Perry Ambrose, C.N.
Gout, also known as gouty arthritis, is a metabolic disturbance characterized by deposits of uric acid salt crystals in the tissue around the joints, especially the toes. It can be very painful. Gout is, without a doubt, nutrition related. Even the Arthritis Foundation has acknowledged this. The malfunctioning body mechanisms that cause the over production, precipitation and faulty clearing of uric acid are not perfectly understood. There are many steps in the chemical conversion path of foods and numerous nutritional elements are vital in these conversions. Leave out just one critical element and the conversion stops. In this case it stops with uric acid crystals that end up in the joints and kidneys. An estimated 10 to 20% of the population has elevated uric acid levels in the blood, but few of them experience gout. Conversely, people without elevated uric acid levels can suffer from gout. The principle way the body disposes of excess uric acid is through the kidneys. Eighty percent of gout sufferers suffer some kidney dysfunction. That dysfunction can be caused by damage by uric acid crystals or some other reason which then results in reduced clearance of uric acid. Long term unresolved gout can be damaging to the joints and kidneys.. Societies not eating the traditional western diet of lots of meat, sweets, processed foods and stimulants, such as coffee, are not troubled by gout. These foods are very acid forming. Uric acid will precipitate out of solution into crystals at a low pH (acid). Testing your urine pH is very simple and inexpensive. There are numerous ways to raise urine pH. For some people, gout appears to be related to the improper breakdown of proteins. For them, going to a more vegetarian diet does wonders. A high-purine diet usually aggravates the condition. High purine foods are organ meats, some sea foods, dried beans, cauliflower, lentils, oatmeal, spinach, and yeast products. For another group of sufferers, the answer lies in faulty sugar metabolism and that includes fruit sugars. For them, staying away from sweets, fruits and fruit juices is a small miracle. Supplementing with B-vitamins helps the body to metabolize proteins and sweets. This is a crucial part of any gout protocol. Manganese, a mineral, may be very helpful for gout sufferers because it is involved in enzyme channels to convert uric acid to harmless metabolites. A seemingly unlikely treatment for gout can be found in unsweetened cherries. The logic of this natural treatment has not been studied but is relatively well known and even acknowledged by many doctors. Alcohol reduces the ability of the kidneys to excrete uric acid and acidifies the urine. Coffee is also an acidifier and should be eliminated. People who suffer with gout would do well to educate themselves about any drugs they may be taking because several, such as high blood pressure medications, can cause gout as a side effect. Prescription medicines are often effective at eliminating the symptoms of gout, but can cause some very unpleasant side effects. Colchicine is one of two drugs most often prescribed for gout. It lowers the level of tissue acidity in the joints thereby increasing the solubility of uric acid and dissolving uric acid crystals. This drug can cause severe intestinal problems, allergic reactions, loss of hair, low white blood cell counts, liver damage and more. Allopurinol is the other drug of choice. It inhibits uric acid formation and is better tolerated than colchicine. The most common side effect is skin rash which can be severe and indicate more serious problems. Gout will usually respond to natural measures if the patient has the discipline and persistence to see it through. Perry