| If you have gout or know someone who does you | | | | mackerel, and anchovies. Recently, a number of |
| certainly are not alone. Gout is a classified as a form | | | | potent drugs (Zyloprim, Benemid, Probalan) with a |
| of arthritis and is propagated by high levels of uric | | | | noteworthy number of equally potent side effects |
| acid in the blood, leading to jagged crystals forming in | | | | have started to take the place of diet modification |
| the joints. These tiny uric acid crystals inexplicably | | | | techniques. Be sure and ask your doctor about the |
| form in the large joint of the big toe initially, but may | | | | pluses and minuses of these medications before |
| spread to other joints such as the knees, ankles, | | | | embarking on a prescription lead treatment plan. For |
| hands and wrists over time. Other areas of | | | | those who are leery of, or can’t tolerate the |
| vulnerability include the heel, instep, and Achilles | | | | side effects, there are a few very effective natural |
| tendon. | | | | gout remedies proven to support healthy uric acid |
| Needless to say that severe attacks of the gout are | | | | levels which just might be worth investigating. |
| debilitating and should be taken seriously due to the | | | | Besides reducing uric acid levels shedding a few |
| recurring nature and the risk of painful singular or | | | | pounds may also be recommended along with |
| multi joint gout attacks. Repeated attacks commonly | | | | abstaining from alcohol consumption. |
| strike without warning and occur with increasing | | | | Perhaps one of the simplest things you can do to |
| frequency. Over time the accumulation of uric acid in | | | | prevent both initial and recurrent attacks of gout is |
| the joints combined with repeated attacks can lead | | | | to drink plenty of water. Liberal fluid intake keeps the |
| to permanent bone damage and loss of mobility. | | | | urine diluted and encourages the excretion of uric |
| Gout attacks are most often seen in men over 30 | | | | acid. Increased fluid intake carries the additional |
| and women over the age of 50 with those who are | | | | benefit of reducing the risk of painful and dangerous |
| overweight being the most susceptible. The link | | | | uric acid kidney stones. Most experts suggest at least |
| between weight gain and gout attacks is undeniable, | | | | six, eight ounce glasses of water a day. |
| with over 50 percent of all gout attacks occurring in | | | | In summary, attacks of the gout are a serious |
| individuals who are 15 percent or more above their | | | | matter and should not be ignored, believing that |
| ideal weight. With the recent rise in obesity it is | | | | somehow the initial attack was just a fluke. By taking |
| seems to be no coincidence that the number of | | | | action to shed those excess pounds, reducing the |
| cases of gout are on the rise as well. | | | | intake of purine laden foods, drinking plenty of fresh |
| Does diet play a role in gout attacks? The | | | | water, and perhaps implementing a natural gout |
| conventional wisdom has always been that a group | | | | remedy formulated to lower uric acids levels, you will |
| of foods called purines cause high uric acid levels | | | | have taken four powerful steps to avoid the pain |
| leading to the gout. Purines include such foods as | | | | and inflammation that is a gout attack. |
| organ meats, meats, shellfish, yeast, herring, sardines, | | | | |