What Are High Purine Foods to Avoid With Gout?
Gout is a disease in which primary cause of joint pain and other symptoms is deposition of uric acid crystals. Among many causes that precipitate gouty attacks, food rich in purines are also important. What are the purines and how they affect gout is described below.
What are high purine foods which should be avoided in gout?
Purines are substances which are naturally a component of genes of human beings, animals and plants. As every cell of body contains genetic material, so purines are also found in every cell of the body. Although they are in every cell of the body, they are in high concentration in certain organs in the body than others like kidney, liver and brain. Some foods contain high purines like mackerel fish, sardines, mussels and yeast.
It is our body’s natural response to metabolize purines to uric acid as cell death inside our own body release purines. Kidneys excrete uric acid upto certain limit.
In patients who over produce uric acid like patients of leukemia or who are taking purines rich foods, uric acid concentration in blood become high. When uric acid concentration reaches to certain upper limit, it tends to form crystals and deposit in joints. In patients of gout, already there is more uric acid in the body, when these foods are taken they cause crystallization of uric acid and cause symptoms of gout. This is the reason why purine rich foods should be avoided in patients with gout.
Food that should be avoided in gout:
As a general advice patient having gouty arthritis should avoid food that are rich in purines. These are categorized into two categories:
- Foods with very high purine levels
- Foods with moderately high levels of purines
1. List of Purine Rich Foods:
These are the food that contain very high purines and should be completely avoided in patients with gout.
- Organ meats like kidney, liver and brain
- Alcohol
- Red meat
- Sea foods
2. Foods with moderately high levels of purines
It is preferable to avoid these foods in patients with gout however; these can be taken in small quantity.
- Asparagus
- Bacon
- Bluefish
- Beef
- Bouillon
- Carp
- Cauliflower
- Calf tongue
- Chicken
- Chicken soup
- Crab
- Codfish
- Goose
- Halibut
- Duck
- Ham
- Lamb
- Kidney beans
- Lentils
- Lima beans
- Lobster
- Mutton
- Mushrooms
- Navy beans
- Oatmeal
- Oysters
- Peas
- Perch
- Pork
- Rabbit
- Salmon
- Sheep
- Shellfish
- Snapper
- Spinach
- Turkey
- Trout
- Tuna
- Tripe
- Venison
- Veal
Hopefully you found this article useful which contains a list of purine rich foods which I have categorized for your convenience into high purine content and moderate purine content list.
Diagnosis of Gout – 5 Tests for Gout Diagnosis
In this article we shall discuss about gout diagnosis and treatment. Gout is a condition which results from deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints resulting in joint pain and swelling.
Diagnosis of gout is not challenging in a patient typically presenting with acute gouty attack involving big toe along with hyperurecemia. But correct diagnose of gout needs specific investigations. These investigations are listed as:
- Synovial fluid examination
- Complete blood examination with E.S.R (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
- Serum uric acid levels
- 24 hour urinary uric acid excretion.
- Radiological imaging of affected joints
Synovial fluid examination:
Synovial fluid examination is gold standard investigation to diagnose gout. When a patient comes with acute episode of gout, having red swollen joint with joint effusion, joint fluid should be aspirated and sent for examination.
The diagnostic feature of gout on synovial fluid examination is presence of needle shaped mono sodium urate crystals, which when examined under polarized light microscopy show negative bifringence. In addition, synovial fluid has low viscosity and low hyluranic acid, white cell count is usually 10000-20000 per millimeter cube, but they may reach near 50000 per millimeter cube. Cells are predominantly neutrophils.
Synovial fluid should be immediately examined after it is aspirated otherwise changes in Ph and temperature may affect the solubility of mono sodium urate crystals.
Serum uric acid level
Although hyperurecemia is a classical feature of gout, it is not diagnostic of gout. The reasons behind this fact are, half of the patients suffering from gout don’t have raised levels of uric acid moreover many people have hyperurecemia without having any symptoms of gout. During acute attack, serum uric acid level may fall due to crystallization in joints. Thus serum uric acid level cannot be used as gout diagnosis. However its value is in monitoring the therapy for gout.
Hyperuricemia is labeled as plasma uric acid level greater than 7.0 mg/dl in adult male and more than 6.0 mg/dl in female.
Blood tests:
In an acute attack of gout, complete blood examination may show increased white cell counts up to 40000 per cubic millimeter, these are predominantly neutrophils. In the same way E.S.R. may be elevated. Other blood tests like serum electrolyte and renal parameter are also performed. If urate nephropathy is there, renal parameter may be deranged.
