Helpful Gout Information

Cherries. Are you sick of cherries? As much as I like cherries, I know I need a break from them from time to time.

Here's another alternative for you. Try a banana. Bananas are loaded with potassium. That is really what our bodies are looking for. Potassium helps liquify uric acid and therefore helps our kidneys discharge it from our system.

Eating bananas also plays another role in getting rid of gout. It gives you variety. There's nothing worse for trying to eat healthy and feeling like you are stuck eating the same things over and over. Eating is supposed to be enjoyable, not a drudgery.

Here are some other foods high in potassium that are enjoyable to eat and will add variety to your natural gout treatments program:

-kidney beans
-baked potatoes(with the skins)
-oranges
-cantaloupes
-peaches
-yams

...just to name a few.

The RDA for potassium is 3500mg a day. By adding these types of foods to your diet, you will help lower your uric acid towards a healthy level and add variety which will make it easier to stick to a healthy eating plan.

One of the most important keys to preventing gout is to lose weight. Although, there are exceptions, most gout sufferers who have gotten down to a healthy weight stop having gout symptoms.

There is one thing you should keep in mind when losing weight. Lose it moderately. Sharp decreases in body weight will increase your percentage of uric acid which can cause you to get a severe gout attack. Not to mention you are more likely to keep the weight off by losing it at a moderate rate.

So next time you plan on trying to lose some weight try and do it moderately, and skip that painful episode that you were probably using the weight loss to avoid in the first place.

Here's your natural remedies for gout tip for today:

Celery seed extract is another option for those who wish to stay off of prescription medications for gout such as allopurinol or febuxostat.

Celery seed extract such as
Natural Factors Celery Seed Extract 85% 3nB 60Caps
helps the body get rid of uric acid. Lowering uric acid levels is an essential part of gout prevention.

In addition to lowering uric acid levels, multiple anti-inflammatory agents are found in celery seed which also helps once a gout attack has occurred.

Stay tuned for more natural remedy for gout tips.

Want a break from cherry juice? Drink
Jarrow's Pomegranate + Grape + Blueberry Juice Concentrate for a nice change. As I mentioned in a previous module, blueberries and grapes are very helpful in fighting gout.

Add that that list pomegranates. Pomegranates, like blueberries contain anti-inflammation properties known as anthocyanins. Pomegranates are also an excellent overall health food.

So, if you are tired of drinking cherry juice, why not give
Jarrow's Pomegranate + Grape + Blueberry Juice Concentrate a try. This gout fighting "triple threat" tastes great and you'll help keep that painful gout attack at bay with the added benefit of lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

A good percentage of you voted in the poll at the top of this lens that you avoid foods high in purines as your main gout prevention remedy. So I thought I'd mention a few foods that cause gout. Avoid these foods as part of your gout diet. Here are 3 for today.

1. Bacon

Bacon and pork, in general are very high in purines. Many people who try the Atkins diet eat bacon because it is allowed on this diet and considering the limits of atkins, being able to eat bacon while on a diet can be inviting. A couple years ago when the Atkins diet was the rage, I tried this while avoiding hamburgers and could not figure out why I was getting painful attacks until I found out that bacon was high in purines and can cause gout. After getting rid of the bacon, my attacks stopped.

2. Turkey

The traditional Thanksgiving meal can be a problem for a gout sufferer. Turkey is also high in purines. However, it is not as high as bacon and is person dependent. Some can eat turkey just fine, others cannot. I for one, cannot. So if you don't know if turkey will cause gout for you, eat it in moderation so that if you do have a problem with eating this holiday bird hopefully your attack will be a minor one.

Another problem for thanksgiving is if you eat ham instead of turkey. As mentioned with bacon, ham is very high in purines and should be avoided.

3. Chicken

Chicken is also high in purines, but is considered to be moderately high. Chicken is also person dependent. I know of people who cannot eat chicken at all, whereas, it is my staple meat and I do not recall ever having had an attack because I ate chicken. I was actually surprised a few years ago when I heard that it can cause a gout attack. So again, eat in moderation if you are unsure if chicken will cause you to have an attack.

Knowing what foods can cause you to have a gout flare up will definitely help you with your gout prevention diet.

If you are anything like me, you hate taking medications. I'd do just about anything to avoid taking prescription drugs. I had gotten to the point of having enough acute gout attacks(2-3 a month) that my physician told me to quit playing around and take my medicine like a good boy.

So, I did. I hated it, but I complied. Then I did some studying and decided to wean myself off the medications. Here are three natural gout remedies that I decided to try and I pass them along to you.

1. Cherries

This is probably the most famous food that people use to help cure gout and the one I use the most. Fortunately for me, I live in a part of the country that specializes in the cherry industry, so cherries are pretty abundant even in the off-season. If you don't live in an area known for cherries, you can buy a good cherry concentrate at most health food stores. Cherries have an enzyme that helps neutralize uric acid. They also have anthocyanins which have anti-inflammatory properties.

