Gout is a painful condition..ask anyone who has it, and I am sure they will have plenty to say about it. The underlying cause of gout is an elevated serum level of uric acid, otherwise known as hyperuricemia. Elevated uric acid levels have also been associated with other health conditions including cardiac issues and type 2 diabetes. For this reason, it makes sense to try to control the condition by controlling uric acid levels.
.jpg)
Traditionally, this goal has been accomplished using medications. There is a class of drugs known as
xanthine oxidase inhibitors. These drugs limit the amount of uric acid that the body can produce. While they are very effective, they have side effects, including low blood counts, reduced liver function, rash and nausea. NSAID drugs, such as colchicine and ibuprofen are used to combat an acute attack of gout. These drugs are safe and effective during short term use, but long term use can precipitate GI problems, bleed risk, and cardiovascular or kidney issues.
Fear not...I bring you good news! There are other strategies one can use to reduce serum uric acid levels and reduce the risk of gout and associated problems. For one thing, gout has historically been referred to as a rich person's disease, because only a rich person could supposedly afford certain foods...foods rich in purine, which release uric acid during metabolism. The excess uric acid in circulation sometimes can't be cleared by the body fast enough, so uric acid crystals form and deposit in the joints. That is how an acute gout attack is born!
One approach to reducing serum levels of uric acid is to reduce consumption of foods rich in purine--including meats, seafood, and dairy products. Most people do not require as much protein as they might think. One dietitian who was quoted in the research materials I used for this post stated that an average 150 pound person only requires about 54 grams of protein per day...which is the approximate protein content of a 6 ounce portion of boneless, skinless chicken breast!
Fructose rich diets have also been associated with gout. It is advisable to limit intake of products that contain fructose or high fructose corn syrup and replace these products with their natural fruit counterparts. Alcohol consumption has also been associated with increased risk of gout.
In addition to the foods a person should avoid to prevent/control gout, there are also foods associated with reduced risk of gout. These include cherries, coffee, and vitamin C supplements. Eat up, my friends...eat up!
Sources: Medpage today; arthritis.org; mayoclinic.org; wikimedia
Traditionally, this goal has been accomplished using medications. There is a class of drugs known as
xanthine oxidase inhibitors. These drugs limit the amount of uric acid that the body can produce. While they are very effective, they have side effects, including low blood counts, reduced liver function, rash and nausea. NSAID drugs, such as colchicine and ibuprofen are used to combat an acute attack of gout. These drugs are safe and effective during short term use, but long term use can precipitate GI problems, bleed risk, and cardiovascular or kidney issues.
Fear not...I bring you good news! There are other strategies one can use to reduce serum uric acid levels and reduce the risk of gout and associated problems. For one thing, gout has historically been referred to as a rich person's disease, because only a rich person could supposedly afford certain foods...foods rich in purine, which release uric acid during metabolism. The excess uric acid in circulation sometimes can't be cleared by the body fast enough, so uric acid crystals form and deposit in the joints. That is how an acute gout attack is born!
One approach to reducing serum levels of uric acid is to reduce consumption of foods rich in purine--including meats, seafood, and dairy products. Most people do not require as much protein as they might think. One dietitian who was quoted in the research materials I used for this post stated that an average 150 pound person only requires about 54 grams of protein per day...which is the approximate protein content of a 6 ounce portion of boneless, skinless chicken breast!
Fructose rich diets have also been associated with gout. It is advisable to limit intake of products that contain fructose or high fructose corn syrup and replace these products with their natural fruit counterparts. Alcohol consumption has also been associated with increased risk of gout.
In addition to the foods a person should avoid to prevent/control gout, there are also foods associated with reduced risk of gout. These include cherries, coffee, and vitamin C supplements. Eat up, my friends...eat up!
Sources: Medpage today; arthritis.org; mayoclinic.org; wikimedia
Comments
Post a Comment