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Introduction/Overview:

 

Gout is a painful form of joint disease (arthritis) that occurs when crystals of uric acid form and accumulate in and around the joint. Let us explore how to modify your habits to reduce the levels of uric acid in your body.

 

Body:

 

How is uric acid formed in the body?

One of the constituents of all organic matter is DNA. Purine is a part of this DNA and occurs naturally in the diet. When purine is broken down in the body, it forms uric acid.

 

When does it start accumulating in joints?

This is then excreted from the body in urine. When you consume food rich in purines and the excretion through urine is not able to keep up with the production, the levels of uric acid rise in your blood and start crystallizing. A high level of uric acid in the blood is called hyperuricemia. This further leads to gout. Other factors that influence the formation of gout include:

  • Diet
  • Genetic factors
  • Being overweight
  • Stress
  • Health conditions like:
    • Kidney disease
    • Diabetes mellitus
    • Hypothyroidism
    • Cancer
    • Chemotherapy
    • Psoriasis

 

What food items should be avoided?

Food items rich in purine should be avoided as much as possible from your diet. These include:

  • Organ meats like liver
  • Mutton meat
  • Pork meat
  • Turkey meat
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Scallops
  • Cauliflower
  • Green peas
  • Dried beans
  • Mushrooms

 

Food items rich in fructose or sugar syrups are also known to influence gout formation. This type of sugar is mostly found in processed or refined food items and sugary beverages.

 

Alcohol consumption can make you dehydrated and cause uric acid levels to rise because of the strain on your kidneys. Beer and distilled liquor should be especially avoided.

 

What medicines should be avoided unless necessary?

Some medications also lead to higher levels of uric acid in the body. These include:

  • Aspirin
  • Vitamin B3
  • Diuretics
  • Immune-suppressing drugs
  • Chemotherapy

 

Your doctor may be able to recommend better alternatives for you.

 

What are the natural ways to reduce uric acid in your body?

  • Lose weight with exercise and diet restrictions, if you are overweight. Being overweight has been linked to a higher chance of getting gout. It also causes more strain on the joints. Diet restriction by itself will reduce purine intake and exercise helps maintain insulin balance.
  • Take food rich in complex carbohydrates rather than sugar. This includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
  • Stay well hydrated throughout the day with ample intake of water
  • Cherries - There is limited evidence that cherries can help lower the chance of gout development
  • Vitamin C supplements may aid in reducing the chance of gout
  • Keep diabetes in check. Check your insulin and glycosylated haemoglobin levels regularly.
  • Add more fibre to your diet. Fibre helps to slow down sugar absorption, reduced purine content in your food and causes early satiety, helping in diet restriction
  • Work on reducing your stress - Anxiety, poor sleep and too little exercise can increase inflammation in the body. This can trigger hyperuricemia.

 

Conclusion:

 

Gout is caused by an increased level of uric acid in the body. This can be controlled by natural methods. Whether you are taking medication for gout or not, these natural steps help in reducing the progress of the disease and should be followed regardless.

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