Gout Diet 101: 6 Essential Tips for Managing Gout through Diet and Nutrition

Gout – the most common form of inflammatory arthritis is witnessing a rise, especially in India. It is a condition that affects the joints and can cause severe episodes of swelling and pain. The joints affected by gout are usually the foot, knee, ankle, wrists, elbow but the most common of all is the big toe. In this blog, I will be sharing all about Gout Diet!

Gout can affect anyone. But men are three times more likely to be affected than women. In women, it generally occurs after menopause. Ayurveda is proven effective in the treatment of Gout. 

Patients suffering from Gout often ask me for dietary recommendations and precautions that could reduce their likelihood of getting another Gout attack in the near future. So, today, I am going to discuss all Gout – its management and prevention!!

Also Read: Easy Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Shoulder Pain

Tip – 1: Avoid foods that are rich in purine!!!

Now, purines are a type of protein that our body breaks down into uric acid. Uric acid is basically a waste product that is removed by the kidneys and is eliminated from the body in the form of urine. 

But if the uric acid levels in your body remain high for a prolonged period, a condition called hyperuricemia, then it can lead to the formation of needle-like structures in the inside and around the joints. This can eventually lead to a gout attack.

Studies say that diets rich in purines can cause a five-fold increase in gout attacks. Limiting the intake of your red meat and seafood can help!

Also Read: 7 ways to beat post workout pain

Tip – 2: Avoid Sugar-sweetened soft drinks

These unhealthy foods can cause a build-up of uric acid. A recent study showed that having 2 sugar-sweetened soft drinks a day can increase the risk of gout by a whopping 85%.

Also Read; Health Impacts of Soda

Tip – 3: Increase your intake of Vitamin C 

Now, most people advocate vitamin C supplements or tablets. But let me tell you that vitamin C is one of the most abundantly available nutrients in our nature. Oranges, papaya, spinach, lemon, amla are some of the sources of vitamin C that are available around the year.

Also Read: Ayurvedic Treatment for heel pain

Tip – 4: Maintain a healthy weight. 

Approximately 50% of gout sufferers are overweight. It is scientifically proven that obesity is a contributing factor to many diseases including gout. Maintaining a consistent healthy weight can reduce your uric acid levels and gout attacks. 

Again, by maintaining a healthy weight, I mean eating right and working out. Any type of crash dieting or fluctuating weight changes can actually increase the levels of uric acid and gout attacks. 

For physical activity, go for low to moderate intensity workouts like walking, jogging, or swimming. Intensive workouts can result in injury. You can also opt for expert guidance or discuss it with your doctor!

Tip – 5: Quit Drinking!!! 

Good health and alcohol do not belong to the same sentence. Research says that alcohol raises uric acid levels which increases the risk of gout. So, men, especially after the age of 50 should try and avoid alcohol!!!

Tip – 6: Drink Water

Make sure to drink plenty of water about 2 liters a day which is about 8-10 glasses. This will help your kidneys in flushing out the toxins. You can provide some assistance to your kidneys by including the following herbs in your diet. 

Foods that you should include in your diet:

• Giloy is highly effective for gout. It helps neutralize the increased uric acid levels in the body.
• Neem reduces inflammation and soothes gout flare-ups. Make a paste of neem leaves and apply to the area affected by gout.
• Haldi doodh can help in alleviating the inflammation and relieving your pain.
• Ginger is another very effective natural medicine for gout.

Take away

Gout is a painful condition and it’s important to manage it well. Try and follow these simple tips for a better health.

If you have any doubts or questions regarding this condition then feel free to drop a comment and I will get back to you!