Gout is a painful condition that occurs when the level of Uric acid in our bodies rises too high. The Uric acid accumulates around our joints and transforms into a crystalline form, most notably around fingers and toes. The crystals grow, sometimes very quickly and inflame the joints, redden the skin and cause swelling. When not treated the crystals can continue to grow and cause serious discomfort and even break through the skin and weep out.
To control the build up of this armful Uric acid it’s important to understand it’s origins. In a nutshell Uric acid is a Purine. Purines are a group of Nucleic acids that appear in certain foods as nitrogenous compounds. In a normal situation they pass through the body unchanged and are excreted in the same form they entered and as such they are not a vital part of our bodies regular function. The important point to hold on to is that purines enter the body through our food intake, and as such the levels of purines in our system, and specifically Uric acid, can be controlled by carefully monitoring and controlling our diet.
There are two ways of controlling the Uric Acid levels in our body through diet. The first is by avoiding foods known to be high in Purines. There include Beef and Pork, Meaty organs such as livers,hearts and tongue, turkey and goose flesh, cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms, green peas, lentils, spinach, beans, dried peas, gravy, creamy sauces or meat broths, coffee, wheat, yeast, sweetbreads and alcohol. In other words, pretty much all the things that make life worth living.
Because the range of Purine high food is so extensive, the second form of using diet to control gout is very popular. This consists of increasing your intake of foods that have a higher alkaline level. Alkali is a compound that reduces acidity in the system. It raises the pH level of the body. In general a pH below 7 indicates a very acidic body state, whereas a pH above 7 means that the body is not as acidic. Acidic foods lower pH and alkalines increase it, so an Alkaline rich diet can counteract a high level of Uric Acid(or Eneral acidity) within the body.
Good sources of alkali’s are banana’s, watermelons, orange juices, potatoes, chocolate, water and figs. Inserting these foods into your diet will go a long way towards balancing bodies pH, counteracting a Uric acid build up and ultimately avoiding gout. If your gout persists you should consider the expert advise of Lisa McDowell
Related posts:
