Archive for September, 2009

Recommended Diet For Gout That Is Low In Purines

September 26th, 2009 -- Posted in Diet For Gout | 21 Comments »

gout pyramid

 Gout is a medical condition where more than acceptable amounts of uric acid are present in a person’s bloodstream. The two most common causes of this are over production or under excretion of uric acid. Uric acid is a waste product of purine metabolism. Purines are organic compounds that can be found in foods, and in some cases in high concentration. What is the recommended diet for gout and how do you manage gout? Medications are sometimes the first course of action to help control gout and there are sensible lifestyle suggestions as well. Other recommendations to go along with a diet for gout are to:

·        Drink an ample amount of water and other fluids 8 x 8 rule.

·        Avoid alcohol completely during a gout attack and only drink alcohol in moderation when permissible.

·        Reduce weight if you are overweight, being overweight is one of the factors associated with gout, however avoid fasting or fast weight loss schemes because they can increase uric acid levels in your blood.

·        Keep away from eating foods high in purines a diet for gout should consist of low fat and low protein.

Conditions when on a diet for gout advise what people should not eat, but more often don’t give suggestions what you can eat. The American Medical Association and the Mayo Clinic have provided some suggestions for a diet for gout. While no definite changes in diet are proven to lower your risk of a gout flare up it makes good sense to eat foods that are lower in purines. Foods with complex carbohydrates such as whole-grain breads are just one example.


Suggested Diet For Gout Food Sources:

Fresh cherries, strawberries, blueberries, elderberries, and other red-blue berries. Berries are a good source of anthocyanidin (plant pigment thought to have antioxidant, antiplatelet, and wound-healing properties).
Bananas
Celery
Tomatoes
Vegetables including kale, cabbage, parsley, green-leafy vegetables
Foods high in bromelain (plant enzyme extracted from pineapple)
Foods high in vitamin C (red cabbage, red bell peppers, tangerines, mandarins,
oranges, potatoes)
Low-fat dairy products
Complex carbohydrates (breads, cereals, pasta, rice, as well as aforementioned
vegetables and fruits)
Chocolate, cocoa
Coffee, tea
Carbonated beverages
Essential fatty acids (tuna and salmon, flaxseed, nuts, seeds)
Tofu, although a legume and made from soybeans, may be a better choice than meat


Some other alternatives to the list above to consider when deciding on a diet for gout are foods that contain small or slightly high amounts of purines which may not raise the risk of gout, these can include: asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, peas, spinach, whole grain breads and cereals, chicken, duck, ham, turkey, kidney and lima beans. It is important to remember that purines are found in all protein foods. All sources of purines should not be eliminated from your everyday diet for gout. These foods should be taken in moderation, before attempting any diet you should consult your doctor to decide what is right for you. 

 

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Diet For Gout Sufferers That Can Help Prevent Your Next Attack

September 16th, 2009 -- Posted in Diet For Gout | 2 Comments »

Cereal & fruit for goutWith ongoing attempts by gout sufferers to find a diet for gout, here are a few choices you might want to consider. High-protein foods increase uric acid levels in the blood. These proteins should be eliminated or significantly reduced. Avoid purine-rich vegetables such as asparagus, cauliflower, dried beans, lentils, and peas; all game meat such as rabbit, venison, etc.; seafood such as anchovies, caviar, crab, herring, mackerel, sardines, shrimps, and trout; nearly all varieties of mushrooms; foods containing excessive yeast; meat preservatives as well as gravies and many sauces, especially organ meats, such as brain, kidney, liver, and sweetbreads.

Foods that have lower purine can include: fish, meat, and poultry (preferably white meat). However, the consumption of these should be limited to no more than six ounces per day. So far, in spite of these limitations, there are plenty of other foods gout sufferers can still enjoy. Low-fat cheeses, eggs, milk, nuts, and regular yogurt are excellent substitutes for many types of meats. Different types of breads and cereals are also acceptable except ones containing whole grain, or oatmeal. Biscuits cakes, and pastas such as macaroni, noodles, and spaghetti; most kinds of fruit and vegetables; and polished rice and its products are some other foods that can be on the everyday diet for gout.

Alcohol consumption should be avoided completely during a gout attack, and then limited to no more than one or two drinks a day after a gout attack. .Water has also been shown to lower uric acid by flushing the body of excessive uric acid by way of the urinary track. Drinking eight ounces of water eight times a day is recommended. Cherry juice is also beneficial especially during a gout attack to help reduce inflammation and give gout relief.

