Gout Remedies and Treatment Options

Gout is a form of arthritis associated with the excess uric acid (urate crystals) in the joint, most likely in the larger joint of the big toe. The best way to cope with it is by preventing the flare-up. However, once the flare-up occurs, there are also some treatment options for coping.

Sufferers can have no any symptoms after the first attack of flare-up. Many of them will experience the next episode of flare-up several months latter (such as in the next a half year /a year after the first attack).

During the ‘off’ period, the following some remedies and lifestyle changes can help reduce the chance of another flare-up from recurring:

Wight control is so crucial in any kind of arthritis

It’s clear that overweight and obesity can be a risk factor of arthritis in general, including for gout. More excess weight you gain can cause more strain in your weight-bearing joints, such as joints of knees, big toe, spine, etc. See also why obesity is considered bad for arthritis in here!

Obesity is linked to high risk of having more excess uric acid in the blood, too. Experts speculate that losing some excess pounds of excess weight may be so helpful to reduce the amount of uric acid in the body.

But if you are overweight /obese, avoid losing weight too fast! Rapid weight loss may become counterproductive since it could be potential to cause a sudden increase in uric acid, though this impact is usually temporary.

A significant weight loss at short time is also bad for your metabolic rate. Remember that the goal is not to lose your weight fast, but how to keep your weight off in long term! Many times, people who got rapid weight loss tend to regain weight more easily.

Keep hydrated!

Water that you drink can play a key role in helping to regulate and control the amount of uric acid in your bloodstream. Normally, excess uric acid will pass the kidneys and then will be removed with urine. More water you drink, the better performance of your kidneys in removing the excess uric acid!

That’s why, it’s important for people with gout to always get plenty of water every day. Even though you don’t have gout, being hydration is so essential for your overall health.

Make sure to drink about 2-4 liters of water /liquid per day. Liquid can be found in some foods, too – such as fruits, soup, etc. But restrict your diet from any sweetened beverages because they can be harmful for your weight control and bad for your overall health.

Watch on alcohol!

While drinking alcohol in moderation may help improve the health of heart (though experts admit more studies required to confirm this finding) – but it’s clear that excess drinking can be a serious risk factor of gout.

People who have habit of drinking excessive alcohol are at greater risk of developing gout than those who drink moderately and who don’t drink, according to a research released in the Lancet medical journal.

Well-balanced diet

Though foods rich in purines are commonly not recommended for people with gout, but in general there is no specific diet recommended for people with arthritis. However, a balanced diet is so essential for everyone.

And watch on the calories! A well-balanced diet should underline veggies, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat foods. But remember, all foods you eat contain calories, even though for healthy foods!

All preventive steps mentioned above can be used to help control and improve the symptoms of gout during flare-up.

Unlike in other types of arthritis, diet can play a key role in helping to control and treat gout.

Watch on foods high in purines!

You might know well that gout is commonly thought as consequence of too high levels of uric acid in the blood – though not all individuals with this situation develop gout. And your body tends to have more uric acid if you have diet high in purines.

Uric acid itself can be derived by purines. Yap, your body can get more uric acid by breaking down purines from foods that you eat.

There are some foods contain purines that should be restricted if you have gout. Meat and other animal proteins are rich in purines – see more in this post and here!

Saturated fats are considered bad for gout

We know that saturated fats are not healthy since it can give bad impact on some body functions. For instance, they play a key role in increasing bad cholesterol (LDL).

In gout, saturated fats are not recommended because they can decrease the performance of the body in reducing excess uric acid in the bloodstream. They host a lot of calories, unhealthy choice for weight control, too.

For these reasons, it’s recommended to choose fat-free or low-fat products, such as plant-proteins and low-fat dairy products. Even according to studies, the risk of gout is relatively lower in people who take diet with low-fat dairy products.

Complex carbohydrates are the priority

Restrict your diet from refined products such as candy, cakes, or refined snacks since they can worsen the inflammation. Having excess inflammation is not good when you have gout because gout itself is an inflammatory condition.

In choosing carbohydrate, complex carbohydrate (such as whole grain) is more recommended than simple carbs and refined carbs. They are excellent choice for weight control and reducing the risk of diabetes, too.

Exercise

It’s a human nature if you tend to rest the affected joint when it hurts. But after the flare has gone and you think that your body is ready for an exercising program, getting plenty of physical activity can be so essential for coping.

Regular exercise can be the most effective way to keep the weight of your body off or help lose excess pounds if you are obese /overweight. It is also great to improve and train the strength of muscles around the joint.

For arthritis, exercises with low impact on the joint are commonly recommended. See more in this section!