Showing posts with label gout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gout. Show all posts

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Food That Cause Gout: The Underlying Factors

By Rashel Dan

Avoiding food that cause gout is the surest way to preventing gout. To determine which foods are detrimental, you should first get to know the main factors that contribute to the development of gout. Uric acids and purines are precursors to gouty flare-ups, so you should look for food or beverages that are low in purines, low in uric acids and sufficient in Alkalines.

How does a gout occur?

Gout happens when an abnormally high level of uric acid accumulates in your joints. The accumulation turns the uric acids into crystals that somehow "jam" your connective tissues, making it hard for you to move your fingers or toes. The crystals will grow overtime, usually in a matter of hours and therefore causes inflammation-you will see your skin physically swelling and turning red as a result. If left untreated, the swollen area will burst as the crystals exude through the skin.

What is uric acid?

Uric acid is a product of purine. We all naturally have uric acid in our bodies, but sometimes we could have abnormal levels either at birth or by eating certain types of food that cause gout. Uric acid can form into crystals that cause pain and swelling.

What are purines?

Purines are the chemicals in certain food that occur as nitrogenous compounds in nucleic acids. They are excreted as uric acid and are not considered vital in our diet. Since purines are excreted as uric acid high-purine sources are obviously food that cause gout. It is estimated that 50% of those who have high-purine diets have a higher tendency of developing gout. Purines can be found in food that cause gout, so listing food sources would be essential.

Found below is a list of high-purine food that cause gout:

- Beef - Pork - Poultry: turkey, goose - Meat organs: liver, heart, tongue - Seafood: anchovies, herring, salmon, crabs, shrimps, scallops, mussels - Vegetables: asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, mushrooms. - Legumes: green peas, lentils, dried peas, beans, - Sauces / dressings: creamy sauces, gravies, meat broths - Beverages: coffee, alcohol (beer, wine, etc.) - Oatmeal, wheat bran and wheat germ, yeast - Sweetbreads

The foods listed above trigger high levels of uric acid in the body. One way to lower acidity is by eating alkaline foods.

What is alkali?

Alkali neutralizes the acids in our body. It raises pH levels to more than 7. Acid has a pH less than 7, so alkali can be used to dilute uric acid in the body.

Here are alkaline foods that could help counteract high uric acid levels in your system:

- Bananas - Watermelon - Orange juice - Potatoes - Spinach - Figs - Dandelion Greens - Chocolate - Mineral water

Take note: Sources high in fat are known to be food that cause gout. Also avoid foods that are high in proteins, because they are often high in purines that raise levels of uric acid in the body.

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Monday, December 22, 2008

Anti Gout Diet Tips

By Rashel Dan

Looking for anti gout diet means preventing gout for life. This is not such an impossible task. Diet does play a large role in controlling and preventing gout, so depending on your daily intake, you can either increase or reduce your risk of gout.

A gout may be acquired since birth, from family history or caused by obesity and other health factors. It is also more prevalent among men and those who are 40 to 60 years of age. If you can relate to any of these then you may want to focus on preventive measures.

An anti gout diet primarily consists of low-purine foods.

Purines are highly associated with foods high in fats and proteins. Vegetable oils, greasy burgers and fatty fish are all high in purines, so you should avoid fried foods and naturally fatty produce. Basically, high purine content is found in almost all kinds of food: pork, beef, chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, oysters, scallops, creams, eggs, peas and beans. But there are ways to have a low-purine diet and are illustrated below:

Eat more fruits and vegetables as part of your anti gout diet.

Many fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium. Potassium regulates electrolytes in the body and has the ability to get rid of uric acid crystals from the blood. Potassium-rich fruits are bananas, avocados, apricots and cantaloupe. High-potassium vegetables include spinach, potatoes, asparagus, beets and pumpkin.

Begin your anti gout diet now.

Prepare low-fat protein foods for breakfast. For example, drink low-fat milk and utilize only egg whites when cooking. Add onions and garlic for taste and use low-fat butter or margarine. High-protein foods that are low in fat have been found to be safe. Quench your thirst with vegetable juice or concentrated blackberry juice.

Include lemon juice at lunch for cleansing. Lemon juice is filled with vitamin C and antioxidants to help flush your body from unwanted uric acids. Couple the drink with a hearty salad and meal using tofu to replace red meat or chicken, finely chopped fresh garlic and extra virgin olive oil.

For dinner, go for baked or grilled lean meat in a foil to retain moisture. Pair with potatoes and steamed spinach. After dinners make sure to have a bowl of cherries, berries or grapes on the side.

