The Shocking Link Between Gout and Uric Acid and How to Break It
There's a clear link between gout and uric acid.
If you know and understand what that link is then you are better able to break it and so help prevent recurring gout attacks causing serious health problems.
You'll discover how to do that here.
WHERE DOES URIC ACID COME FROM? The first thing to understand is that uric acid (UA) is produced naturally in our bodies all the time.
It is produced when chemical compounds in our bodies - purines - break down during the body's normal metabolizing process.
UA in your bloodstream is actually a good thing because it acts as an antioxidant.
In fact it is one of the major antioxidants in humans, so normal levels are highly beneficial.
And that's the shocking thing: If UA is such a good thing why on earth does it cause gout; what's the link to gout? The answer's simple really; it's when higher than normal levels are present that you have a problem...
GOUT AND HIGH URIC ACID LEVELS (HYPERURICEMIA) 'Hyperuricemia' is the name given to the condition where there are higher than normal UA levels in the bloodstream.
And someone with hyperuricemia is at a much higher risk of gout than someone with normal levels.
When you have high levels circulating in your bloodstream, crystals of urate have the time to form out of the uric acid, and as they circulate they deposit themselves in your joints and connective tissue.
Your body's immune system sees this as a threat and so triggers its inflammatory response which floods the area with cells and chemicals.
This has the effect of causing the area to become red, inflamed, swollen, stiff and extremely painful.
This is what we call gout.
CAUSES OF HYPERURICEMIA Under normal UA production, and with your kidneys working to their normal potential, any excess acid is expelled from the body through your urine.
So that there isn't usually time for any crystals to form.
However, should your body be producing too much acid for your kidneys to handle, or your kidneys aren't working to their full potential, then not enough UA is being excreted, leaving higher than normal levels in your body.
And as you saw above this can lead to crystal formation and gout.
IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING RECURRING GOUT Once having suffered a gout attack a patient is usually at a much higher risk of suffering more attacks down the line.
When this becomes a regular occurrence then there may be some serious consequences...
Recurring or chronic gout can lead to some very serious complications like permanently damaged joints, chronic arthritis, kidney problems such as painful kidney stones, and high blood pressure.
That's why finding ways to reduce UA levels to normal healthy levels and maintaining them there is so very important for a gout sufferer...
HOW TO LOWER URIC ACID LEVELS 1.
Gout Uric Acid Diet Purines exist in our foods as well as our bodies.
So consuming lots of high-purine foods only adds to the overall amount of uric acid our bodies produce.
As a gout sufferer you need to reduce or avoid these types of foods if possible.
Typically, high-purine foods are also high in protein so are fairly easy to identify; things like red meat, game, offal, poultry, fish, shellfish, etc.
You should also reduce alcohol consumption, particularly beer.
Instead, eat much more fruit and vegetables (not mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach or asparagus), low-fat dairy produce, high vitamin C foods, essential fatty acid foods, complex carbohydrates, and drink lots of water.
[Note that you should consult your doctor before making any significant changes to your diet].
2.
Supplements Many foods that are low in purines are also low in important vitamins like vitamins B and E and other antioxidants.
So when you are on a low purine diet you need to replace these which you can do through supplements.
There are also supplements that can help reduce uric acid levels, such as vitamin C and L-glutathione.
[Note: Before taking any supplements please talk to your doctor about supplementation appropriate to your particular case].
3.
Herbs There are some herbs that have been shown to help to reduce uric acid levels; these are just a few:- alfalfa, burdock, celery seeds, and folic acid (inhibits uric acid production).
These are but three things you can do to help reduce and maintain your uric acid at healthy levels to prevent recurring gout.
These are natural approaches that, if taken together, can be effective in lowering uric acid.
Of course, there are drug-based solutions as well.
For example, Allopurinol is a very well-known medication used to help lower uric acid in the blood.
It has some side effects for some people but can be effective nevertheless - but only if taken long-term.
