Does A Gout Free Diet Really Exist - Or Is It A Outright Lie?

                

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Suffering through a gout attack will inspire anyone to find ways of managing their symptoms and diet has been a traditional treatment option, however does a gout free diet really exist?

Before you decide to blindly follow a gout friendly diet, it's worth understanding why what you eat can have such an impact on gout symptoms.

Gout occurs when the body is in a state of hyperuricemia; where there is an excess of uric acid in the bloodstream. This sounds scary but it really isn't. Hyperuricemia doesn't usually cause harm to your body, except in extreme circumstances, when it can lead to gout or the development of kidney stones.

In fact, lots of people have hyperuricemia and don't go on to develop gout. Hyperuricemia problems start when the bloodstream is overloaded with uric acid and, and it starts to leave deposits in the joints and connecting tissues that surround the joints. These deposits turn into sharp, jagged crystals that cause the inflammation and pain associated with a gout flare up.

So, how do you develop hyperuricemia? It is usually a hereditary issue, whereby you inherit a susceptibility to either over produce uric acid or eliminate uric acid too slowly from the body. This causes a build up of uric acid in the bloodstream, which can lead to other complications as well as gout, including kidney stones in some cases.

Uric acid is produced naturally in the body. Production is increased when we eat a diet high in purine, as the metabolizing purine naturally produces uric acid as a waste product. Uric acid levels can also go up due to some medications and illnesses.

When uric acid production is increased our kidneys normally speed up the elimination process, however when this does not happen gout can strike.

To minimize the levels of uric acid in our system we generally need to do two things, reduce the volume of uric acid produced and increase uric acid elimination. A gout Diet can help with both these factors.

It is important to note that if you?re a gout sufferer and overweight you need to lose those excess pounds. Being overweight or obese increases uric acid production and with your kidneys under strain already, elimination can be slowed down.

Don't go on a crash diet as this will have the opposite effect and actually raise uric acid levels and could bring on a gout attack. Instead, lose weight slowly through sensible eating and adding exercise into the mix.

The other vital action you need to take is to keep your body hydrated. You need to be drinking at least 8 - 10 eight ounce glasses of water a day and cut out or severely restrict your alcohol intake. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, which is dehydrating and can also contribute to an increase in uric acid production. Especially avoid beer as it high in purine.

When trying to reduce uric acid levels you are advised to follow a low-fat, low calorie and low-purine diet. This will help you to lose weight, if you need to, and maintain uric acid levels at an acceptable rate that your body can easily expel. The following foods are considered 'safe' gout foods:

Fresh cherries
Red or blue berries
Green-leafy vegetables
Red cabbage
Red peppers
Tomatoes
Celery
Fruit & fruit juices
Potatoes
Low-fat dairy products
Cereal based products
Rice
Nuts
Seeds
Tofu

Try adding herbs and spices to your foods to liven them up rather than relying on processed foods. You can also eat poultry, salmon and tuna in moderation.

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By following a gout free diet that consists of eating low purine foods, avoiding alcohol and drinking enough water you can successfully lower the concentration of uric acid found in the blood and therefore minimize the risk of further gout flare-ups.

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What Are The Common Signs Symptoms Gout Causes?

                

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Though the crystallization of uric acid in the joints is the cause of gout, it is not something that will be obvious right away. The signs and symptoms may or may not show up for years before pain is felt. There are some signs symptoms gout sufferers might experience that might not be thought of as part of this condition right away, and are often related to a painful flare up.

Gout may not be diagnosed until flare up occurs. Many times they will show up and be confused with something else before more telling signs show, and a doctor then might know to look for gout.

When a gout flare up is about to occur, a person might have a wide range of symptoms. These are common to may different conditions, and someone with these might think they are getting the flu or are just feeling under the weather.

Some people have similar feelings after eating or drinking too much of the wrong things, and they may just think the feelings are a result of that. They may experience dehydration and may have had an injury in a joint area. Surgery or stress can bring about a flare up, so if someone has just experienced either, they should look for the secondary signs.

Right before the flare up occurs, a patient will notice something is going on up to twenty-four hours before the pain sets in. Having a fever is very common, and this might also come with having the chills. The chills are often a direct result of fever, as the body is too hot and the air feels cooler on the skin. The problem with this is that those symptoms can mean almost anything, and they might not be attributed to a gout flare up until a person knows that they do indeed have gout.

