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Gout - what causes it?
Can you please tell me what causes gout and what alternative treatments would help?
Gout was always thought of as a disease of affluence - a sign you had over indulged by eating and drinking too much. In fact, it is a form of arthritis caused by an excess of uric acid which is itself a by-product of a substance called purine which is found in certain foods, including meat, asparagus, anchovies, chicken and mushrooms.
A fault in the way uric acid is broken down causes both it and urates (uric acid salts) to accumulate in the bloodstream and the joints. This slowly destroys the joints and causes deposits of salt in the skin and the cartilage, especially in the big toe. The number of cases of gout has doubled in the last 30 years and for some people, even a small amount of the wrong food can trigger an attack.
Prescription drugs are used to either increase the excretion of uric acid or slow down the rate at which urates form but you can also use supplements and foods to help prevent further flare-ups.
Cherry juice, for example, lowers uric acid levels and celery juice, which promotes the flow of urine through the kidneys, can also relieve symptoms so perhaps your first purchase should be a juicer.
Avoiding the wrong foods, particularly those high in purine can help. These include legumes, liver, mackerel, sardines, shrimp, sweetbreads, asparagus, bran, cauliflower, eel, saltwater fish, meat, spinach and whole grains. Eat less protein and drink more fluids to help flush excess uric acid from your body. Carrying too much weight will also exacerbate the problem, so keep yours in check.