Gout - How To Relieve Pain & Treat It Naturally

November 18, 2020

In this article we look at what causes gout, the symptoms, risk factors and how to treat it naturally.

What's In This Article?

• What Is Gout?
• What Causes Gout?
• Gout Risk Factors
• Signs and Symptoms Of Gout
• What Happens If You Don't Treat Gout?
• Gout Attack? - Here's What To Do
• Gout - Foods To Avoid
• What Food To Eat More Of?
• What Medications To Avoid?
• Helpful Natural Remedies
• Helpful Natural Supplements

What Is Gout?

Gout is a particularly painful form of crystalline or inflammatory arthritis that affects between 4 and 6% of the population. Gout causes joints such as feet, knees, wrists and elbows to become swollen, stiff, and intensely painful.

What Causes Gout?

Gout is most often related to genetics and exacerbated by lifestyle and food choices. It is the result of the body producing too much uric acid as it breaks down purines which are commonly found in meats, seafood, legumes, alcohol, fructose, yeast and some vegetables. In other words, high consumption of proteins plays a role in the development of gout.

If you have too much uric acid your kidneys are unable to keep up, which results in the formation of needle-like crystals in a joint that cause intense pain.

Gout Risk Factors

You’re most likely to suffer from gout if –

• Have a genetic predisposition
• You are a male, or a female who has gone through menopause
• You’re carrying too much weight – obese
• Poor diet – lack of good nutrition and excess consumption of protein
• Lack of exercise
• Inadequate consumption of water – frequent dehydration
• You suffer from any of the following – diabetes, insulin resistance, congestive heart failure, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney disease

Signs & Symptoms Of Gout

The first sign of a gout attack is frequently pain starting in your big toe. This happens about 50% of the time. The pain is greatest in the first 12-24 hours and may go away on it’s own after 7-10 days, but may last for weeks with the pain ebbing and flowing.

You’ll notice severe pain in your feet, ankles, knees, hips, wrists, hans, fingers or back. Even the weight of a sheet or clothing is intolerable.

The affected joints become swollen, warm to touch, and often appear red or even purple. You may have a fever, and you may even experience lumps or bumps at the joints.

A Gout attack will happen more often in the middle of the night.

What Happens If You Don’t Treat Gout?

If you don't do something to reduce the causes and risk factors of gout it's likely that you'll experience recurring attacks which may last longer, affect more joints and be more painful.

Other effects include -

1. May increase likelihood of certain types of cancer especially prostate cancer, and heart disease.
2. High levels of uric acid may also increase the likelihood of kidney stones.

Gout Attack? Here's What To Do

If you suffer from a gout attack it’s best to see your doctor to ensure that it is gout, to rest, ice it down, watch your diet, and stay hydrated.

Gout – What Foods To Avoid?

There are four categories of foods to avoid or minimise if you suffer from gout.

• Purine foods – eg beef, goose, sweetbreads, mussels, anchovies, herring, mackerel, spinach, yeast, asparagus, beans, lentils, mushrooms, dried peas
• Oxalate rich foods including – spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, chocolate, black tea, wheat bran, strawberries and beans.
• Common allergens – eg dairy, wheat (gluten), corn and food additives
• Refined and heavily processes foods – eg white breads, pastas and sugars

What Food To Eat More Of?

• High fibre foods such as barley, bran, rye, brown rice, avocados, potatoes, bananas
• Vitamin C rich foods such as oranges, broccoli, strawberries, guava, kiwifruit and brussel sprouts
• Magnesium rich foods – pumpkin seed, almonds, avocados, figs, artichokes, cashews, and wild caught salmon
• Cherries and unsweetened cherry juice
• Omega-3 rich foods such as flax seed, chia seed, wild caught salmon and tuna

What Medications To Avoid?

Consult your health practitioner with regard to medications but the following medications may aggravate gout symptoms – diuretics, aspirin, cyclosporine (a common treatment for auto-immune patients), levodopa (a common treatment for Parkinson’s disease).

Helpful Natural Remedies

There are a number of natural remedies which may help the healing cycle, and provide pain relief without the side effects of many pharmaceutical solutions.

• Cherries and unsweetened cherry juice is known to reduce inflammation and promote weight loss.
• Celery seed extract is understood to decrease uric acid in the body.
• Coffee both regular and decaffeinated may lower uric acid levels in your body.
• Vitamin C reduces uric acid levels.
• Turmeric when supported by black pepper to increase absorption is considered to be a very effective anti-inflammatory compound.
• Stinging nettle root may aid in the treatment of gout by helping the body to get rid of toxins.

Helpful Natural Supplements

The following has been recommended by Earl Mindell in the Vitamin Bible as helpful for gout sufferers:

• MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) provides a unique source of biological sulphur which is a major component of the body's proteins, tissues, hormones and enzymes. Research indicates that it may successfully regulate inflammation, and inhibit pain impulses and alleviate arthritic pain.
• Grapeseed Oil or Extract - a remarkable anti-oxidant believed to be more powerful than vitamin E and vitamin C. It helps to improve circulation by inhibiting the destruction of collagen needed by cell membranes. It may also have a heart healthy, aspirin like effect in slowing the formation of blood clots (don't take it for 2 weeks prior to surgery, or if you have a bleeding disorder). 

Caution – large amounts of Niacin can interfere with the control of uric acid bringing on gout attacks in people who are predisposed to the condition, with multiple risk factors.

So, To Sum It All Up...

If you suffer from gout there are things you can naturally do to reduce the frequency and seriousness of attacks -

• Reduce your intake of purines and proteins
• Increase your intake of natural anti-inflammatories
• Drink more water
• Reduce weight if overweight
• Exercise more

 

Best Health Naturally has created a Gout Support Value Pack to reduce pain and causes of gout. It includes 95% bio-available natural nutritional liquid MSM, Advanced Grapeseed Extract and the unique Colloidal Minerals from TJ Clark for maximum nutritional support, cell utilisation, ease of use, and value.

For More Information On The Gout Support Value Pack Click Here - https://www.besthealthnaturally.com/products/gout-support-pack 

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