More tips for your anti gout diet:

Watch your weight. Gout has been linked with health problems such as diabetes and obesity. Slowly restrict calories by introducing more of the gout preventing foods mentioned earlier. Avoid crash diets as these can actually trigger gout flare-ups. A good anti gout diet is always a balanced diet.

Drink several glasses of water everyday. 8-10 glasses daily is ideal. Water dilutes uric acid (a cause of gout) and rids them from the body. Cloudy urine means you have high acid content in your body and this is not a healthy sign. Clear urine suggests that you are properly hydrated and well on your way to good health.

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Saturday, November 22, 2008

What is Considered Gout Food?

By Rashel Dan

Studies have shown that individuals who had diets containing high levels of purines and proteins were more susceptible to gout compared to those who had moderate levels of those compounds. Food considered as gout food has been suspected for triggering the effects of gout such as swelling, pain and discomfort. Researchers and medical professionals are now categorizing gout food in order to help sufferers maintain their health. This article lists down common misconceptions, gout food, and the effects of modern diets.

Should I avoid high-purine foods altogether?

Although purine has been known to be one of the main causes of gout, it is found that moderate intake does not trigger symptoms. Actually, anyone can eat what he or she wants as long as it is in moderation. In most cases, too much intake of one type of food results in certain conditions.

How can I take enough calcium and proteins if dairy products are considered gout food?

Although low-fat dairy products help reduce the risk of gout, ordinary dairy products can trigger gout. Get your daily calcium and protein from low-fat dairy products, which are now widely available in supermarkets.

Here is a list of purine gout food that is known to worsen existing gout condition, but not necessarily cause initial gout:

- Cauliflower - Spinach - Mushrooms - Peas - Beans

Here are purine-foods that are considered safe when eaten in moderation:

-Veal -Bacon -Liver, kidneys -Turkey -Goose -Salmon -Anchovies -Trout -Scallops

Below are foods particularly high in purines and should be avoided:

-Sweetbreads -Yeast -Herring -Sardines -Mussels -Heart

Which diet should I take?

Specially-formulated diets to address the needs of those suffering from gout is now available. High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets have been found to significantly aid in weight loss but also found to increase the risk of gout because of their high purine content. Those looking into treating their gout and losing weight at the same time should lessen the extremity of their high-protein diet.

Diets that incorporate too many acidic foods are considered gout food. You may be cutting out meat (i.e.: if you are getting into a vegetarian or fruitarian diet), but may be resorting to sweets and acidic fruits. Most sweets (natural or artificial) are acidic, so avoid eating too much pastries and sweetbreads. Cranberry is one example of a highly acidic fruit. Almost all kinds of oils are considered to be acid forming, even olive oil is considered acidic. Other oils include canola oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil. Probably the worst types of acidic foods are alcohol, especially beer, since they are originally from wheat and barley.

Also, avoid foods that serves as natural diuretics such as linden, green tea and stinging nettle. These are gout food that can encourage uric acid crystals to form because they tend to drain the system of water.

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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Most Common Gout Medicine Prescriptions To Help Reduce Gout Pain

By Sable Woods

There may be a lot of natural gout remedies that surface, but one of the first things people turn to when trying to cure the inflammation of bodily joints is gout medicine. Proper medications are typically the main solutions of people inflicted with any forms of ailments and the ones suffering from the attacks of gout. There are a lot of medications that concentrate on reducing the high levels of uric acid in the blood.

The two most common gout medicines are corticosteroids and NSAIDs. These help reduce inflammation in the affected joints. NSAIDs are taken by mouth in high dosages. They also aid in prohibiting the spread of prostaglandin, a substance that plays its part in causing you severe pain during a gout flare-up.

If NSAIDs aren't effective for you, then turning to corticosteroids are the next doctor recommendation. Like NSAIDs, these also give instant relief to gout victims. They are injected directly into the inflamed joint to mainly target that area.

But there is a downside to using corticosteroids as your gout medicine. You can't take it daily or during repeat flare-ups, because frequently using this medication will damage the joint and weaken the surrounding bone cartilage.

If both of the above medications fail, then your doctor may recommend that you take colchicines. These can be used once every hour for the first 12 hours of the flare-up. Even though you can experience diarrhea and stomach cramps and an upset stomach as side effects of taking this gout medicine, colchicines have been around for hundreds of years and have proven themselves to be an effective pain reliever.

Gout medicine, like most medications, definitely has its share of side effects. Thus, it is important that you take some time to carefully consider your options. Seeking help from professionals, specialists, and even other gout sufferers with resources will play a salient role in relieving your gout attacks.

