Gout Foods - Too much uric acid
In case you don’t know, gout is a form of arthritis that is characterized by the painful swelling of joints, most commonly the big toe. In simple terms, gout is caused by a build-up of a crystalline substance, called uric acid, a product of protein metabolism. In addition to the localized pain, a gout sufferer may experience chills and fever as the body tries to deal with the inflammation.
Why it hurts
Uric acid is produced as a normal consequence of protein metabolism that is usually excreted by the kidneys. In the case of gout, either due to a hereditary pre-disposition, lifestyle, or both, these sharp-edged crystals are deposited in the joints, tendons, kidneys and other soft tissues, causing pain.
Think of taking a prickly burr and wedging into the soft tissues of your body, and you will get an idea of why gout is so painful. If left untreated, these crystals can form larger clumps around the joints that can be debilitating.
Health experts disagree
It is important to note that not all health experts seem to agree on which foods are okay for gout sufferers to eat and which are not, but most will tell you that a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables with a minimum of meat, seafood and processed foods will help, especially if you also be sure to drink plenty of water to help flush waste products from your system.
Having said that, here is a list of gout foods that may help you if you are at risk or actually suffer from this painful disorder:
Oranges Grapefruit Tangerines Lemons Limes Strawberries Bananas Kiwi Cherries Blueberries Pineapple Tomatoes |
Broccoli Bell Peppers Kale Parsley Cabbage Brussels Sprouts Celery Ginger Turmeric Walnuts Flaxseed Green leafy vegetables |
Here is a list of foods to limit or avoid if you suffer from gout:
-Meat, particularly organ meats, turkey and bacon
-Seafood
-Cauliflower
-Beer
-Hard Liquor
Common sense
It makes sense that a healthy diet contributes to a healthy body. This is never more true than in the case of gout. Even if you have a hereditary predisposition, you don’t have to succumb to the debilitating pain of gout.
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