Gout

Gout is commonly classified as a type of arthritis because it affects the joints, and is associated with rheumatic inflammation as well.  It is usually caused by excess uric acid crystals in the blood that deposit into the joints and cause severe swelling and pain.  It usually find it’s way to the persons foot and toes and that is where it has its most devastating effects.  Stress adds to this condition as it does to most illness because it raises our cortisol (stress hormone) level and lowers our growth hormone levels (tissue recovery and longevity).

Our kidneys can usually filter out the excess uric acid when they are functioning properly.  They can be overrun when we do not eat a healthy diet (too many gout foods like seafood) and have too many simple sugars (carbohydrates) and other purine (uric acid) rich foods and do not drink enough water.  During attacks alcoholic drinks or other drinks that dehydrate our body make the symptoms appear worse.  We should drink as much water as we can and eat a bowl of vegetable soup (with cayenne or tumeric) as the alkalinity will quench the acidity of the uric acid and help relieve the flare ups.

Common Gout Symptoms

The most symptoms of gout are:

• Rapid onset red hot joint area (Gout Flare)
• Swollen and tender joints (usually the big toe)
• Fever
• Intense and burning pain
• Very tender to the touch
• Symptoms last 3-10 days, with flares of symptoms
• Other joints affected – fingers, ankle, knee or wrist
• General soreness in joints

What people are most affected by gout?

Gout usually affects people after their young adult years.  Usually men between the ages of 40 and 50 are most affected.  Women are affected after menopause, particularly if they have other kidney problems.  Children are rarely affected.  There may be some genetic inheritance to this condition as well.

Common Gout Treatment

Gout is most commonly treated by prescription anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the swelling and lessen the pain.  This is a short-term patch only, and will actually make the condition worse in the long run.  It is best to treat the source of the problem, which is poor nutrition and activity levels.  There are a few things you can do to start a rapid fire path to recovery and the best gout treatment is to limit the foods that cause gout and start following a proper gout diet:

• Follow the Arthritis Diet as much as you can
• Reduce simple sugars in your diet
• Reduce starchy carbohydrates like potatoes and carrots (until you improve)
• Reduce Asparagus, Cauliflower and mushroom consumption
• Add as many green vegetables to your diet (they are alkaline and reduce acid)
• Avoid seafood and meat as much as you can
• Limit strong coffee as it will breakdown protein quickly and bring on symptoms
• Eat almonds and walnuts
• Eat pineapple, papaya and berries
• Exercise 10-30 minutes a day (Joint Friendly Arthritis Exercises)

Also make sure you get some daily exercise and sunlight if you can as part of your gout remedy.  Even if you have gout toe, you can still do some water exercise or do leg lifts while sitting in a chair.  Movement is necessary to speed recovery.  Do some of the things you enjoy and try not to let stress aggravate you too much or you will hasten a gout flare.  Watch a comedy or sing up your favorite tune as this will stimulate growth hormone and lessen cortisol, assisting your gout treatment for recovery.

A key to experiencing a full recovery from gout pain and inflammation begins with giving your body the nutrition and supplementation it needs to rebuild your joints from the inside out. For Gout in particular, as for most joint degenerative conditions, I recommend taking JointKote to rebuild your joints, Inflammago to treat the Rheumatory Condition and also using a warming capsaicin cream (which you massage into the affected joint are) to bring immediate pain relief to the aching joint, and also draw the joint relief ingredients directly to the joint for repair and inflammation reduction. Click on the JointKote bottle and the Inflammago bottle below to begin the healing process and relieve pain, inflammation and swelling now.