Gout is caused by excessive levels of uric acid int the blood which causes painful swelling of the joints. As uric acid builds up the bloodstream gout attacks flare up causing pain. When uric acid levels are lower the pain of gout subsides. Gout effects joints throughout the body including; wrists, ankles, feet, and hips. Often people who have gout do not realize gout is the cause of their pain. There is no known cure for gout. There are many ways to treat gout including exercise, prescription medications and diet.
Prescription medications are available for gout pain relief. These include; allopurinol, probenecid, Aloprim, Benemid, Lopurin, and Zyloprim.Side effects of common medications prescribed for gout include; nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other stomach and bowel related symptoms. Severe side effects of this type of medication have been linked to damage to bone marrow, severe anemia, and low white blood count. These medications are meant to treat and prevent the pain that is associated with the gout attacks. These medications do not cure gout, they are meant to merely relieve pain.
Over the counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen, as well as prescription anti-inflammatory medications such as Indomethacin, are often used to relieve swelling caused by gout. Sometimes steroids, such as prednisone, are prescribed for those who cannot take anti-inflammatory medications. These medications are geared towards reducing the swelling in the joints. This type of treatment does not cure gout, it is only used for temporary pain relief.
In addition to medications for gout, natural supplements are often used. Many of these natural supplements are helpful. Natural supplements usually have fewer side effects than prescription medications. These supplements include remedies such as turmeric, phellodendron, yucca, and other natural anti-inflammatories. There are several vitamins that have been recommended for gout including Vitamins A and E, omega-3, Aspartic Acid and Selenium. Another natural treatment for gout is cherry juice.
Both anti-inflammatories and pain medications are used to mask the symptoms of gout. Neither of these treatments get to the root cause of the problem. The better way to treat gout is through diet and exercise. There are many foods that should not be eaten by a person who is prone to gout attacks. Since gout is caused by an increased amount of uric acid in the bloodstream it’s important that that uric acid is brought back to normal levels. High levels of uric acid are damaging to the kidneys and liver. These organs remove uric acid from your system. To do so you need to increase the amount of fluids that you drink daily. Dehydration causes all of the impurities in your system to be increased as there is a lack of fluid to flush them through.
Studies have shown eating a low purine diet can also reduce gout symptoms. This type of diet cuts out all beef, lamb, seafood, pork, and yeasty foods such as bread and alcoholic beverages. This diet also limits the amount of cauliflower, mushrooms, spinach, whole grain breads and cereals, poultry, kidney and Lima beans, asparagus and peas that can be eaten These foods have high amounts of purines which increase levels of uric acid in the bloodstream.
Low carbohydrate diets such as Atkins type diet plans are also a problem for people who have gout. Gout can be almost completely controlled with proper diet. Eating natural foods and whole grains including fruits and fruit juices is the best way to treat gout. Fruit juices alone and decrease the amounts of uric acid in your system. Eating highly salted foods and large quantities of breads and red meats will bring on frequent gout attacks. In fact gout used to be thought of as a rich man’s disease for this reason.
It is possible to treat symptoms of gout with inflammatory medications and pain relievers. The main root cause of gout will not be treated this way though. This is just masking symptoms. You want to get to the root cause and get rid of gout symptoms and the pain of gout you need to do so with your diet. Getting back to a more natural diet way your body was meant to run is the best way to combat gout.
A book that may be very helpful in understanding a whole health approach is the very eye opening book written by Dr. Jordan S. Rubin, titled The Maker’s Diet. In his book you will discover just how vital the foods you eat impact your health and quality of life. You were meant to live a life of radiant health and you owe it to yourself and your family to be able to live life full out.
