Natural Health Tips for Gout
Understand High Uric Acid Level, its effects & natural Remedies
What is Uric Acid?
Uric acid is a byproduct of the chemical breakdown of compounds
called 'purines' that exist in our body's cells and in our food.
Purines are very important to us because they provide things
like our energy that we all need and our protein. During this process uric acid
is produced in the bloodstream. And uric acid is good for us because it acts as
an antioxidant and helps look after the internal linings of our blood vessels. It's
our kidneys' job to process the uric acid produced and excrete waste out of our
bodies via our urine, with a little via our stools.
What Causes of High Uric Acid in Blood?
Two of the main causes for high uric
acid levels in blood are:-
(1) The kidneys aren't working to their
full potential so that they are unable to process and expel sufficient uric
acid quickly enough, or...
(2) There is too much uric acid being
produced by the metabolizing purines for healthy kidneys to process.
What is the Result of High Uric Acid
Levels in the Body?
High uric acid level in the blood is a
condition known as 'hyperuricemia.' Over time this can lead to the production
of uric acid crystals -- technically speaking they are crystals of monosodium
urate -- which can settle in the joints, tendons and surrounding tissue.
And it's the body's natural
anti-inflammatory processes working against these crystals that actually cause
gout symptoms such as redness, swelling, heat, inflammation, stiffness and very
great pain.
Natural Treatment of High Uric Acid
Levels
Avoid meats that are particularly rich sources
of uric acid such as organ meats, sardines and anchovies. Physicians used to
advise cutting back on purine-rich plant foods such as lentils, peas, beans,
mushrooms, cauliflower and spinach; however, recent research has shown no
correlation between eating such foods and incidence of gout attacks.
Eliminate coffee and all other caffeine
sources from the diet.
Minimize alcohol consumption. Alcohol promotes
dehydration and irritates the urinary tract.
Eat tart cherries in all forms - fresh, or as
cherry juice, or in the form of tart cherry extract. Laboratory findings at
Michigan State University suggest that ingesting the equivalent of 20 tart
cherries inhibits enzymes called cyclooxygenase-1 and -2, which are the targets
of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Take bromelain, a compound of digestive
enzymes and other compounds extracted from pineapple stems.
Drink the full complement of eight eight-ounce
glasses of water daily to flush uric acid from the system and prevent urate
crystal deposition.
If you are overweight, lose the excess pounds.