Subscribe

 

GOUT

A very painful form of Arthritis

Is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood (normal uric acid levels are okay). If uric acid levels are too high, urate crystals settle in the joints (most often ankle or big toe though any joint can be affected) to set up very painful arthritic inflammation. Repeated attacks of gout damage the joint tissues.

Urate crystals can also settle in muscles giving rise to the pain and stiffness of gouty
rheumatism = low grade smouldering muscle pain which goes quickly to severe, sudden pain on any quick movement of arm, leg, or torso.

Gout is caused by ingesting edibles that increase bodily production of uric acid and ingesting edibles that reduce the body’s ability to excrete uric acid in urine. Edibles that increase uric acid production are the high purine containing foods: 

  • beer, red wine, liqueurs, Port, red (and organ) meat, heart, liver, 
  • kidney, sweetbread, brains, meat extracts, gravies, herrings, sardines, anchovies, aged cheeses, all beans, caviar, fish roe, mussels and pates.

Edibles that reduce the body’s ability to excrete uric acid are: 

  • alcohol, diuretic drugs, (fluid tablets), saturated fats, transfats, refined carbohydrates, (white bread, cakes, biscuits etc). Fructose (fruit sugar).

Cut down on all of these. In severe cases, cut them out for a while.

Drink 8-10 glasses of water per day to flush purines and uric acid out of the system (6-8 glasses on cold days). Unique water, obtainable from BP service stations, contains bicarbonates, magnesium and potassium, and is very good for helping to prevent gout. Drink continuously on hot days.

Take the following per day: 

  • 2 mg of folic acid per day 
  • 400 mcg of vitamin B12 
  • 50 mg of vitamin B6

These nutrients inhibit the enzyme needed to make uric acid from purines. Take a high potency multvitamin to synergize the action of folic acid, vitamin B12 and B6.   A 12 year study of 50.000 men reported in “Kidney International” showed that men with a history of gout have twice the risk of developing kidney stones.

Back