Gout is a touchy subject.
And I mean a very touchy subject. People aren’t too keen to admit they have a kind of arthritis which causes an unsightly bulge on your foot. That is why there are so many home remedies suggested online – people know you do not want to suffer the embarrassment of seeing a chemist!
But all that glitters is not gold. Many of the home remedies are just plain bizarre. Drink apple cider vinegar with mother? Um, no thanks. Drink a gallon of beetroot juice? Gross!
So what do you do when going to a chemist is too embarrassing and the home solutions online are too strange? There’s only one thing you can do – try the one solution for gout that won’t make you cringe.
How did I even get here?
The first thing you need to understand is what causes gout. Gout is caused by an excessive buildup of uric acid in the body which then forms painful crystals in the joints. So what does this mean? It means you need to avoid worsening the build up of gout.
That’s right. The one solution to gout that won’t make you cringe is…
Lifestyle changes!
The first thing you need to do is start avoiding some foods. In particular, avoid wheat, barley and rye grains. These complex proteins compromise the gut and ultimately inflame the liver. You should also avoid HFCS, and purine-rich foods.
There are a few other lifestyle changes that should follow this. MBMD suggests:
- Control your weight. If you are overweight, a diet that is low in fat may help you lose weight. But avoid fasting or very low-calorie diets. Very low-calorie diets increase the amount of uric acid produced by the body and may bring on a gout attack.
- Follow a moderate exercise program.
- Limit alcohol, especially beer. Alcohol can reduce the release of uric acid by the kidneys into your urine, causing an increase of uric acid in your body. Beer, which is rich in purines, appears to be worse than some other beverages that contain alcohol.
- Limit meat and seafood. Diets high in meat and seafood (high-purine foods) can raise uric acid levels.
