How To Find The Best Diets For Gout

                

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Approximately 1 in every 363 people in the US have gout. So it is not surprising there are a lot of people looking for the best diets for gout, and the relief they can offer.

If you've had a gout attack you know just how painful it can be - a swollen, red, hot-to-the-touch, painful and stiff joint or joints. Once someone has had gout, they will do almost anything not to go through it again.

Urate crystals forming in the spaces between your joints and in the soft tissues surrounding the joints cause gout. These crystals have sharp, jagged edges that dig into the joint, causing inflammation and pain.

One of the differences between gout and 'normal' arthritis is the swiftness in which symptoms present themselves. Usually a gout sufferer has no idea that an attack is looming and will wake up in the middle of the night with a very sore joint, usually the big toe. This can be pretty worrying when the initial attack occurs, as many people don't associate the symptoms with arthritis, but as perhaps an infection or bite of some sort.

In order for urate crystals to form in the joints a person needs to have hyperuricemia. This condition, although not dangerous in itself, develops when there is an excess of uric acid in the blood stream.

When accumulation of uric acid in the blood reaches saturation point, urate crystals form. They strike the foot and ankle joints commonly, as these joints are cooler than the rest of the body and urate crystals need a cooler environment in which to form.

Uric acid is formed during the breakdown of purines in the body. Purine is found naturally in the body and also eaten in the food we eat in our diets. They are particularly high in animal proteins. For this reason, following a gout friendly diet is advisable if you've had a gout attack or gout runs in your family.

Unfortunately, some people are predisposed to gout, as their bodies do not efficiently eliminate uric acid. These people need to be especially careful with their diets to keep the levels of purine in the diet low.

Uric acid is dissolved in our blood and from there taken to the kidneys to be processed and eliminated in urine. If there is a problem with the processing function, either too much uric acid is produced, or the kidneys can't keep up, a build up occurs leading to hyperuricemia.

By avoiding foods high in purine we can help to reduce the amount of uric acid produced by the body.

Purine is found in a lot of what we eat, however, there are some purine-rich foods that are best avoided by gout sufferers ? Some of these are:

red meats
offal
processed meat
some shellfish
gravy
yeast and yeast extracts
alcohol

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When adopting a diet for gout you should look to avoid or severely restrict your intake of purine rich foods and eat instead a low fat, low purine diet. This doesn't have to mean dull and boring though, as there are many foods that fall into this category.

You'll notice that alcohol is on the foods to avoid list. This is because it raised uric acid production and alcohol like beer is high in purine. When having an attack all alcohol should be avoided.

Once your symptoms have disappeared you could introduce some alcohol back into your diet, however, it should only be in moderation or you may run the risk of inducing another attack.

Staying sufficiently hydrated is very important for everyone, but more so for gout sufferers as it helps to dilute the uric acid and allows the kidneys to flush excess uric acid through your system faster.

By working out which are the best diets for gout and knowing what to avoid you increase your chances of removing your gout symptoms quickly and efficiently.

By Lisa McDowell. Sign up for a free newsletter & discover which are the best diets for gout and how they can be an effective as a natural cure for gout.

Gout Linked To Diabetes

                

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Gout and diabetes have been together longer than peanut butter and jelly. These two sinister diseases have been wreaking havoc on the human population for many years, but why?

Before we discuss the connection between diabetes and gout, let?s review exactly what diabetes is. Diabetes is a disease where sufferers inject insulin to treat high levels of sugar in the body. A diabetes sufferer doesn?t make enough insulin by themselves so they need injections on a daily basis. Sometimes, patients need multiple injections per day to remain healthy.

While this may not sound like such a big deal, the major headache associated with diabetes come from the practically endless list of long-term problems that result from it.

The list of complications associated with diabetes reads like a laundry list of debilitating diseases: cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, severe eye damage, nerve damage, sexual dysfunction and possible gangrene, which can lead to amputation.

It?s here that gout shows its ugly face. The connection between gout and diabetes is linked to poor blood circulation in the limbs. The chances of coming down with gout increase when poor circulation in the feet result in a build-up of uric acid in the joints. Poor circulation is a hallmark of diabetes, so the two illnesses are closely associated.

So, what can be done?

While there is no cure for diabetes, there are some treatments available to help increase blood flow to parts of the body.