24 hour urinary uric acid levels
This 24 hour uric acid estimation in urine helps in deciding treatment options for a patient who has gout. If patient is excreting more than 800 mg of uric acid in 24 hour urine collection, he is having overproduction of uric acid in the body and he needs drugs that decrease the production of uric acid like allupurinol. If 24 hour urinary uric acid excretion is below normal, patient will be benefited from drugs that increase uric acid excretion in urine like probenicid.
Radiological imaging of joints
In chronic gout, x-ray of affected joint may show joint destruction, cystic lesions, sclerosis and soft tissue swelling. In acute gouty attack only tissue swelling may be evident on x-ray.
In short, synovial fluid examination to find needle shaped, negatively bifringent crystal under polarized light is the gold standard investigation for gout diagnosis. Other supportive investigations include serum uric acid level, complete blood examination and ESR. X-ray of joint show specific changes in chronic gout.
The above tests should be sufficient for proper diagnosis of gout, so that you can now focus on its permanent treatment. It is better to go for natural gout treatment rather than medicines although medicine can be taken in order to provide short term and immediate relief as the pain can be intense.
Using Celery Seeds for Gout Treatment
Posted by admin in Natural Gout Remedies on June 5, 2011
Traditionally celery seeds are used to remove the acidic metabolites from the body through kidneys. Celery seeds are less popular in western herbal treatment. But in ayurveda it is used to treat various types of arthritis. It is highly diuretic is nature and it helps to eliminate excess urine. It also has anti bacterial characteristics which aids in treating urinary tract infections.
It is also known that these celery seeds are used to reduce muscle contraction and reduce inflammation and greatly lessen the pain caused by gout. Consuming this seeds makes you to drink adequate amount of water needed for the body. Also consuming more water itself is a treatment for gout. These seeds are often consumed along with food as spices or as extract, since eating these seeds alone will be hard to ingest and bitter to taste.
It is advised that celery seeds can be taken in instead of using NSAIDs, since everyday use of NSAIDs will increase the risk of liver damage and also heart attack. Another characteristic of celery seeds is that it has small amount of Vitamin C within it which helps to lower the uric acid level to treat gout.
Research was done on celery seeds curing gout. Celery has the substance 3nB i.e. 3-n-Butylpthalide which helps to cure gout. It was found that the celery extract has about 85% of 3nB. A group of 15 participants were given 34 mg of the extract daily twice.
Another group of 70 participants were given a high dose of 75mg daily twice. Both the group of participants experienced less pain and some had complete relief from pain. There were no unwanted side effects observed. Apart from these benefits from celery seeds, few studies have found that the extract helps in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and it also safeguards the liver from damage. Beginning stage of animal studies has found that celery seeds aids in preventing cancer causing tumors in mice.
It was found that if people consume a diet rich in lutein which is found in celery, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes, orange, greens and carrot then they were less likely to be affected by colorectal cancer. If you are prone to gout then celery seeds can help in preventing and reducing the frequency of gout attack. When celery seeds are consumed it is better to consult the physician, because some people are allergic towards celery seeds like peanuts.
If you are allergic to peanuts then it is advised to be cautious with celery seeds or oil. Even though men are generally affected by gout, women also can be affected by gout. Pregnant women are recommended not to intake celery seeds either as spice in food or as extracts. Since the characteristics of celery seeds are to simulate the uterus, there are high chances for miscarriage or premature birth. Celery seed is one of many herbs available to treat gout, if you are not allergic then it can be consumed on doctor’s guidance.
Using Alfalfa for Natural Gout Treatment
Posted by admin in Natural Gout Remedies on June 2, 2011
Gout has many natural remedies to reduce uric acid level in the body. Alfalfa is one of the herbal remedy which is less popular but very effective remedy. Alfalfa is rich in vitamins and minerals which are essential to treat gout. It is acts as a natural diuretic and also treats indigestion and loss of appetite.
Even though it’s not proved scientifically, it’s found that it reduces the cholesterol level and blood sugar level by stimulating the insulin levels. Anti inflammatory property is needed to cure gout, Alfalfa has the characteristics of anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti- inflammatory so it greatly helps in treating gout, arthritis and certain types of cancers.
Alfalfa aids in neutralizing and reducing the uric acid level in the blood. Alfalfa is an herb which is used commonly in ancient Chinese and Arabic for its medicinal properties. There is evidence to show that alfalfa was cultivated since 5th century BC. The long root of alfalfa absorbs many minerals and nutrients which is responsible for its medicinal properties. It is high in Vitamin A, D, E, B6, K, iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and minerals.
