Get Out the Gout

If you have gout then you have your doctor has told you about the foods to avoid such as sweetbreads, sardines, smelt, yeast, mussels, herring and many others foods that are high in purines. Doctors tell us about a low purine diet because our body converts purines into uric acid and crystals formed from uric acid in joints is cause of gout. They also offer us drugs that lower the uric acid in our bodies. This treatment combination is very effective in treating gout. But sometimes it is not enough and there are people who would rather not take many drugs. While the drugs to treat gout are safe, many of us like to take a more natural approach and would like to have more positive things we can do besides just not eating certain food.

If the last statement describes you then I have good news for you. There are many foods that actually help your body lower your uric acid levels. And the best news is that these are foods that you will love to eat. So lick your lips and get ready to eat and drink yourself gout free.

Cherries and Cherry Juice: Normally your body creates enzymes that remove purines from your body before they are converted into uric acid. A person with gout does not have enough of these enzymes in their bodies. Cherries have enzymes that are very similar to the ones our bodies should be making. There is a growing amount of medical research that shows that eating cherries or drinking cherry juice can lower the uric acid level in your body.

Fruits: Eating fruit high in vitamin C can be helpful. Grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, strawberries and of course cherries are the best. Real sweet fruits such as grapes are not advised because high concentrations of sugar can raise your uric acid level. Star fruit is to be avoided because it can make gout worse.

Celery: Celery and especially celery seeds have long been used to treat gout. Celery seeds are known to be a natural diuretic and are believed to help remove uric acid from the body. Many people use celery seeds and celery seed extract as their only treatment for their gout.

Coffee: Believe it our not drinking coffee can lower your risk of a gout attack. A study published in June 2007 issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism followed 46,000 male medical professionals for over 12. The study found that those who drank at least 4 cups of coffee a day had a 40% less risk of gout and those who drank at least 6 cups had a 60% lower risk.

So drink that extra cup of coffee and grab some fruit and celery and enjoy a positive approach to gout prevention.