Some other diet for gout choices might include: oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, and various types of nuts that have low-purine content. US researchers believe that the benefits of Vitamin C found in fruits and vegetables are twofold, easing inflammation and lowering uric acid levels that go haywire in a gout attack. Therefore, gout sufferers should experiment to see what foods should be on their menus and always as a precaution should consult their doctor before attempting any home remedies or self diagnoses.

 

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Gout Toe Relief With Cold Level Laser Therapy

September 13th, 2009 -- Posted in Gout Toe | 33 Comments »

 Gout (also referred to as gouty arthritis) is a debilitating form of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, surrounding tissues and tendons. It is an intensely painful disease that results from an increased uric acid concentration in the bloodstream (academia). First gout attacks most often affect the big toe (gout toe), some of the symptoms may include swelling, redness, inflammation and excruciating pain if touched or rubbed against, gout can also affect many other joints such as the ankle, knee, wrist, fingers, and spine. Secondary attacks of gout are usually isolated to one joint and last a few days; later attacks of gout can involve several joints at once or occur in succession and last for weeks if untreated.

Cold laser therapy or low level laser therapy (photobiomodulation) has been clinically shown to cut down the length of a gout toe attack, and other forms of gouty arthritis. Cold level laser therapy has been proven affective in treating a variety of other inflammatory conditions and musculoskeletal disorders.  This pain free and heatless treatment normally consists of three sessions averaging around 10 to 60 minutes depending on the type of treatment being applied. Patients have stated a significant pain reduction after their first visit. In this therapy the patient is exposed to low level laser light or light emitting diodes, these are used to stimulate or inhibit cellular function.  The light or photon energy that is produced has the unique property of being able to penetrate two inches below the skin increasing cellular metabolism with no tissue damage occurring.

 The FDA has currently ruled that low level laser therapy is safe and a warning that protective eyewear is needed.  Low level laser is currently used to treat a range of painful conditions such as inflammation of the tissues and joints from arthritis, backpain, and various sports injuries. If you are suffering from gout toe or from another form of arthritis and seeking gout relief, it is highly recommended that you contact your doctor first or other qualified professional, before attempting cold level laser therapy at home or any other home remedies for gout relief.  Fully understanding gout and why it occurs is key to preventing future attacks. Find out more about gout toe by visiting Immediate Gout Relief.

 

 

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Gout Cures That Are Commonly Overlooked

September 2nd, 2009 -- Posted in Gout Cures | No Comments »

One of these gout cures or to clarify gout relief remedies, (since there is no definite cure for gout) would be to try baking soda. First to briefly summarize the question “what is gout”? Gout takes place when crystals of uric acid, in the form of monosodium urate, rapidly form on the cartilage of joints, on tendons, and in the surrounding tissues. Uric acid is a normal component of blood serum. Uric acid is more likely to form into crystals when there is a high level of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is markedly enhanced when the blood pH is low (high acidity). Symptoms of this can include redness, inflammation, and excruciating pain if touched or brushed against. If left untreated permanent joint damage can occur.

As with any prescription or home remedy for gout relief your physician should always be consulted first before trying any gout medications. Baking soda contains high levels of sodium and should not be taken if you suffer from heart disease, or hypertension. A low salt diet may be needed.

Many people find that treating gout with baking soda has dramatically improved their condition by increasing their ph level. The maximum dosage, unless advised otherwise by your doctor, is 4 teaspoons per day. This can be either one teaspoon dissolved in water taken 4 times a day, or 1/2 teaspoon more frequently. Half a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water before going to bed at night and first thing when you get up in the morning and twice during the day may form as a starting point. Do not exceed the maximum dosage, and always dissolve it in water first, undissolved baking soda can breach the stomach.

Baking soda can have side effects and interactions with drugs you may be taking. Just to reiterate you must not start taking baking soda without consulting your doctor first. Specifically, as a salt of sodium baking soda is also called bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate it can increase blood pressure. Possible side effects include

  • Appetite loss
  • Breathing slow
  • Continuing headache
  • Feet or lower legs swollen
  • Mood changes
  • Twitching or painful muscles
  • Restlessness or nervousness
  • Unpleasant taste
  • Urge to urinate frequently
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Weakness or tiredness

This was just one of the many all natural gout cures that serve an alternative to prescription medicines that is readily available for gout relief. Maintaing a healthy lifestyle with exercise and diet have also proven to be beneficial in treating gout.

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