Preventive Foods for Gout
Gout is an extremely painful disease. In this type of arthritis. an abundance of uric acid builds up in the blood and tissue, causing urine to crystallize in the joints. Gout usually targets people who eat fatty foods or drink alcohol excessively. Those unhealthy fatty foods aggravate gout, but other foods help prevent it.
Facts
Gout is a common form of arthritis that happens suddenly and targets men more than women. It can last a few hours or several days. This painful condition can cause inflammation and swelling of the toes, ankles, knees or hands and other parts of the body. If uric acid levels, which cause gout pain, aren't lowered, this can create kidney stones and lead to kidney disease or kidney failure. Gout is most often associated with kidney disease, uric acid kidney stones, diabetes, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.
Cherries
Cherries have an enzyme that lowers uric acid. Cherries also contain antioxidant properties that control inflammation, and compounds that prevent uric acid from destroying connective tissues. According to Health911, you should eat between six and eight cherries a day to reduce gout symptoms. The cherries are most effective when eaten between meals. If you should feel a gout attack emerging, Health911 suggests you immediately eat 20 to 30 cherries to neutralize symptoms. Cherry juice or black cherry juice have the same gout-fighting properties as cherries, so drinking the juices daily can help control gout flare-ups. Although cherries are the most effective against gout pain, other berries with antioxidant properties, such as strawberries and blueberries, also lower uric acid levels in the bloodstream.
Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids provide good health to the entire body through support of the immune system. Fish that contain Omege-3 fatty acids are effective in preventing gout. Include salmon, cod, halibut or sardines in your diet to reduce inflammation. Flaxseed is another effective omega-3 fatty acid that helps reduce uric acid levels. Flaxseed or flaxseed oil can be added to other foods such as juices, salads and fruit.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C protects the body from inflammation by assisting the kidneys in absorbing some of the excess uric acid and moving it out of the body. According to Health911, you should take between 500 and 3,000mg of vitamin C each day to reduce gout symptoms. Several foods are abundant in vitamin C, such as strawberries, raspberries, papaya, kiwi, grapefruit, oranges, cantaloupe, limes, pineapples, watermelon, lettuce, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, turnip greens, mustard greens, tomatoes, asparagus, peppermint and parsley.
Coffee
Coffee is involved in the metabolic process of converting protein to uric acid. It has the ability to lower insulin and uric acid levels, both of which cause inflammation. According the Arthritis Foundation, it's been determined that drinking four to five cups of coffee each day can significantly lower your risk of gout. In addition to drinking coffee, drink water. It's a great body cleanser, so drink several glasses of water each day.
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