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Monday, July 28, 2008

Gout Medicine That Works - 3 Medicinal Remedies To Reduce Pain

By Sable Woods

While natural gout remedies are an increasingly popular option today, most people still tend to seek gout medicine first to try and rid themselves of inflamed and swollen joints. Medications recommended and prescribed by doctors and other medical specialists are still the main choice to cure ailments, and gout patients follow the same trend. There are several medications designed to lower excess levels of uric acid in your body. In this article, you'll discover 3 gout medications available to you.

Two of the most common kinds of gout medicine you'll encounter are NSAIDs and corticosteroids. They help in lessening the inflammation in the distressed joint. The NSAIDs are taken orally and in high dosage. This will also help in hampering the presence and proliferation of prostaglandin, a substance that contributes to the feeling of severe pain during a gout attack.

If NSAIDs fail, then you could take corticosteroids instead. These also give immediate pain relief through a direct injection into the swollen joint. With this method of injection, the medication can specifically target the afflicted area.

However, one of the negative aspects of this medication is the fact that it cannot be taken on a daily basis or during repetitive attacks. Frequent use of this medication will only weaken your bone cartilage and damage the joints.

If there are instances where these two medications aren't effective, you can turn to a drug called colchicines that can be used for the first 12 hours of the attack. This differs from the other two medications since this can be taken once every hour. This kind of gout medicine has the following side effects: diarrhea, unsettled stomach, and abdominal cramps. Colchicines are considered to be the oldest cure to gout. This has been around for centuries, offering the same relief with that of the other medications.

Gout medicine, like most medications, definitely has its share of side effects. Thus, it is important that you take some time to carefully consider your options. Seeking help from professionals, specialists, and even other gout sufferers with resources will play a salient role in relieving your gout attacks.

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Sunday, July 27, 2008

Gout Medicine: 3 Gout Medications You Can Take To Lessen the Pain

By Sable Woods

There may be a lot of natural gout remedies that surface, but one of the first things people turn to when trying to cure the inflammation of bodily joints is gout medicine. Proper medications are typically the main solutions of people inflicted with any forms of ailments and the ones suffering from the attacks of gout. There are a lot of medications that concentrate on reducing the high levels of uric acid in the blood.

NSAIDs and corticosteroids are the most common gout medicine. NSAIDs are taken orally in high dosages, which helps inhibit the presence and spreading of a substance called prostaglandin (this contributes to the painfully severe feeling during gout).

If NSAIDs fail, then you could take corticosteroids instead. These also give immediate pain relief through a direct injection into the swollen joint. With this method of injection, the medication can specifically target the afflicted area.

But there is a downside to using corticosteroids as your gout medicine. You can't take it daily or during repeat flare-ups, because frequently using this medication will damage the joint and weaken the surrounding bone cartilage.

If there are instances where these two medications aren't effective, you can turn to a drug called colchicines that can be used for the first 12 hours of the attack. This differs from the other two medications since this can be taken once every hour. This kind of gout medicine has the following side effects: diarrhea, unsettled stomach, and abdominal cramps. Colchicines are considered to be the oldest cure to gout. This has been around for centuries, offering the same relief with that of the other medications.

Gout medicine, like most medications, definitely has its share of side effects. Thus, it is important that you take some time to carefully consider your options. Seeking help from professionals, specialists, and even other gout sufferers with resources will play a salient role in relieving your gout attacks.

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Friday, July 25, 2008

Getting Gout Relief - 4 Suggestions For Instant Gout Pain Relief

By Sable Woods

As one of the oldest and most excruciating conditions, gout can certainly put a hamper on the fun in your life. While searching for gout relief ideas, people often discover that the simple ideas are often the most effective. Here are just a handful of ideas to remember the next time you get attacked by gout pain:

- Get instant gout relief with naproxen or ibuprofen.

When suffering from gout in the beginning, the attack will last for about a week if left untreated. One of the ways you can get gout relief from the pain is by taking an ibuprofen pain reliever, like Motrin or Advil (in case you didn't know, ibuprofen will be listed on the bottle as the active ingredient). These types of pain relievers don't just help ease the pain; they also help fight inflammation too.

Also try naproxen drugs like Aleve. However, you'll want to avoid taking aspirin at all, because it'll likely prolong or cause more pain by stopping the elimination out of the body of the uric acid causing the pain in the first place.

- You can try wrapping your joint in ice.

If it's not too painful for you to touch the affected joint, you can numb the pain by placing ice wrapped in a towel against it for a few minutes (if necessary, repeat this). This will not only give you gout pain relief temporarily but will also help reduce the swelling. Keep a cold compress in your freezer ready to use to get immediate relief during any future attacks.