When someone goes to see a doctor about gout, there are specific things they will look for. Some of these things might be evident to the patient as well, but they may not know what they mean. A doctor will test for high levels of uric acid and the crystals that they form. This is a blood test. These crystals might then be located in the joints, and this is most common in the big toe. There will be tenderness around any joints that are involved, and there may be skin problems. Movement of involved joints may very well be painful.

A patient will know they are having a gout attack when they feel pain in the affected joints. This might be very severe pain that is accompanied by stiffness. The joint might feel hot to the touch and extremely tender.

When the signs symptoms gout produces appear, and it is obvious a flare up is occurring, a person should lie down and rest as much as possible. It is important to keep weight off of the joint. Ice or heat might help with the pain, and something like ibuprofen can be taken for inflammation. Once someone is sure they are experiencing a bout of gout, they should call their doctor for advice and the possibility of a prescription if needed.

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Learn About Gout And Simple Ways To Treat It

                

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To put it very simply, gout is the inflammation of the joints when excess amounts of uric acid crystallize in the joints. Uric acid is a waste product that occurs in the blood due to the breakdown of purines. People who are afflicted by gout do not have the capacity to break down and excrete this excess uric acid from their body. Consequently, the uric acid level in their blood goes up. Slowly, sharp crystal shards of uric acid are formed in the joints and cause painful inflammation. An attack of gout can strike like a bolt from the blue. The excruciating, throbbing pain turns the skin red-hot and the affected joints become tender and swollen.

We all have uric acid in our blood, but those who are unfortunate enough to suffer from gout either produce too much uric acid or cannot excrete enough of it. Often, the big toe is the prime target of the inflammation. So, gouty arthritis is often called ?gouty big toe?. But gout can affect other joints of the body including the heel of the hand, the ear, ankles, knees, elbows or wrists.

While Gout can appear in just about anybody, the typical victim is a slightly overweight middle-aged male who has a family history of gout. Out of the 2.5 million people who suffer from gout, at least 80% are middle-aged males. Women are prone to higher levels of uric acid after they reach menopause.

To control gout, we need to have an understanding of the factors that lead to the excessive formation of uric acid in the blood. About one-third of the uric acid in the body comes from food and alcohol. Here is a list of food that contains high amounts of purines (uric acid is a waste product of purines):

-Beets
-Yeast
-Alcohol
-Organ meat
-Sardines in oil, herring and fish roes
-Mushroom, spinach, cauliflower, asparagus
-Lentil beans and peas
-High fat dairy products

A person who has gout must restrain him or herself from eating food that is rich in purines. But, gout is not caused by food alone. Poor kidney function works in conjunction with the food you eat to build up the uric acid levels in the blood.

How to control Gout

Other than avoiding the foods listed above, another effective strategy to combat the uric acid build-up is to drink plenty of water. Water detoxifies the system, and by increasing urination helps to avoid the crystallization process. Crystallization happens only when the uric acid levels are excessively high in the blood. Ample exercise also helps in reducing gout by increasing the blood circulation in the body.

Certain foods like tofu, nuts and olive oil seem to help a weak kidney in eliminating uric acid from the bloodstream. A diet that has plenty of complex carbohydrates (whole grain bread and pastas, certain fruits, and vegetables) also alleviates the symptoms. If you suffer from high blood pressure, you must make sure the medication you use does not inadvertently increase the uric acid level in your blood. For some unknown reason, gout seems to attack a joint that has been previously traumatized. Therefore, try to avoid injuries and wear comfortable shoes.

Managing Gout

There is no immediate medication for Gout. You can only adopt certain steps that will make the pain manageable. At a time when most patients cannot even bear the weight of a bed sheet on a sore joint, keeping the afflicted joint elevated and at rest is one of the best things to do. An icepack may numb the area and reduce pain. Use a painkiller that reduces inflammation. Some medications like aspirin can worsen matters by causing a rise in Uric Acid levels.

Gray Rollins is a writer for GoutOptions.com. To learn more about gout treatments and gout relief, visit us.