One of the most basic treatment methods is the application of a warm, wet cloth or towel to the infected area. The heat and moisture can help dilate blood vessels in the foot, therefore increasing blood flow.

If this rudimentary treatment doesn?t work, there are other options.

Exercise is a common way to help increase blood flow to the limbs. This may be difficult, however, for sufferers of gout, since standing or putting any pressure on a gout-ridden foot tends to be excruciating. So this works best as a preventative measure.

Drinking an extra glass or two of water per day has shown to help blood flow problems.

There are also many all-natural supplements that you can add to your diet to help put an end to gout outbreaks associated with diabetes.

Cayenne tincture has been a long-used cure all for anyone suffering from circulation problems. The herb has shown in studies to not only increase circulation, but also help in clearing the arteries and strengthening the muscles around the heart.

Ginkgo biloba is another herb that has many benefits for the body beyond simply improving circulation. While it does a fine job in that, ginkgo can also help improve memory, help with asthma symptoms and helps strengthen blood vessels.

If you?re looking to improve your circulation, keep gout away and scare off vampires, than garlic is the herb for you. Not only will it help your blood move easier, it is an excellent blood cleanser and helps with high blood pressure.

In conclusion, diabetes and gout are inexorably linked. While you may not be able to fully avoid gout if you suffer from diabetes, there are ways to help lessen your chances of coming down with this painful joint condition.

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Finding a Diet to Fight Gout

                

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Gout is a condition that affects millions of Americans and as yet, there is no single cure. It can be treated, however but may occur from time to time, depending on the individual's exposure to risk factors. One of these factors affecting gout is diet.

As in most conditions, diet plays a major role in the regulation of body functions and in promoting healing. A gout diet mainly promotes the reduction of purine intake and decreasing the production of uric acid in the body. A diet designed to manage gout goes hand-in-hand with other treatments that a patient may be using to alleviate the symptoms.

The link with obesity A study in 1986 and a follow-up study in 1998 indicates that compared to those who were overweight, men who lost at least 10 lbs. had a nearly 40% chance of lowering the risk of gout. People who are considered obese are nearly 5 times more likely to develop gout than does with average weight and people with hypertension are twice as likely of developing it.

Losing weight and maintaining it within recommended range will also help ease the burden from the joints.

Water Preventing a gout attack may be as simple as drinking 8 glasses of water everyday. Water aids in flushing toxins out of the body and keeping the kidneys in top condition. With enough fluid intake, the body can excrete uric acid better through urine and prevent the formation of uric acid crystals.

Fruit juices On top of the water intake, fresh fruit juices can also help combat the increase in uric acid levels.

Eat your fruits and vegetables While some vegetables like dried beans and peas are not recommended for gout sufferers, there are others that can help improve a patient's condition. These are vegetables that are rich in flavonoids including apigenin like thyme, peppermint and parsley. Fruits like cherries, blueberries and blackberries may also help.

Go easy on the purine Foods rich in purine include red meats ? pork, beef, lamb and venison. Organ meats like liver, kidneys and tripe are also high in purine. Seafoods like mackerel, herring and anchovies and shellfish like mussels and oysters can also trigger an attack or aggravate the condition.

If purine-rich foods cannot be avoided (it is also present in poultry), best keep it to a low minimum ? not more than 6 oz. per day. As an alternative, tofu may be a better choice, since soybeans is a good source of protein and does not contain purine.

Go for the good fats Fatty acids found in fish like salmon, for example, have anti-inflammatory properties. The same benefit can also be found in nuts, flax oil and olive oil.

Drink moderately If you can, it's better to avoid alcohol and beer altogether. Alcohol is a prime promoter of purine metabolism and can induce the body to produce more uric acid. It also will block the body's ability to excrete these harmful substances. However, there's some good news. Wine has not been linked to gout and may be consumed in moderate amounts without increasing the risk.

Too much sweets and junk A diet high in simple carbohydrates and fructose or table sugar may also cause gout, along with the salts and additives found in junk food. If you have the condition, best eliminate these from your diet. A decrease in intake will also help you reduce weight.

Take supplements Maintaining a diet that is low on purine has its drawback. It may deprive the body of precious vitamins and minerals that are otherwise present in purine-rich foods. Vitamins like E and B complex help the body regulate its functions and are essential in fighting gout. In this case, taking supplements may be necessary.

