Complex Carbohydrates Can Keep Gout Away
Complex carbohydrates can reduce gout flares, but it depends on what form they take. Fructose is a type of sugar in honey and fruits. Its breakdown almost immediately increases serum purine levels and the risk of a gout attack. Fruits, whole grains, and vegetables are complex carbohydrates that are great for managing gout because they are digested slowly. While fresh fruits are beneficial, people with gout need to limit or avoid naturally sweet fruit juices with their high concentrations of fructose.
Coffee Consumption May Lower Blood Uric Acid Levels
Arthritis Care Research News Alerts. 2007 57:816-821.
High uric acid levels in the blood are a precursor of gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis in adult men. It is believed that coffee and tea consumption may affect uric acid levels but only one study has been conducted to date. A new large-scale study published in the June 2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research examined the relationship between coffee, tea, caffeine intake, and uric acid levels and found that coffee consumption is associated with lower uric acid levels but that this appears to be due to components other than caffeine.
Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world more than 50 percent of Americans drink it at the average rate of 2 cups per day. Because of this widespread consumption, its potential effects have important implications for public and individual health. Led by Hyon K. Choi, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, the current study was based on the U.S. Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted between 1988 and 1994. It included over 14,000 men and women at least 20 years old who consented to a medical exam in which blood and urine specimens were obtained. Coffee and tea consumption were determined based on responses to a food questionnaire that assessed intake over the previous month. Researchers estimated the amount of caffeine per cup of coffee or tea using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Can Vitamin B Cause Gout
Vitamin B is a soluble substance that when introduced into bloodstream can actually help stave off a gout attack. Vitamin V, specifically Folic acid plays a helpful hand by combating xanthine oxidase, an enzyme that’s essential in the creation of uric acid. Vitamin B can be consumed as a supplement or found in collard greens, broccoli, papayas and strawberries.
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Does Green Tea Help Gout
The latest study into the uric acid reducing capability of green tea concluded that:
Green tea extract may modestly lower SUA level and decreases uric acid clearance. Green tea extract also significantly elevated serum antioxidant capacity with a positive dosage effect. The effect of GTE on SUA in healthy individuals was short term. The effects of GTE on urate handling in patients with hyperuricemia or gout need to be determined.
We can see that there was a modest decrease in blood uric acid. However, the study only looked at healthy individuals without gout, so it doesnt give any data on the impact of green tea on actual gout patients.
So does taking green tea help gout? Well, the jurys still outBut, taking into account this and other studies, maybe what we can say is that drinking green tea on a daily basis may help to reduce the inflammation and swelling of a gout flare , and lower uric acid levels in the blood .
The good news is that green tea is very low in purines and a cup will only have 2 calories at most. So, its a healthy drink to take as part of a well-balanced diet whether you suffer from gout or not.
New Year New You Fighting Back When You Have Gout
Now that the holiday feasts are over and the New Year is here, its a good time to take stock of your diet and consider healthy changes especially if you have gout.
Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that can unleash intensely painful flares in individual joints, often in the big toe. An estimated 8 million Americans experience gout attacks, which can last for a few days. The condition can also become chronic and lead to the destruction of joints. Although theres no cure, there are medications to control gout, as well as lifestyle changes you can make to manage the condition and reduce or even eliminate attacks.
Gout develops in some people who have high levels of uric acid in the blood the uric acid can form needle-like crystals in soft tissues and joints. Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down chemicals called purines. Purines occur naturally in your body but are also found in certain foods and beverages. If your body cant get rid of the uric acid efficiently enough , the uric acid in your blood can build up and reach levels that could cause problems .
One way to minimize the risk of a gout flare is to cut back on high-purine foods. The DASH diet a low-sodium diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables over red meats and processed foods is recommended for people with gout. The Mediterranean diet which emphasizes fruits, veggies, whole grains and healthy fats may also help. Find more gout info here.
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Can Obesity Cause Gout
Obesity is a result of poor lifestyle choices that can lead to the development of insulin resistance which causes elevated triglycerides, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, chronic kidney disease, heart attacks and uric acid levels. The combination of these conditions alone makes an obese person more likely to develop gout among other health conditions.
A Good Diet For Gout Should Not Include Soft Drinks Or Fruit Juice
Added sugar is a big problem in the modern diet.
Generally speaking, the sugar that is added to our food and drink products are 50% glucose and 50% fructose.
While glucose molecules are metabolised in the cell, fructose is metabolised in the liver. Further explanation is out of the scope of this article, but they behave very differently in the body.
Fructose intake, and not glucose intake, is strongly linked with gout.
Soft drinks and fruit juices tend to have the greatest amount of added sugar, and therefore the greatest amount of added fructose.
In fact, gout occurrence in the US has risen in line with fructose consumption since 1970 .
In a large study of over 46,000 men, researches found that two or more sugar-sweetened soft drinks a day was associated with an 85% increased risk of gout .
