Diet to Treat Gout

Gout is a problem of the lower, load bearing joints of the body. Due to its similarity to arthritis, many sufferers tend to confuse their condition with the onset of arthritis. This correlation is not completely incorrect, as gout that is untreated or unmanaged can lead to arthritis; the two conditions have to be distinguished from each other. Most importantly, it is important to realize that gout can be cured by following a sensible dietary regime.

Gout occurs due the high presence of uric acid in the blood. In the normal course of existence, our red blood cells are continuously being created in the bone marrow and eventually are destroyed in the spleen. Most of the material that makes up red blood cells like the iron of hemoglobin is recycled after it passes from the liver into the digestive system for reuptake. However, the other part of the destruction of red blood cells is the protein content, which when finally metabolized ends up as uric acid in the blood; which is then excreted in the urine. Gout occurs when there is too much uric acid in the blood or when the excretion of uric acid is inefficient. This can be because of an inefficient heart or kidney. When the uric acid is continuously circulating in the system, some of the uric acid crystallizes in the tissues of the joints. These crystals are long and pointy and cause significant tissue damage, resulting in inflammation and pain. Another reason for high uric acid is a high dietary intake of protein or a substance called purine, which is broken down into uric acid in the body. The highest purine sources are meat and carbonated soft drinks made from fructose bases. Though there are plants sources of proteins, studies have shown that these are not as culpable as animal sources of causing gout.

Treating gout requires the elimination of meat from the diet and an increased water intake. To add to this, the use of coffee as a natural diuretic is invaluable. Incidentally, one must stay away from alcohol until the condition is cured as alcohol dehydrates the system. Drinking at least twelve liters of water a day is prescribed for this disease. You should also have a lot of horseradish and wasabi that also function as diuretics. Coffee intake can be increased to about four cups a day. Also, take vitamin supplements to ensure that the other parts of your body are in a good condition.