Gout
Luxury foods and large amounts of alcohol can affect those who tend to suffer from gout. Gout occurs due to a build up of crystals of uric acid deposited in tissues of the body. Gout is characterized by an overload of uric acid in the body and recurring attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis). Chronic gout can lead to deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints.
Symptoms:
Extremely painful joints in the foot and big toe; tenderness, redness, swelling. In some cases chills and high fever; The type of food we eat and don't eat can impact gout by increasing or decreasing blood uric acid levels. We will also want to make adjustments to our diet if any of the following conditions are
commonly found in people hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity, Glucose tolerance.
Healthy foods
Increase intake of foods high in dietary fiber (vegetables, fruits) and complex carbohydrates (oats, barley, bran) . Eat high potassium foods fresh cherries bananas, strawberries, celery, broccoli, potatoes.
Food & Drinks to avoid
Avoid high purine foods such as red meats, rich gravies, broths, sweet breads, organ meats, mushrooms, asparagus, dry peas, cooked spinach, rhubarb, tomatoes, sardines, anchovies, crab meat, coffee, tea, fried foods and saturated fats. Fuzzy drinks such as lemonade, coke any other acidy drinks. Avoid alcohol during healing. It inhibits uric acid secretion from the kidneys.
Herbal Therapy
Drink aloe vera juice every morning. Drink nettle tea or horsetail tea for three weeks to eliminate uric acid in the joints.
Hawthorn extract
Bilberry extract
Celery seed tincture/ extract
Devils claw extract
Grape seed and pine bark
100mg x 3 times a day
Light exercises like brisk walking help to keep the joint cartilage
lubricated. Being overweight can burden the joints, especially the
knees, thus aggravating the pain. Losing some weight will be of
benefit.
External therapies
To relieve acute attack, hold painful area under cold water for at least two minutes. Apply Arnica cream around the affected area.
Healing clay, sauna and foot baths will help to ease the pain.