The largest consumers of sugar-sweetened soft drinks actually had a risk of gout comparable to the risk seen with three to five servings of alcohol.
Unfortunately the researchers did not account for family history of gout, which may or may not have changed their findings somewhat.
The strange thing out of all this, however, is that soft drinks dont typically contain purines.
Fructose is thought to be the culprit linking added sugars with gout. It appears to share the same mechanism as alcohol: fructose accelerates the breakdown of purine-containing nucleotides like ATP. This in turn drives up uric acid levels 90120-5/abstract” rel=”nofollow”> 13, 14, 15).
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Bacteria Is Not Always What You Think It Is
But, of course, when we hear the word bacteria we imagine something awful.
Disease. Contagion. Illness. Death.
Because mostly we associate bacteria with being very ill.
Theyre something to fight off the moment we get them.
We buy products from our supermarket that boast how quickly and effectively they kill bacteria.
But bacteria are just single-celled organisms that can be found just about anywhere.
Some are dangerous. Some are highly beneficial.
It depends which bacteria they are. And it depends on where they are.
Those that exist within us within our gut microbiome are largely beneficial to us.
In fact, in a healthy human being some 95% of them are responsible for a number of vital body processes that either keep us healthy or keep us alive.
Yes. Theyre that important.
We are, in fact, extraordinarily dependent on the health of our microbiome.
So much about us on the surface our health, our moods, our body weight reflects whats going on in the gut.
Incredibly, scientists are now recognizing that the microbiome our gut bacteria is so vital to our general health that some think of it as an organ in its own right.
They regard it as important to our existence as the kidneys or the heart or the lungs.
In fact, scientists are able to transplant the gut bacteria from a healthy person into the gut of a diseased patient in order to cure disease.
Bacteria transplants whod have thought it?
Its really hard to overstate how important our gut health is to us.
It Will Only Get Better If You Make It Get Better
Dont doubt that your gut health is poor.
The bacteria environment in a gout sufferer is basically sick.
Friendly, life-enhancing bacteria are in retreat.
And their place in your gut is being taken by that steadily increasing number of bacteria that will only do harm.
Put that way, you perhaps realize that you dont have gout at all.
You actually have a diseased gut.
Gout is one of a diseased guts many possible symptoms.
In time, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, kidney failure and some cancers are much more likely because of that same diseased gut.
Dont do this to yourself.
Do what thousands of ex-gout sufferers have done.
We took charge of our gout by taking charge of our health.
And by doing that we not only freed ourselves of that deeply unpleasant condition
. we also drastically reduced the chances of catching something even worse.
We know that if we dont address disease properly things tend to get steadily worse. Which is the last thing we want. Now, then, is the time to act.
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Consume Lean Protein To Prevent Gout Flares
One of the keys to managing gout is to choose proteins that are low in purines, since purines can increase uric acid and trigger gout flares. Beef, shellfish, and organ meat have high levels of purines, while eggs, nuts, seeds, and tofu are safer choices. There was a time when doctors thought that milk was also a hazard. But it turns out that low levels of vitamin D are linked to hyperuricemia. Integrating low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt decreases the risk of gout attacks.
Our Gut Health Is Our Health
A healthy microbiome a healthy gut is our health in many respects.
Obesity is now thought of as a gut disease. Unhealthy bacteria get the upper hand in your gut and cause the kind of food cravings that most of us find so hard to resist.
And gut health also affects mental health. Moods, basically.
Scientists now believe that persistently feeling low for no apparent reason may have a bacterial explanation.
So lets be absolutely clear about this.
Your gut bacteria arent just add-ons to your health they are your health.
In the same way that a faulty liver will cause you big problems.
Just as a weak heart will require expert attention in order to keep you alive.
Like lungs that dont function properly or kidneys that are diseased or a lymph system that isnt working effectively
Your gut health is vital to your overall health because your gut bacteria do things that your body itself cant do.
To be healthy we must make sure that we encourage beneficial, healthy bacteria to flourish, whilst at the same time we discourage less beneficial or harmful bacteria from doing the same.
If we dont do this then there are consequences.
And gout is one of those consequences.
And thats how I got the condition myself. Poor gut health gave me gout.
Its done the same to you.
But good gut health undid all that damage, making gout nothing more than a distant memory.
And it can do the same for you.
You really can do something about your condition now.
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Side Effects Of Too Much Lemon Juice
The medical studies reported that the adults treated with lemon juice didnt have any side effects. However, lemon juice is still acidic until your body digests it. The natural lemon acid can wear away the enamel of your teeth.
It may also irritate your mouth, throat, and stomach. To prevent these side effects, avoid drinking pure, undiluted lemon juice. Rinse your mouth with water or brush your teeth right after drinking lemon water.
Ease Your Gout Symptoms With These Beverages
Just by knowing which drinks are triggers and which drinks are safe, you can ease your gout symptoms and still have a great time this summer.