There are many Alfalfa supplements for treating many diseases. Since it is very rich in minerals it is useful in the formation of stronger bones. Alfalfa can be used when brewing tea since it helps in development of well-built bones and helps in dissolving kidney stones. Alfalfa is easily available in tablet or liquid extract from any food or medical stores.
The seeds are very healthy when in the form of sprouts which can be added in salads and soups and also in sandwiches. The juice extract from the leaves can be used in a variety of food dishes. But it is always recommended to consult the physician before consuming alfalfa products.
Since it is not recommended for pregnant women, because it encourages menstruation and there are chances of miscarriage. It also disturbs the regular iron absorption and it may cause disorders in blood like clotting or affect the white blood cells. So it is not advisable to disturb the immune system during pregnancy. Any ill effects during pregnancy would be carried to the child so it is better not to intake any un-prescribed medicine during pregnancy period.
During consumption of alfalfa the skin becomes more sensitive and it is more prone to sunburns. So it is always recommended to apply sun blocks to save the skin from unnecessary damage. When you reduce consumption of alfalfa the sensitivity of the skin becomes back to normal.
The plant itself has medicinal properties, the seeds, leaves and stem have manganese, which is very much needed for digestive system and production of insulin. Alfalfa is alkaline in nature, it contains 130 to 142 mg of alkali. It helps in building healthy and vigorous body to support the old age and to resists from infections. Apart from healing gout it also helps in treating chronic disorders, respiratory problems and discomforts like sinuses and lung problem, its alkaline nature aids to calm down the stomach due to hyper acidity.
Benefits of Cherries and Cherry Juice in Gout Treatment
Posted by admin in Gout Treatment on May 31, 2011
There are many herbal treatments for gout, but treating gout with cherry juice is quite interesting, because it can be consumed like fruit juice instead of taking extra medicine or tablets or herbs. Gout is a painful disease, which is caused by high uric level in the body.
It is believed that when certain foods like meat, legumes and beans which are high in uric acid are avoided then gout can also be prevented. The chemical substance anthocyanins found in cherry is known to reduce the inflammation caused by gout. This substance also reduces the risk of being affected by colon cancer, since this juice flushes out the unwanted toxins in the body.
It is believed that the anthocyanins in cherries are the cause for decreasing the blood urates which helps in gout treatment. When anthocyanins are consumed on regular basis it aids in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Cherry juice is found to reduce the uric acid level in blood which is the main cause of gout. A research was conducted with participants who were served with cherries daily, after a period it was found that the uric acid level in blood was reduced to about 15 percent. If the participants were served with either fresh or dried cherries or cherry juice the impact was significant in lowering the level of uric acid in blood. There are different types of cherries like Black cherries, tart cherries and sweet cherries and all three types of cherries have same amount of anthocyanins.
So it’s up to you to select your choice of cherry to fit your taste and diet. The result will not be the same for everyone, since some may feel the difference within few days of consuming the cherry juice and for others it may take many weeks or even months to feel better from gout disease. Treating with cherry is one of the best solutions since it will be available everywhere in the stores or supermarkets nearby.
In Prevention magazine a letter was published by Dr. Ludwig W. Blau regarding how cherries help in treating gout. Dr. Blau was suffering from gout, and it was so severe that he had been cramped to a wheel chair. Accidentally he consumed a bowl of cherries and the next day he was relieved from the pain. He continued this cherries treatment everyday, and he was soon able to get out of his wheelchair. From then Dr. Blau’s research aided many to come out of gout with the help of cherries.
Another characteristic of Cherries is that they reduce the level of nitric oxide and C – reactive protein which is produced in the liver, higher level of CRP puts the person in risk of heart disease. It keeps the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular disease low, and it is advised to maintain the range of CRP within limit. The test conducted by USDA showed that women who ate 48 Bing cherries a day have significant amount of lower uric acid content in their body.
Herbal Remedies for Gout Treatment
Posted by admin in Gout Treatment, Natural Gout Remedies on May 29, 2011
Gout is caused by the increase in uric acid level in the body. There are many herbs for treating gout naturally. The main aim in treating gout is to break down the complex crystalline deposit in the joins of the body, which are formed by uric acid deposits. Along with herbal treatment even the diet need to be corrected to increase the removal of uric acid through liver and kidneys. Always there should be some regulation in diet when treating gout only then the treatment will be effective and it also helps in prevention of subsequent gout attacks.
The herbs used for treating gout are Dandelion ,Uva Ursi ,Buchu, Rosehip ,Celery Seed,Guaiacum,Ginger,Capsicum,Sarsparilla,Guaiacum,Alfalfa,Dried Cherries ,Cherries, Devils Claw ,Willow Bark, Bhlewa ,Chamomile ,Nettles ,Benzoin ,Boneset , Boswellia ,Cats Claw , Turmeric , Grave root , Juniper.
