Gout is a painful inflammatory reaction in joints to sharp crystal deposits. Often affecting the big toes, gout used to be called "rich man's disease" because of its relation to consuming high-purine foods, such as organ meats, seafood and wine. Blackberries are not the best known natural remedy for gout, although they were used by the ancients Greeks for such purpose. Blackberries are high in antioxidants and have an alkalizing effect on your tissues, which combine to reduce the symptoms of gout.
Gout
Gout is an arthritislike condition caused by uric acid crystal deposits in tissues and joints, particularly of the feet. Uric acid crystals are sharp and cause joints and surrounding tissue to become red, inflamed, swollen and very tender to the touch. High-purine foods metabolize into uric acid, which is dissolved in the blood but can crystallize out of solution and form sharp crystals within joints, tendons and organs, as cited in "Human Biochemistry and Disease." Gout is often treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, although many fruits are effective natural remedies and cause essentially no side effects in moderate amounts.
Blackberries Vs. Cherries
Blackberries were used in ancient times as a natural remedy for gout and one variety was even known as "gout berry" in American folk medicine not so many generations ago, according to "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine." However, over time, cherries became better recognized as an effective remedy for preventing and treating gout in North America. Cherries were eventually discovered to contain an enzyme that neutralizes uric acid, which blackberries do not contain, but both fruits are high in other protective nutrients such as flavonoids. Flavonoids are strong antioxidants, and blackberries actually contain more than cherries, especially the anthocyanidin types.
Antioxidants
The total antioxidant capacity of a fruit is measured by its ORAC, or oxygen radical absorbance capacity, assay score. The higher the ORAC score, the more antioxidant capacity in a fruit. Many berries, including blackberries, are at the very top of ORAC tables, ranking higher than cherries and supernutritious vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, as cited in "Contemporary Nutrition." Antioxidants are important for gout sufferers because when your immune system attacks the gout crystals, large numbers of free radicals are created, which damage surrounding tissues. These free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants.
Vitamin C
Blackberries are a good source of vitamin C, which is required by the body to produce collagen. Collagen is an essential component of connective tissue and is needed for repair and maintenance. Gout causes connective tissue damage due to the tearing effects of the sharp uric acid crystals and the deteriorating effects of the free-radicals. The vitamin C within blackberries can minimize damage, promote healing and reduce inflammation. Further, some studies have shown that vitamin C can reduce uric acid levels within the bloodstream and prevent crystallization.
Alkalizing Effect
Fruits that are effective at reducing the symptoms of gout, such as cherries, lemons and berries, all have alkalizing effects within the body that counter the acidity of uric acid and prevent the crystals from precipitating out of solution, as cited in "Biochemistry of Human Nutrition." Blackberries do not alkalize the body as strongly as citrus fruits, but they are still considered alkaline promoting foods. Moreover, blackberries contain less fruit-sugar than many other fruits, which means they do not overload the blood with sugar and trigger a large release of insulin.
References
- "Human Biochemistry and Disease"; Gerald Litwack; 2008
- "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine"; Simon Mills; 1994
- "Contemporary Nutrition"; Gordon M. Wardlaw; 2010
- "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition"; Martha Stipanuk; 2006
- "Biochemistry of Human Nutrition"; George Gropper; 2000