- Soothe your joints with warmth instead.

Some gout victims have said that when they warm the affected joints it helps to relieve the pain and get to sleep. If you want to try this, wrap a warm towel around the affected area.

- Water is the simplest home remedy.

Six to eight glasses a day will help your dilute the uric acid and allow the kidneys to eliminate excess amounts through urine. Alternatively, you can drink fruit juices or herbal tea for gout relief, if the thought of drinking all of that water isn't pleasing to you. But try to get more actual water intake per day than you're currently getting.

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Cherries, Cherry Juice and Gout - Reduce Your Risk Naturally

By Sable Woods

What's the connection between cherries, cherry juice and gout? Why are cherries and cherry juice so good at relieving gout pain?

Cherries and their juice equivalent have something called anthocyanins, which is an anti-inflammatory agent that helps the body reduce joint and body tissue swelling. Anthocyanins, which are most plentiful in cherries, are a type of flavonoid that's recognized as the best in helping prevent possibilities of a gout attack.

When a gout attack occurs, it damages connective tissues and causes ruptures over other surrounding tissues. Anthocyanins prohibit defective enzymes from replicating themselves numerous times. The flavonoid acts as a shield and defensive agent and helps block the release of any oxidants while inflammation and swelling continues to happen. It then helps renew the damaged tissue and rebuild any lost minerals.

Anthocyanins in cherries and cherry juice also help in lessening the disturbing and infuriating pain produced by gout. Medical professionals confirm that consumption of cherries (fresh or dried) or cherry juice on a daily basis will provide relief and greater tendency of lowering the uric acid levels in the body. Whichever way you take your cherries, the outcome will help reduce the risk of gout attacks.

According to research, gout victims find relief with cherries when medications fail them. They are a great alternative source of inflammation and side effect prevention. Along with a proper diet, taking cherry juice or eating cherries every day is a great factor in reducing major gout issues.

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Taking Gout Home Remedies When Medications Fail

By Sable Woods

Nowadays, gout home remedies are the first thing gout sufferers turn to during an attack when medications prescribed by health professionals do not seem to take effect. Your first gout attack can be disturbing enough, and gout usually becomes more frequent and more painful with time. So when you find yourself at home, already suffering from the first signs of a painful gout outbreak, home remedies can be your first line of defense against an attack. In this article, you'll discover several remedies you can use at home to help alleviate the pain of gout.

Some of the best gout home remedies are those that people are most familiar with, which includes applying ice to the afflicted area. Pressing an ice pack or cold pack against your painful joint has an ability to decrease the pain. This should take 10 to 15 minutes to take effect, but if the pain continues then you can take Motrin or Advil to ease it temporarily.

You could also try soaking your feet in Epsom salt, especially if the pain is worse in the toe area. Epsom salt can sooth aching muscles, which helps to get normal blood circulation and cleanse out toxins from the body.

Eating fruits like strawberries and cherries will also play a salient part in treating gout. These fruits deactivate the uric acid with high concentrations. Such fruits should be rich in vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, vitamin c and iron.

You also need to drink plenty of water because it washes out toxins from the body. Eight glasses or more a day is advisable.

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Natural Cures For Gout Bring Relief Safely & Side Effect-Free

By Sable Woods

Gout can be treated by any doctor. But some people prefer natural cures for gout. One such natural cure is cherries which, if eaten regularly, have been known to regulate the effects of gout and even cure it altogether. To make it easier, you can get cherry juice concentrate, which has the essential vitamins found in cherries.

A charcoal poultice is a natural gout cure used in some parts of the world where cherries aren't as abundant. Charcoal is known as a great remedy for gout and, in poultice form, is especially effective in ridding the body of uric acid toxins. You can easily prepare one by mixing a half cup of powdered charcoal and some spoonfuls of warm water in a blender. Just make sure you add enough water.

You can also create paste with the poultice, then apply it to the afflicted joint and cover it with a warm towel overnight. But be careful when you handle a charcoal poultice: you don't want to get stains on your clothes!

Another use for charcoal as a gout remedy is with a bath. Pour 1/2 a cup of charcoal powder into a bath tub filled with warm water. Then place your joints in it to soak for an hour for a charcoal bath.

Watching what you eat is important in your quest for natural cures for gout. Fruits, most vegetables, and dairy products can help you body defend itself against gout effects. Lots of fluids, especially water, is also known to help fight against gout when it flushes extra uric acid out through the kidneys. And sweetbreads, organ meats, meat extracts, and wild game and fish should be eaten in small quantities due to their high amount of purines, which causes uric acid to painfully crystallize in your joints.

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