1.Water For obvious reasons, water is one of the best beverages to add to your drink arsenal. It flushes out toxins, such as uric acid, out of the body, which causes gout in the first place. It also prevents kidney stones, since theyre also caused by high uric acid levels. Aim for a minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses a day and drink it filtered, if youre able. For a kick of flavor, add in a couple lemon slices or cucumber slices.
2.Coffee When taken in moderation, caffeine can block the ability to create uric acid caused by purines. The key here is to drink coffee regularly, but in smaller doses. If you binge on too much coffee, it can have the opposite effect. Stick with a cup or two a day and you should be just fine.
3.Tea – This drink is known for its many health benefits, especially for arthritis sufferers. Green, black, and white teas are especially great drinks because of their anti-inflammatory attributes. Green tea and many herbal teas also include antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Compounds like polyphenols, which are found in green tea, for instance, can neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation, which is definitely what you want in a drink.
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The Link Between Your Gut Health And Your Gout
Scientists are now clear that gut health determines whether or not you have gout.
How?
There is a clear difference.
And the differences in the microbiome between gout patients and healthy people are predictable and consistent.
Which means that we can know whether a person has gout just by looking at their microbiome.
Put plainly and simply: gout is a disease of the gut.
Aspirin And Diuretics Significantly Increase Gout Risk
Not exactly foods to avoid with gout, but the ingestion of some common medications sharply raise the risk of a gout attack.
Specifically, low doses of aspirin, which one in three middle-aged Americans takes regularly to help prevent heart disease .
The emphasis is on low doses because aspirin has a dual effect on uric acid levels. Very high doses above 3,000 mg promotes excretion of uric acid , whereas low doses prevent excretion .
In a study of 49 elderly patients, just 75 mg of aspirin per day increased blood uric acid levels by 6% within one week. A daily dose of 150 mg kept levels high during the second week, before coming down with 300 mg doses in the third week .
Considering the typical dose for heart disease prevention is 81-325 mg per day, it is no real surprise this dosage is associated with a doubling in gout risk. In fact, even the use of a low-dose aspirin for two consecutive days increases risk of recurrent gout attacks .
Another type of medication known to trigger gout is diuretics. They are typically used to treat high blood pressure and oedema, and if feasible should be discontinued in gout sufferers.
Im by no means recommending you cease your medications if you have gout, but its important to understand the pharmaceutical triggers. First speak with your doctor and closely monitor uric acid levels before making any changes.
And if you need a temporary painkiller, choose paracetamol or ibuprofen. No aspirin.
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So Why Do You Have Gout Whereas I Dont
Its because I have one thing you dont have:
All the right bacteria thriving in my gut.
And, specifically, that bacteria is doing one thing for me that its not doing for you.
Its helping my kidneys process the excess uric acid that causes gout in the first place.
Because that bacteria is converting up to one third of that excess uric acid into something called allantoin a substance that dissolves in water.
Which means up to a third of my bodys uric acid can be simply got rid of in urine. So, put crudely, I simply pee it out.
No need for my kidneys to process it all. My gut bacteria has it covered.
This is the incredible power of your gut microbiome.
Human bodies cant turn uric acid into allantoin. But our friendly gut bacteria can.
And when it does that for me its clearing up the excess uric acid in my bloodstream.
Meaning my kidneys dont have to.
So those pin-like uric acid crystals dont form.
Which means they dont find themselves lodged in my joints.
Meaning theres nothing for my immune system to attack so nothing to cause excruciating, disabling pain.
My gut will have trillions of bacteria in it whether I want it to or not. So will yours.
But I can choose whether that bacteria is the life enhancing bacteria that keeps me happy, healthy and alive or the dangerous, disease-giving stuff.
I chose the good stuff.
So I have plentiful good, friendly, life-enhancing gut bacteria, working for me, doing things for me that the human body simply cannot do for itself.
Worst Foods & Beverages For Gout
- At the top of the list of what to avoid is booze. Beer and liquor readily convert to uric acid and they slow down its elimination. Studies have shown mixed results about whether wine is OK in moderation.
- Drinking sugary beverages, such as sodas sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, fruit juices or other sugar-containing drinks, is associated with gout. Notable exception: cherries, especially tart cherries, may be beneficial for gout.
- Go light on red meats, particularly organ meats like liver, tongue and sweetbreads, which are all high in purines. Also avoid or minimize the amount of bacon, venison and veal you eat.
- Maybe surprising: Turkey and goose are very high in purines. Chicken and duck are better bets.
- Some seafoods also are high in purines, including anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, crabs, lobsters, oysters and shrimp.
- Some vegetables are on the watch list, too: Consider cutting back on mushrooms, asparagus and spinach but veggies of any kind are much less likely to trigger a gout flare than alcohol or organ meats.
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