they symptoms of gout.

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soybeans, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and cold-water fish are must adds to your diet.

Eating unsweetened cherries, whether canned, fresh, or frozen, can also help immensely. Cherries and other deeply pigmented berries can help to lower the uric acid level in your body, preventing problems.

Moreover, staying away from purine-containing foods, like organ meats, beer, and baked goods, can keep the symptoms of gout at bay. At all costs, avoid alcohol, animal fat, red meat, fried food, and caffeine if you want to stay away from the symptoms of gout. Working on your diet will help relieve your symptoms and prevent your pain.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of an arthritis and gout website providing gout treatments as well as an answer to what helps gout pain and unbiased reviews of popular arthritis remedies.