2. Strawberries

Strawberry season is around the corner where I live and what an enjoyable way to help overcome gout. So if you're tired of eating cherries, try a handful of strawberries while their in season and say goodbye to gout. Strawberries are helpful because they neutralize uric acid.

3. Grapes

Here's one that most people don't think about. Grapes have lots of health benefits one of which is helping your body to lower uric acid and helping to purge it from your system. Grapes are also high in antioxidants and one of my favorite fruits.

We are constantly being told by health advocates that we should eat more fruits. And let's face it, most of us gout sufferers are not the healthiest people seeing as most of us are predominantly overweight.

So why not try a mixture of cherries,strawberries, and grapes the next time you go to have a snack. They'll not only benefit your overall health but help you on the road to lowering those uric acid levels so you can start weaning yourself off those medications.

So what tastes better to you? Popping a pill or eating a small bowl of colorful zesty fruit? I know which one I choose!

There are many different ways to help you get rid of gout. One excellent way to help you while you are having an active attack is rosemary.

Rosemary leaves can either be cooked into your food or chopped into a salad. You can also buy rosemary oil extract.

If you choose to buy the extract, you must not ingest the oil. The oil is far too potent and can cause lethal convulsions. The oil is meant for taking a small amount and rubbing into the affected joints.

Rosemary oil works by increasing circulation to the swollen joint. Part of the reason you get attacks is from decreased circulation allowing the uric acid to build up in the joint.

If you are having an active attack, give rosemary a try. It is a natural method to help you get rid of your gout

This morning while casually surfing I ran across an article on the front page of Yahoo!News that was hopeful to say the least. According to this article, gout relief may be just a few cups of coffee away.

If the thought of caffeine discourages you, have no fear, as decaffeinated coffee had similar results. The decrease in uric acid levels of the study participants was quite significant. It was in the 40-60% range for 4 cups or more of coffee a day.

Unfortunately, tea did not had an impact on uric acid levels and while I enjoy coffee I personally drink a lot more tea. But, if you suffer from gout and feel like you can't get your day started off right without that cup of java, here's another reason that your morning coffee may help you get your day off on the right foot.

It's 3AM and you feel a sudden painful twinge in your foot. Having had many gout episodes in the past, you quickly pop a few pills of NSAIDs(ibuprofen or aleve, for example) in an attempt to stop the coming gout attack dead in its tracks.

Does this story sound familiar to you? I know it does to me. Over time those medications can have potentially dangerous side effects to your liver and kidneys.

There is a better option the next time you find yourself in this situation. Give an Omega 3 fatty acid fish oil supplement such as
Health From The Sea's Health From The Sea's PFO (Pure Fish Oil) 8Oz
. Medical tests show that fish oil is as effective as NSAIDs in reducing inflammation without the possible side effects, plus fish oil has been shown to improve memory, lower blood pressure, and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Before you go making salmon steak a regular part of your gout prevention plan, a word of warning! Eat fish meals in moderation. Salmon, trout, sardines all have high purine levels so try the fish oil supplements on a regular basis instead. You'll get the same benefits as eating those fish steaks without raising your uric acid levels.

If you in the midst of an acute gout attack there are a couple things you can do that will get you started on getting rid of your gout pain.

1. Drink Water

Drink plenty of water. It has been said that most people are moderately dehydrated. One of the main side effects of not drinking enough water is joint pain. Drinking plenty of water will help you flush the excess uric acid out of your system, not to mention all the other benefits drinking water will give you.

2. Eat Cherries

This is probably the most popular natural choice for gout pain relief. Much has been written about cherries and gout so, let's just say, this one is a winner!

3. Eat some pineapple

Eating pineapple for gout is a good way to help ease your pain. It has a natural property called Bromelain which is an anti-inflammatory agent and pain reliever. I have tried this an it does add some relief.

While it will not get rid of your gout pain by itself, it will take the edge off and if you've ever suffered an acute gout attack, you know that any little bit of help you can get is worth it!

If you've been to this lens before, you know that I try to find natural means to getting rid of gout. If that is your desire, there's a lens I think you'll enjoy.

Today, as I was wandering through squidland, I ran across the very informative lens Food for Your Health and Beauty by lensmaster surfsusan.

From talking about the benefits of drinking plenty of water(a gout must) to eating oranges (considered high in potassium which is an important part of any good gout diet plan), you'll find plenty of information on healthy eating. While the focus of this lens isn't geared towards gout, it most certainly will make an impact in the constant battle of lowering your uric acid levels.

So go on over to surfsusan's lens and check out what she has to offer.

I have a new gout treatments blog over at blogger. Please stop by and check it out. It will provide information on gout treatments that you can use to help overcome gout.