Natural treatment for gout

Gout is a form of arthritis. It can be successfully controlled by diet. I have gout of my right big toe that comes and goes depending on my diet so I know that diet works to control gout.

Gout is a form of arthritic disease in which uric acid crystela are deposited over the joints, causing inflammation and excruciating pain. Food items rich in purine and high in protein content have been known to increase the risk of gout.

Gout is induced by ingestion of foods that contain somewhere between 150 to 1,000 milligrams of purine in each three and a half ounce serving. These include animal products like:

- Dark fillet fishes like herring, anchovies, sardines, and mackerel

- Organ meat like brains, heart, liver, kidneys, sweetbread, sausages, consommé, kidney Meat extracts, mincemeat, mussels, red and dark meat

- Fish roes

Such food items should be strictly avoided.

Foods that may contribute to gout consist of a moderate level of purine, from 50 to 150 milligrams in three and a half ounces. Intake of such foods needs to be limited to one serving every day is essential for those having a propensity towards severe gout attacks. These foods include:

- Poultry and meat: grouse, mutton, veal, bacon, turkey, partridge, trout, goose, pheasant gravies

- Fish: salmon, shellfish, haddock

- Vegetables: Asparagus, dry beans, cauliflower, mushrooms, spinach, and legumes (lentils, dry peas, kidney beans, soy beans), celery, radishes

- Scallops

- Whole-grain cereals: oatmeal, wheat germ, bran, whole-grain breads

- Yeast

Studies have proved that diets known to be associated with gout are the same kinds of diet connected to cardiovascular disease.

It has been suggested that consumptions of coffee and tea may not pose a threat but alcohol can elevate uric acid levels and inflame an episode of gout.

Food groups that increase the acidity of the body needs to be avoided as well. These include carbohydrates and proteins. Acidic body pH will trigger precipitation of uric acid crystals to stimulate a gout attack. Aerated drinks and excessive intake of coffee can also lead to this acidic condition of the body. Foods and drinks that contain high amounts of chlorine, sulfur or phosphorus also tend to decrease the body pH and thus need to be avoided.

Foods that are high in minerals, like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products cab increase one's body pH and help maintain a lower level of uric acid in the blood.

May I also rcoment the use of Glucosamine sulphate 500mg daily this can be found in many health food and wellbeing shops and helps with the movement of artheritic joints I do think as with any medical condition you should see a Physician in this case a nutrition expert.

I personally use the Glucosamine 1,500mg supplements but mine has MSM 1,500mg added. The MSM is a inflammation reliever. The 500mg was not enough for me. It took me less than a week to see any positive results but now I take the pills only when I have a flare up of my arthiritis. I get mine at WalMart. Schiff brand 165 tablets for about $13. They are rather large pills but shaped to swallow easily though.