Gout Treatment Without Medication

Gout is a form of arthritis that is caused by the build-up of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is used by the body to break down a common substance in many different foods known as purines.

A gout attack occurs when uric acid that has built up in the body begins to form jagged crystal-like formations in the blood stream. These uric acid crystals cause the horrible pain and swelling that gout is known for. But what causes the uric acid build up and how do you know if you're having a gout attack?


Gout - What Are the Causes

The causes of a gout attack can be attributed to many different things.

Foods high in purines such as seafood, red meat such as veal (in picture), parts of animals, sweetbread and alcohol, are a common culprit.

Being overweight is another factor that could cause a gout attack.

Even if a person was not overweight, a lack of exercise could also be a contributing factor.

Consumption of certain drugs such as aspirin and insulin are known to increase the levels of uric acid in the body. This could lead to a gout attack.

A person who has high blood pressure is also at risk of suffering from gout.


Gout Attack - Why the Big Toe?

For reasons unknown to doctors, about 95% of gout attack starts in the joint of the big toe. Other joints that could signal a gout attack are the ankle, knee, wrist or elbow.

The gout pain comes from two different sources. There is the sharp, stabbing pain caused by the crystals that deposit in the joints, as well as the pain caused by the swelling and inflammation of the tissues around the joints.

Discover more information on natural gout treatment.

Gout has four stages that a gout sufferer could end up going through if the condition is left untreated. The first stage is asymptomatic, where uric acid levels increase in the blood stream, but before any gout symptoms manifest.

The second stage is acute gout, which features a person's first gout attack, most of which goes away quickly but there could be a frequent reoccurrence. The sooner you get gout treatment, the sooner the gout pain and swelling will go away.

The third stage is intercritical, which is the symptom-free time between each gout attack, and the fourth and final stage of gout is the chronic stage. Chronic gout is made up of multiple bouts of gout attack affecting more than one joint at a time. If gout treatment is not administered, serious health problems could arise, such as joint deformities, the formation of kidney stones and permanent kidney damage.

Although there are many factors that could contribute to a build up of uric acid within your system, alcohol consumption appears to be a leading factor in causing a gout attack. However, this does not mean that a person who drinks alcohol modestly on a regular basis would develop gout.

Research has shown that different types of alcoholic beverages have different impact on uric acid levels.

Studies conducted on men in relation to alcohol consumption, have found that men who drank excessive amounts of certain types of alcohol - especially beer - are prone to a higher risk of gout attack.

Alcohol not only affects the production of uric acid, but also the removal of uric acid from the body. When alcohol is changed into lactic acid, it acts to decrease the quantity of uric acid that the kidneys are able to flush out from the body. The reason is because uric acid has to compete with the lactic acid in order to be removed by the kidneys.

In addition, researchers have found that certain types of alcohol have less risk of causing gout than others. Of all the alcohols studied, it appears that beer poses the highest risk of a gout attack, while moderate consumption of wine or spirits has little to no increased risk of gout attack.

Beer is apparently the only alcoholic beverage to include purines, and an excessive amount of purines in the body could lead to higher production of uric acid. Some researchers, however, do not believe it is the purines in beer that increased the risk of gout attack. Their reasoning is based on a study that was conducted on vegetarians from Taiwan who indulged in a diet that was high in purines. The study revealed that these individuals actually had a lower risk of developing gout.

So, if it's not the purines in beer then what is it? Some experts attribute this to lifestyle. For instance, a person who drinks wine usually has the wine with a meal, or with healthy snacks such as fruits, vegetables, crackers and cheese. A beer drinker, on the other hand, often indulges in eating salty and fatty snacks such as peanuts and chips, while they sit and watch TV on the couch hour after hour. Thus, enthusiastic beer drinkers are likely to have a more sedentary lifestyle.

Regardless of the alcoholic beverage you enjoy, you could greatly reduce your risk of developing gout by drinking modestly (i.e. a glass of wine or beer per day). Overindulging in alcohol on occasion isn't going to have a dramatic effect on your chances of getting a gout attack, but regular overindulgence may eventually lead to a serious pain in the big toe.

There are some recommended dietary modifications that can greatly help your chances of preventing a gout attack. Most gout medication cause potentially serious side effects so dietary modifications can be a better option to cure gout.

Some foods to avoid are red meat, scallops, mussels, mackerel, anchovies, liver, brain, kidneys, sweetbread, anchovies, peas and beans.

Other forms of gout treatment without medication are:

1. Avoid alcohol altogether or only drink it in moderation, perhaps saving yourself for special occasions only.

2. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids to flush the body of uric acid. Water and fruit juices are ideal. Aim for around 2 liters of water a day, more if you are exercising or have a physical job.

3. Try to maintain a healthy weight. The more excess weight you are holding the more stress is put on your joints, increasing the possibility of developing gout.

4. Try to lose excess weight but do not do so by rapid weight loss diets as they can increase uric acid levels in the body. In weight loss also avoid low-carb diets as they are high in fat and protein. Consuming too much of these types of food can increase your chances of developing hyperuricemia.

Discover more information on natural gout treatment.

Foods that are low in purines are key to a good gout diet. Some of these foods are cereals, oatmeal, eggs, dairy products, pasta, celery, black cherries, blueberries, blackberries, oranges and potatoes.

My husband changed his diet and lifestyle by following methods in the book

Cure Gout Now

by Lisa McDowell. He has not had a gout attack for 2 years now. He has regained control of his life and is now happy and positive.

Lisa McDowell shares with you her husband's journey in finally overcoming gout. I highly recommend her book to all gout sufferers. My husband is living testimony that her book's complete step-by-step guide to gout treatment without medication is effective.