These herbs are used for treating gout with one or more combination of these with Tea as herbal tea or with water. Even Green tea has the capability to wash out extra uric acid in the body. Since Green tea helps in weight reduction it is another advantage to treat gout. Few of the herbs used in gout treatment are briefed here.
Devil’s claw: These are termed Harpagophytum procumbens technically. This is very famous for treating rheumatoid arthritis. On the other hand these are used to treat gout since it works as analgesic and anti-inflammatory to reduce pain in joints. Another job of this herb is that it acts as a mild diuretic, it lowers the quantity of uric acid in the body. However this herb is not recommended for patients suffering from gastric ulcers or for patients with over production of digestive enzymes.
Turmeric: This is a very common herb and used in everyday cooking for spicing and color. Curcumin which is contained in turmeric is responsible the bright yellow color and it is an effective anti- inflammatory and pain reducing agent. It aids in reducing the pain and swelling created by gout. It is recommended to take turmeric capsules 3 times a day.
Gravel root: This herb when mixed with water and consumed 3 times daily helps to get rid of gout attack. It has diuretic and laxative characteristics which help in flushing out excess uric acid from the body.
Boswellia: Similar to devil’s claw this herb also has anti- inflammatory and analgesic characteristics. It eradicates the formation of provocative leukotrienes, which is caused by gout. This can also be treated in combination with celery seed and ginger.
Nettle Root: This herb is available in form of capsules and it can be consumed daily thrice to reduce excess uric acid in the body. Along with treating gout it also helps in proper functioning of the kidneys and safe guards from kidney disease.
Rosemary: This herb is rich in iron, calcium and Vitamin B6 and it helps in treating gout. Joint and muscle pains will be greatly relieved by this using this herb.
These herbs when used on proper consultation and following correct diet help to get rid of gout easily.
Using Minerals to Treat Gout
Posted by admin in Gout Treatment, Natural Gout Remedies on May 29, 2011
Natural Gout Treatment Using Minerals
Goat is one type of arthritis. It affects the joints when uric acid crystals get accumulated. The common area where it affects is the joint of big toe, but when the condition is severe it affects the other joints like ankle, foot, hand, wrist, knee and elbow. Even hips, spine or shoulders can be affected by gout. The main cause of goat would be metabolic or renal or both. When the kidneys are not able to function properly to clear the normal level of uric acid produced by the body it causes renal gout. Metabolic gout has many causes including genetic factors.
When proper minerals are included in the diet then this disease can be overcome naturally. Vitamin C and potassium citrate are gout vitamins which are very helpful in reducing the uric acid level in blood. Fat is burnt by Chromium Picolinate which in turn helps to maintain correct insulin level which in turn helps in the excretion of uric acid. Another vitamin which aid in lowering uric acid is Pantothenic acid. If 10mg to 40 mg of folic acid is taken daily it reduces the uric acid considerably.
When you see gout symptoms then you should intake a good gout diet with multi mineral tablet, of course with the advice of your physician. The minerals needed for treating gout are Vitamin A, B1, B6, B12, C, D, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, Folic acid. Daily dosage of Vitamin C helps in eliminating uric acid from the body and prevents from the risk of next gout attack. Vitamin B actually stimulates certain enzymes in the body which are in charge of dissolving or breaking down the uric acid. Folic acid naturally lowers the uric acid in the blood stream.
Another factor is you need to consider your acidic and alkaline balance and if the alkalinity is very less then you need to increase it. If the alkalinity is high then there are better chances to get rid of gout naturally. There are many ways to test your pH by which your acidic and alkaline balance can be determined.
The connection between gout and pH level in body is because of the uric acid level. To do away with gout, uric acid should be reduced and removed from the body. This can be achieved by drinking lot of water along with your gout diet and minerals. Water generally has the pH ratio as 7.0, which is alkaline in nature.
When more water is consumed it raises the pH ratio in the body and naturally it makes your body alkaline. Also it dilutes the uric acid in your body. Another approach is to have baking soda in water, on consultation with your physician which will raise your pH radio when compared to normal water.
Water with alkaline water drops and water filtered by water ionizers also have this property. Gout diet will be more alkaline i.e. it will include foods which are high in pH and foods with low pH are reduced.
Natural Gout Pain Relief – 3 Case Studies
Posted by admin in Gout Treatment on March 3, 2011
Gout can be a very painful ailment. It can put your whole life in a mess. You will be unable to work with the severe nagging pain always bothering you. Let us see what some of the patients have done to reduce this gout pain and find relief.
