Gout usually affects men over age 30 with a family history of gout, but it can occur at any time and also affects women, especially after menopause. Recent food and alcohol excess, surgery, infection, physical or emotional stress, or the use of certain drugs can lead to the development of gout symptoms.
Nutrition
Maintaining a healthy weight is important, however, avoid crash dieting and rapid weight loss.
Drink plenty of water because dehydration may make gout worse.
Restrict purines in your diet. Purines increase lactate production, which competes with uric acid for excretion. Foods with a high purine content include:
- Beef
- Goose
- Organ meats
- Sweet breads
- Mussels
- Anchovies
- Herring
- Mackerel
- Yeast
Foods with a moderate amount of purine include:
- Meats
- Poultry
- Fish
- Shellfish (not listed above)
- Spinach
- Asparagus
- Beans
- Lentils
- Mushrooms
- Dried peas
Do not drink alcohol, especially beer.
Cherries- One half pound of cherries per day (fresh or frozen) for two weeks lowers uric acid and prevents attacks. Cherries and other dark red berries (hawthorn berries and blueberries) contain anthocyanadins that increase collagen integrity and decrease inflammation. Cherry juice is also helpful.
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamin C: 8 grams per day can lead to decreased blood uric acid levels. Note that there is a small subset of people with gout who will actually get worse with this level of Vitamin C.
Folic acid: 10 to 75 mg per day inhibits xanthine oxidase, which is required for uric acid production.
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) inhibits pro-inflammatory leukotrienes. Dose is 1,500 mg per day.
Niacin- Avoid niacin in doses greater than 50 mg per day. Nicotinic acid may bring on an attack of gout.
Vitamin A- There is some concern that elevated retinol levels may play a role in some attacks of gouty arthritis.
Herbs
Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum prcumbens): reduces pain and inflammation. Dose is one to two grams three times per day of dried powdered root., four to five ml three times per day of tincture, or 400 mg three times per day of dry solid extract during attacks.
Bromelain (Ananas comosus): Proteolytic enzyme (anti-inflammatory) when taken on an empty stomach.
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Trace MineralsArth X plus for pain and inflammation