You may be able to combine the drug route with the natural route, so talk to your doctor.
If you know and understand what that link is then you are better able to break it and so help prevent recurring gout attacks causing serious health problems.
You'll discover how to do that here.
WHERE DOES URIC ACID COME FROM? The first thing to understand is that uric acid (UA) is produced naturally in our bodies all the time.
It is produced when chemical compounds in our bodies - purines - break down during the body's normal metabolizing process.
UA in your bloodstream is actually a good thing because it acts as an antioxidant.
In fact it is one of the major antioxidants in humans, so normal levels are highly beneficial.
And that's the shocking thing: If UA is such a good thing why on earth does it cause gout; what's the link to gout? The answer's simple really; it's when higher than normal levels are present that you have a problem...
GOUT AND HIGH URIC ACID LEVELS (HYPERURICEMIA) 'Hyperuricemia' is the name given to the condition where there are higher than normal UA levels in the bloodstream.
And someone with hyperuricemia is at a much higher risk of gout than someone with normal levels.
When you have high levels circulating in your bloodstream, crystals of urate have the time to form out of the uric acid, and as they circulate they deposit themselves in your joints and connective tissue.
Your body's immune system sees this as a threat and so triggers its inflammatory response which floods the area with cells and chemicals.
This has the effect of causing the area to become red, inflamed, swollen, stiff and extremely painful.
This is what we call gout.
CAUSES OF HYPERURICEMIA Under normal UA production, and with your kidneys working to their normal potential, any excess acid is expelled from the body through your urine.
So that there isn't usually time for any crystals to form.
However, should your body be producing too much acid for your kidneys to handle, or your kidneys aren't working to their full potential, then not enough UA is being excreted, leaving higher than normal levels in your body.
And as you saw above this can lead to crystal formation and gout.
IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING RECURRING GOUT Once having suffered a gout attack a patient is usually at a much higher risk of suffering more attacks down the line.
When this becomes a regular occurrence then there may be some serious consequences...
Recurring or chronic gout can lead to some very serious complications like permanently damaged joints, chronic arthritis, kidney problems such as painful kidney stones, and high blood pressure.
That's why finding ways to reduce UA levels to normal healthy levels and maintaining them there is so very important for a gout sufferer...
HOW TO LOWER URIC ACID LEVELS 1.
Gout Uric Acid Diet Purines exist in our foods as well as our bodies.
So consuming lots of high-purine foods only adds to the overall amount of uric acid our bodies produce.
As a gout sufferer you need to reduce or avoid these types of foods if possible.
Typically, high-purine foods are also high in protein so are fairly easy to identify; things like red meat, game, offal, poultry, fish, shellfish, etc.
You should also reduce alcohol consumption, particularly beer.
Instead, eat much more fruit and vegetables (not mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach or asparagus), low-fat dairy produce, high vitamin C foods, essential fatty acid foods, complex carbohydrates, and drink lots of water.
[Note that you should consult your doctor before making any significant changes to your diet].
2.
Supplements Many foods that are low in purines are also low in important vitamins like vitamins B and E and other antioxidants.
So when you are on a low purine diet you need to replace these which you can do through supplements.
There are also supplements that can help reduce uric acid levels, such as vitamin C and L-glutathione.
[Note: Before taking any supplements please talk to your doctor about supplementation appropriate to your particular case].
3.
Herbs There are some herbs that have been shown to help to reduce uric acid levels; these are just a few:- alfalfa, burdock, celery seeds, and folic acid (inhibits uric acid production).
These are but three things you can do to help reduce and maintain your uric acid at healthy levels to prevent recurring gout.
These are natural approaches that, if taken together, can be effective in lowering uric acid.
Of course, there are drug-based solutions as well.
For example, Allopurinol is a very well-known medication used to help lower uric acid in the blood.
It has some side effects for some people but can be effective nevertheless - but only if taken long-term.
You may be able to combine the drug route with the natural route, so talk to your doctor.
Source...