If you've ever suffered from gout, you know how debilitating it can be. The pain and inflammation can be unbearable and make walking or even sleeping difficult. Gout is a form of arthritis that develops when too much uric acid builds up in the body and crystals are left in the joints. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, between 2 million and 5 million Americans suffer from gout. It typically develops in the big toe or foot, but it can strike any joint, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Drugs are available to help prevent gout, but there are some natural treatments as well.
Gout Diet
People who have experienced gout can change their diet to help prevent the painful condition from returning. First, it's important to limit your intake of purines, a substance that occurs naturally in the body that is also found in many foods, especially animal products. High-purine foods include red meat, especially organ meats and game meats; certain types of fish, including tuna, herring and mackerel; and some seafood, such as scallops, lobster and shrimp, according to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. Vegetables such as mushrooms, cauliflower and spinach are also high in purines, but consuming them has no effect on gout.
To help prevent gout, the Mayo Clinic recommends limiting your intake of animal-based proteins to 4 oz. to 6 oz. a day. Instead of meat and seafood, choose plant-based proteins such as soy and nuts. Eggs are also a good source of protein. People prone to gout should also limit their sugar intake because sugary foods are high in calories and can cause you to be overweight, which increases your risk of developing gout. Alcohol, especially beer, should also be strictly limited because it has been linked to gout in studies, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Vitamin C
A healthy dose of vitamin C can help lower your uric acid levels and prevent gout, according to the Mayo Clinic. To increase your vitamin C consumption you can either try to eat more foods that naturally contain the vitamin or you can purchase a supplement. Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables, although it is particularly abundant in certain ones. Good natural sources of the vitamin include citrus fruits, strawberries, papaya, green peppers, tomatoes and broccoli, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you choose to take a vitamin C supplement, avoid taking megadoses of more than 500mg daily. Studies have shown that large doses of vitamin C can have the unintended effect of raising your uric acid level, which would increase your risk for gout.
Cherries
Cherries, in particular, have been associated with lower uric acid levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. Eating them regularly can help stave off a gout attack. Try eating at least a dozen cherries a day or drinking a glass of cherry juice daily. Other dark-colored berries such as blueberries and blackberries can have a similar effect and can be used as well.
Water
One of the easiest ways to prevent gout is to drink plenty of water every day. Your body produces more urine when you drink more water, and an increased urine output can help eliminate some of the uric acid buildup from your body. The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking between eight and 16 glasses of fluids each day, and at least half of that total should be water.
