How to Manage Gout – The Natural Way

If you’ve ever woken up at night to a sudden attack of pain in your big toe (ankle, knee, wrist, or fingers) then you are probably already familiar with the intense and unforgiving pain of gout.  The intense joint pain is usually accompanied by swelling, redness and tenderness, and sends many people to the emergency room for relief.  Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when an accumulation of uric acid crystallizes in the joints.  Uric acid is produced when your body breaks down purines (substances that are found naturally in your body). Purines are also found in certain foods such as steak, organ meats and seafood.  Alcoholic beverages (especially beer) and drinks sweetened with fructose also promote higher levels of uric acid.  Suggestions for keeping gout at bay include staying hydrated, limiting or avoiding meat, fish and poultry, and reducing your intake of alcohol and drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. Maintaining a desirable body weight is also recommended.   Medications are commonly used to treat flare-ups of gout, however certain foods and supplements have also been studied for their potential to lower uric acid levels which may help reduce the risk of gout.

Coffee:  Studies have found an association between drinking coffee— both regular and decaffeinated — and lower uric acid levels

Low-Fat Dairy Products:  Research has found that low-fat dairy products may have a protective effect against gout

Vitamin C:  According to research, vitamin C may reduce the blood levels of uric acid in men

Cherries:  Cherries have been reported to lower levels of uric acid, as well as reduce the number of gout attacks

Fish Oil Supplements:  Omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may help to support healthy levels of inflammation, a hallmark of gout.  Supplements are preferred as some types of fish contain higher levels of purines, which raise uric acid levels.

Folic Acid:  Folic acid is thought to break down high levels of homocysteine, which is often correlated with high uric acid levels

Magnesium:  According to some research, magnesium is associated with low and healthy levels of uric acid

Ginger:   Studies have found ginger may help to reduce pain associated with gout as well as reduce uric acid levels

 

 

References:

(1) Choi, H. K., Gao, X., & Curhan, G. (2009). Vitamin C Intake and the Risk of Gout in Men. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169(5), 502. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2008.606

(2) Gout. (2019, March 1). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/symptoms-causes/syc-20372897.

(3) Gout | Gouty Arthritis. (2019, September 11). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/gout.html.

(4) Gout and Supplements: What You Need to Know. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/gout/articles/gout-and-supplements-11.php

(5) Is Ginger Good for Gout? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.livestrong.com/article/410265-is-ginger-good-for-gout/.

(6) Juraschek, S. P., Miller, E. R., & Gelber, A. C. (2011). Effect of oral vitamin C supplementation on serum uric acid: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arthritis Care & Research, 63(9), 1295–1306. doi: 10.1002/acr.20519

(7) Larson, J. (2019, September 30). Gout Supplements: 10 Vitamins, Supplements & Natural Treatments. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/gout/gout-supplement#vitamins-and-supplements.

(8) Mark, & Markradonn, H. A. (2015, June 15). Vitamin C May Help Prevent Gout Development. Retrieved from http://blog.arthritis.org/gout/vitamin-c-gout/.

(9) Nutrition, D. (n.d.). Milk Products and Gout. Retrieved from https://www.dairynutrition.ca/scientific-evidence/roles-on-certain-health-conditions/milk-products-and-gout.

(10) White, A. (2019, March 8). Gout Remedies: Natural Treatments You Can Try at Home. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/gout/home-remedies.

(11) Wang, Y.-L., Zeng, C., Wei, J., Yang, T., Li, H., Deng, Z.-H., … Lei, G.-H. (2015). Association between Dietary Magnesium Intake and Hyperuricemia. Plos One, 10(11). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141079

(12) Zhang, Y., & Qiu, H. (2018). Dietary Magnesium Intake and Hyperuricemia among US Adults. Nutrients, 10(3), 296. doi: 10.3390/nu10030296