B-complex vitamins and folic acid must be taken in divided doses daily to help neutralize uric acid. Vitamin E may be taken in low doses initially and increased gradually to help supplement the diet. In the first stages of a gout attack, taking a high dose of Vitamin C may also help.

Other supplements worth looking into are magnesium citrate to relieve spasms, L-glutamine and L-glycine to reduce acids, L-methionine to detoxify high-purine level foods and fish oil to bring down the swelling.

Gout patients don?t need to suffer for the rest of their lives because of gout. It will continue to exist, true, but it can be controlled as long as a sensible diet is followed. Remember that we are what we eat and while genetics can play a role in some individuals, what we do to ourselves ultimately determines our overall health.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://gout.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about gout as well as how to relieve symptoms of gout.

Benefits of Whey Protein for Gout Sufferers?

                

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So, your big toe is red, swollen, and the pain emanating from it is some of the most intense you?ve ever felt. It sure sounds like you?ve come down with a case of gout, but how can you be sure?

The first symptom most gout sufferers feel is the pins and needles sensation that is normally associated with your foot ?falling asleep?. This can be linked to gout?s association with poor blood flow to the limbs.

The next common sign is the appearance of swelling and inflammation in the foot. Sometimes there is a distinct redness to the joint, other times there is only the swelling.

The final symptom to show is usually the excruciating pain associated with gout. Your toe (or other joints that have been infected) will progress to the point where anything touching it will cause extreme pain, even a blanket.

At this point, most of us would be off to the doctor?s office for a diagnosis. Most of the medical tests that you would undergo in a doctors office revolve around measuring the amount of uric acid you have in your body. Uric acid is the nasty little chemical that you need in your body, but when levels get too high, gout can result. The tests are broken down like this:

? A urine test. A doctor will collect a urine sample and then test if for higher than normal levels of uric acid.

? A blood test. A doctor will withdraw blood to see if your uric acid levels are too high

? Joint fluid removal. Definitely the most painful of the three options, a doctor will insert a needle into the joint that is swollen and infected to see if either a high level or uric acid is present or if the small crystals associated with gout are present. It?s suggested that this test be a last resort.

If the doctor confirms the presence of gout, you?re now left with the problem of how to treat it. There are many old-fashioned treatments available for gout, but the newest and fastest way is actually with whey protein.

Whey protein has been on the forefront of all-natural medicine for years, and more and more doctors are beginning to see the benefit. High-quality whey protein (not the stuff bodybuilders use during their workouts, this whey protein is of a much higher quality) is filled with protein and amino acids.

Why is this important for gout sufferers? Whey protein contains high amounts of lactoferrin, which helps the body heal faster. The high amount of amino acids in whey protein also help push the body towards optimum health quickly so that the immune system can take on and beat the gout faster and easier.

While there is no cure-all for gout, medical science is on the march looking for possible new treatments all the time. The discovery of whey protein?s rejuvenating affects on the human body are a step in the right direction towards eliminating gout once and for all.

Lisa McDowell has an interest in Gout. For further information on Gout please visit Gout or Gout Symptoms .

Gout Attack!

                

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Gout is a form of arthritis that is caused by the build-up of a substance found in the body called uric acid. This acid is used by the body to break down a common substance in many different foods known as purines.

When people suffer from gout, the uric acid that has built up in their system begins to form jagged crystal-like formations in the blood stream. It is these painful little crystals that cause the horrible swelling and pain that gout is known for. But what causes the uric acid build up and how do you know if you?re having a gout attack?

The causes of gout attacks can be attributed to many different things. Foods high in purines are a common culprit. Things like salmon, seafood and alcohol. Also, offal meats (parts of animals we eat other than muscle, like liver and kidney?s) are suspected of causing gout because of their high purine content.

For reasons unknown to doctors, about 75% of gout sufferers? first start to feel an attack in the joint of the big toe. Other likely joints that might signal a gout attack are the ankle, knee or elbow.

The pain associated with gout comes from two different sources. There is the sharp, stabbing pain caused by the crystals that get caught in the toe joint, as well as the pain caused by the swelling and inflammation of the tissues around the joint.

Gout has four stages that a sufferer could end up going through if the condition is left untreated. The first is asymptomatic, which simply features rising levels of the sinister uric acid rising in the blood stream, but before any symptoms manifest.

