Does a low uric acid diet bring relief from gout symptoms? This question is, like most health questions, answered with both a yes and a no.
However, it is worth noting that it is not a low uric acid diet that will make a difference, but a diet low in purine that can reduce Gout symptoms.
Gout can usually be identified by the sudden onset of swollen, red, painful joints, usually in the foot. This excruciating pain and swelling is due to hyperuricemia; a state developed when there is a high level of uric acid in the blood.
Uric acid is the by-product the body produces when metabolizing purine – a compound that is found in a lot of protein based foods. It is dissolved in the blood stream and excreted via the kidneys in our urine.
Our bodies are designed to produce and process uric acid, the problems arise when there is either over-production in the body, or the body is unable to eliminate uric acid at an appropriate rate.
Eliminating insufficient amounts of uric acid can often be linked to a person’s genetic makeup and over production is normally linked to eating too many purine-rich foods in the diet.
Uric acid floats around in the blood and when levels rise too far, crystals are deposited in the joints and soft tissues that connect joints. These sharp, jagged crystals are the cause of the pain and swelling.
It can take years for uric acid levels to build up and a lot of people never experience a gout attack. However, when the tipping point is reached and the uric acid levels are too high to be carried by the blood, deposits are made and the uric acid crystallizes in your joints. This is why the initial attack usually comes on extremely suddenly.
Once the initial gout attack is over, further episodes are normally experienced, as the uric acid level remain high.
Having high levels of uric acid can lead to other complications such as the development of kidney stones. Left untreated, kidney stones can cause a lot of damage to the kidneys, impairing their functions. Kidney stones can lead to severe cramping and pain, and sometimes vomiting.
If you think you have kidney stones, it is important to make an appointment with a doctor and get yourself checked out.
To stop further gout attacks and avoid the possibility of developing kidney stones, you need to reduce the amount of uric acid in your blood. To do this you either need to slow down production or increase expulsion.
Following a low purine diet is a great way to slow down production and helps to normalize uric acid levels in the body.
The key to a low uric acid / low purine diet is to avoid foods high in purine, such as red meat, organ meats, processed meats, yeast extracts, shellfish and gravies. Instead, swap these foods for low-purine foods such as: cereals, fruits, rice, tomatoes, corn and some types of green vegetables.
It can take a little time for your uric acid levels to drop, however, once they have been stabilized at a position where your kidneys can keep up with processing, you can start to reintroduce some higher purine foods, but only in moderation.
More information about low purine diets and naturally treating gout can be found in our free newsletter.
While following a low purine diet it is important to keep your body as hydrated as possible. Drinking lots of water helps to dilute uric acid and flush it through the kidneys.
So, a low uric acid diet can make the difference to someone with gout symptoms, and reduce the chance of future flare-ups.
Long known for their gorgeous bright red color, Tart Cherries are now found to be much, much more than simply a tart and delicious fruit.
The relief gout sufferers have noticed upon drinking Gout Cherry Juice has been recorded, and some have even been able to come off of all their medications because of the great changes. The pain associated with gout is a constant menace to those afflicted. Medication is available, and helps, but as with any medication– there are side effects. For those sufferers willing to change their diet, Gout Cherry Juice can reduce many side effects and do away with them completely in many circumstances.
Gout Cherry Juice is made from Tart Cherries, which contain anthocyanins and flavonoids. These naturally occurring ingredients are what appears to be helping out the gout patients.
Gout is an affliction usually associated with men over the age of 40, and is a type of arthritis that involves uric acid concentration. Uric acid is a byproduct of the liver process; you need a certain amount of it in your bloodstream. When high concentrations occur, needlelike crystals of monosodium urate form in the bloodstream settling in the joints causing inflammation and pain, which are all symptoms of gout.
Many gout sufferers have been drinking Gout Cherry Juice and have so far been reporting amazing results. It seems that drinking Gout Cherry Juice on a daily basis has kept numerous sufferers free from attacks. Also, comments from those who have not had daily intakes of the juice have claimed that when an attack starts if they begin to drink the juice, they will immediately notice a reduction in the length of the attack, as well as a great change in the severity of the attacks. These results typically convince them to begin drinking the juice every day.
Scientists are now beginning to explore the effects of anthocyanins and flavonoids on uric acid production. The Medical Universities are putting out more concrete evidence continually, concerning the health benefits associated with these Tart Cherries. Gout Cherry Juice is made from these Tart Cherries, and the comments from users are showing that the benefits drawn from the juice can relieve the pain and inflammation associated with gout, pleasing many people who are afflicted with the disease. It is always recommended to check with your doctor before discontinuing medication, or making large changes in your diet.