3 Patients Find Gout Pain Relief with Natural Remedies:
Jim had been suffering from gout from the past several years. He had suffered from gout attacks more than 5 times in the past 5 years. Once he got such a severe pain in his wrist that he could not even operate the electric switch of his car windows. He obviously could not go about his daily work routine with such a severe pain. Thankfully for him he found a very simple solution to get rid of this pain.
He applied castor oil to his wrist 2-3 times during the day. The first time he did so, the pain was reduced considerably within an hour. He then repeated it once in the morning, afternoon and in the evening. He did this for 2 to 3 days. He says his pain has considerably reduced after trying out this simple home remedy for gout. It worked for him, maybe you could give it a try!
Another patient got cured of his gout pain after trying the following home remedy – mix one tablespoon of cider vinegar with one tablespoon of honey in a small glass of hot water. Drink this once or twice in a day till you notice significant relief from your gout symptoms.
Still another gout patient found relief by eating cherries daily till he noticed the pain going away. These are natural ways of reducing pain because taking medication can bring about serious side effects. You may not notice side-effects of medicine initially, but after continued consumption of these medicines for long periods of time, you can develop many new health problems.
Hope this article helps in encouraging you to try out some of these natural gout remedies instead of relying heavily on prescription medicine and pain killers.
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Gout Pain Relief – Easy Exercises for Gout Pain
Posted by admin in Gout Treatment on October 1, 2010
Whenever you get a gout attack, you don’t have to rush to get medication for it. Medicine might not be the only option to get relief from gout pain. You can do things to relieve pain from gout.
One of the most important things for gout pain relief is exercise. Medication might only hide the pain temporarily. It is likely to come back again. Simple exercises can be far more effective and beneficial in the long run.
You might be surprised when I say that exercising is a good way of gout prevention and treatment. You might be thinking to yourself that when you are in such terrible pain, how can you move your body and joints for performing exercises. There are certain exercises which have to be done when the pain subsides. You should avoid doing this during a gout attack. You have to wait till the pain goes away and you are able to perform these exercises.
Other kind of exercises can be done at the time of gout attack. Such exercises are designed to reduce the pain and suffering. Examples of such exercises are water aerobics, deep water running, walking in water etc. However I would suggest that you first consult with your doctor before venturing on to do these exercises. You wouldn’t want to aggravate the condition, isn’t it?
Water Exercises for Gout Pain Relief
While doing water exercises for gout pain relief, the ideal time duration is about 20-30 minutes. Do not over strain yourself. Repeat these 20 or 30 minute sessions a couple of times per week. You need to immerse that portion of your body which needs to be exercises in water. Then gently move that part. Repeat various movements several times during the 20 minute session.
Do not force yourself while moving the body part. You might feel pain in that body part. If the pain does not subside even after 2-3 hours of doing the exercises, then you may need to moderate your exercise. Reduce the time limit or the number of repetitions.
You need to be extra careful specially when you have undergone joint related surgery or suffer from joint damage. In such cases, you might need to stay away from such exercise programs designed for gout pain relief.
Other good exercises for gout pain relief are walking, jogging, stretching, muscle strengthening exercises, endurance training etc. But you need to wait till the gout attack goes away before performing these exercises as it will be difficult when you are in severe pain.
Gout Pain Relief With Acupressure
A great alternative remedy for gout pain relief is acupressure. Try it out as it is a drug free and gentle treatment for this condition. The benefits of acupressure are many:
- improvement of blood circulation
- relieving of stress and tension
- relaxation of the body and muscles
Even though this is a Chinese treatment method, still there are many certified and experienced acupressure specialists in almost all parts of the world. You can approach them to get treatment for gout.
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Natural Gout Treatment Report
Posted by admin in Gout Treatment on October 1, 2010
Is gout pain making your life totally miserable? Do you want to put an end to your suffering?
Sharp, stabbing pain in your toe or other joints might have become regular occurrence in your life. You might be spending sleepless nights and are restless during daytime. The reason – gout pain and frequent gout attacks.
Gout pain is caused when uric acid crystals get deposited in your joints, resulting in a very painful condition. It is a form of arthritis. Some of the symptoms include – inflammation of the joints, heat, pain, redness.
You might be taking medication but it is only providing temporary relief. Sometimes, no relief at all! You are at your wit’s end about what to do.
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What Is Covered In This Report
Some of the things covered in this useful report are:
- Top 3 signs that could lead to gout
5 herbs that can help to reduce uric acid and rid of inflammation
Ways of cleaning and flushing your body system so that the liver and kidneys perform in top condition
13 most powerful vitamins and minerals you should start taking immediately
7 alternative treatments available for gout
And much more …..
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