The second is acute gout, which features a person?s first gout attack, most of which go away quickly and there isn?t a frequent reoccurrence. Remember, the sooner you get treatment, the sooner the pain will go away. The average case of gout lasts only a day or two with proper care.

The third stage of gout is intercritical, which is just the symptom-free time between attacks, and the fourth and final stage of gout is the chronic stage. Chronic gout is made up of multiple bouts of the disease and the gout attacking more than one joint at once.

If gout isn?t treated properly, serious health problems can arise, such as kidney damage and the formation of kidney stones, as well as hypertension (high blood pressure).

While there is no ?cure? for gout in the traditional sense, since the disease can return anytime there is an imbalance in your body?s uric acid levels, there are many different treatments and you can effectively eliminate the risk of gout through natural means.

Most doctors prescribe a change in diet from foods high in purine to foods that help the body absorb excess uric acid in the blood stream. Most berries and fruit are great at absorbing uric acid, whereas foods high in protein, such as chicken or even tofu should not be eaten at all during a flare up since it is believed those foods make matters worse.

In conclusion, even though gout is associated with a period in history long gone when knights on horseback were busy saving fair maidens, it is very much an ailment of today?s world. But with the proper diet and early diagnosis, the horrible pain of gout can be controlled.

Lisa McDowell has an interest in Gout. For further information on Gout please visit Gout or Gout Symptoms.

4 Common Gout Drugs

                

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It is not generally advised for prescription drugs when treating hyperuricaemia as these drugs are generally used when there is an attack on the kidney stones. The following are four common drugs that are used to keep gout symptoms under control.

1. Allopurinol ? This inhibits uric acid synthesis and has been associated with eruptions of the skin and blood vessels as well as toxins in the liver. Renal function tests and overall complete blood counts of the patient should always be done before giving the patient Allopurinol.

2. Colchicine This drug is used to alleviate gout attacks. But this drug has side effects which can be very serious and in some cases can cause death if the dose is too high. Many stomach problems can occur when taking this drug such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and cramping. Some of the more serious side effects of the drug are problems occurring in the marrow of the bone, inflammation of the muscle, and anemia. If a patient has kidney function problems than Colchicine is generally not used or the doses are adjusted accordingly.

3. Indomethacin ? This drug is an anti inflammatory drug which is not steroid based. Indomethacin is the drug that is used the most when the onset of gout attacks occurs. This drug also has a very high toxicity but by measuring the doses correctly the drug is a one that is very successful in the short term.

4. Prednisone ? Prednisone is a drug that is becoming more widely used these days to treat gout. Prednisone is an immunosuppressive drug that is needed in some cases and is sometimes associated with long term side effects such as bone loss, cataracts, a weakening of the immune system, as well as others. Osteoporosis is a serious side effect that can occur with bone loss. The general side effects are longer healing and longer time fighting infections throughout the body with weakening of the immune system, retention of sodium, acne, night sweats, muscle and bone problems, and higher blood sugar.

As you can see from the above, although drugs will help to alleviate gout symptoms they are not without there side effects. If you are interested in avoiding or limiting the use of such drugs then there are natural ways to treat this condition.

High levels of uric acid in the blood can bring about gout so it is advantageous to try to limit the food intake if it is high in purine. Alcohol should definitely be cut out completely or at least limited as it is very high in uric acids, especially during a flare-up.

One way to help avoid getting gout is to flush out your system by trying to drink at least two to three liters of fluids every day. By drinking lots of fluids you can aid in diluting the uric acids that can bring about gout.

Try to moderate your protein intake such as fish, meat, and poultry. There are other foods rich in proteins which are low in purines such as dairy products and are lower in fat as well, like eggs and even tofu. Try to limit the amount of fat that you eat by choosing meats that are leaner and meats and foods that are prepared with less oil.

By following a diet that takes into account these suggestions it will aid your body in keeping uric acid levels low. If you can keep your gout under control through natural methods it means you can avoid the nasty side effects that come with the gout drugs mentioned above.

Please bear in mind that you should always consult a physician prior to making any dietary changes and you should never stop taking any prescribed medication without gaining physician approval first.

Lisa McDowell has an interest in Gout. For further information on Gout please visit Gout or Gout Symptoms .