Gout sufferers will tell you that the pain they go through is sometimes unbearable. And there are so many gout treatment options you can find on the web.
Do you experience an intense pain in your joints which lasts for more than a few days? If your answer is yes, and your joints are red, tender, and swollen, chances are you have a gout. A gout, according to the National Institutes of Health, is a painful form of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the body.
You might think that a few tender joints hurting from time to time ain’t that serious, however, let’s keep in mind that too much uric acid in the body poses a threat on other parts of our body.
If left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to your joints and kidneys. There are gout treatment options you can consider, the good thing is that a gout can be controlled not only with uric-acid lowering drugs, but also with a well-balanced diet as well.
Here are 8 truly wonderful foods that help lower your uric acid:
[1] Cherries
As advised by Liliana Stadler Mitrea, author of Pathology and Nutrition – A Guide for Professionals, cherries decrease your uric acid levels. Cherries contain high levels of vitamins A and C, which can reduce uric acid levels by up to 50 percent.
It also helps in controlling the inflammation of tender and swollen joints. by up to 50 percent, and control inflammation of gout-ravaged joints, which is a primary cause of severe gout pain.
[2] Artichokes
Artichokes are a great source of fiber, protein, and multiple kinds of vitamins. Also, artichokes contain diuretic properties that helps lower your body’s uric acid.
[3] Squash
Pumpkins are a great source of 91 essential vitamins and minerals. In addition, pumpkins contain high level of vitamins A, beta carotene, C, E, and K. Which makes pumpkin a good source of vitamins beneficial to your health.
What makes a squash helpful to your gout is it being a good source of fiber. Fiber slows down other food digestion in your body, eating a squash after a sweet treat helps offset purines created by sugary food.
[4] Celery
Celery contains 3nB, which helps normalize the uric acid levels of your body. Also, research shows that those who receive 34 mg of celery seed extract were relieved from significant joint pain after three weeks of consumption.
[5] Apples
Apples are detoxification food which is rich in a special fiber known as pectin. Aside from helping to lower the chances of getting cancer, apples also contain only about 14 milligrams of purine, combined with its high level of vitam C, it is a great food for lowering your uric acid levels.
[6] Chicken
Chicken does not only help in losing weight, it is also a great help in reducing excess uric acid in the body. Baked or boiled chicken breast contains small amount of purine and have properties that helps reduce joints tenderness.
[7] Onions
Onions is a great source of flavonoids which is an antioxidant that targets free radicals in your body’s cells even before it could cause damage to your health.
A significant flavonoid in onions known as quercetin, inhibits inflammation which in turn, reduces inflammation to your joints caused by high level of uric acid. Boiling two onions, and mixing lemon juice to its water, will definitely do wonders for your gout.
[8] Water
Drinking 10 to 12 8-oz glasses of water a day helps reduce uric acid levels in your body. Make sure that you drink enough fluids to keep yourself hydrated and your joints pain-free!
Keeping a positive mindset in times of constant pain is a hard thing to do, so embrace body positivity! Take care not only of your mental well being but of your health too.
If you are in constant pain, being positive is hard to do. So embrace body positivity! Take care of your health too and not just your mental well being. Look at the many gout treatment options out there, and the most important is talk to your doctor.
Unleash the chef within you and whip up dishes cooked with foods beneficial in lowering your body’s uric acid!
(Note: This article is for informational purposes only and not to be treated as a professional opinion or diagnosis. If you’re dealing with any of these signs & symptoms or know someone who does, it’s important to always consult with your doctor or a specialist.)