Longevity with preexisting conditions: Gout
My guess is that if you are reading this, then you or someone close to you already have gout. There are many sites on the Internet that explain gout and give you advice on how to deal with it.However, what I noticed, when it comes to diet for gout, there is a lot of contradicting information. Some say you can not drink coffee; others promote coffee for gout. Some tell you don't eat broccoli, while others list it as a part of the diet. My husband used to get gout attacks time by time. So, we decided to get to the bottom of it and develop the appropriate diet based on nutritional facts and scientific data. A few revival recipes of drinks and dishes are listed in this post below. But most of them that are very effective in fighting gout symptoms will be presented in a special post for our Patrons. These recipes can be used for creating a weekly menu in various combinations. But first, let's go through the main facts about gout and the problems related to it.
What is gout and how to deal with it?
Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that occurs due to a condition called hyperuricemia and is very painful. It usually affects one joint at a time (often the big toe joint). There are times when symptoms get worse, known as flares, and times when there are no symptoms, known as remission. Repeated bouts of gout can lead to gouty arthritis, a worsening form of arthritis. During a gout flare, people experience pain, warmth, swelling, and redness with skin hypersensitivity around a joint.Gout is caused by a build-up of uric acid in the blood. If you produce too much uric acid or your kidneys don't filter enough out, it can build up and cause tiny sharp crystals to form in and around joints. These crystals can cause the joint to become inflamed (red and swollen) and painful. Despite the sudden onset and intense pain, gout flares usually get better within a week to 10 days, and symptoms may disappear if the disease is managed correctly. Sometimes the next attack may not happen for months or even years. Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are chemical compounds that cells use to make the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Examples of purines are adenine and guanine. Purines are normally produced in the body and are also found in some foods and drinks. The enzyme required to produce uric acid by breaking down purine nucleotides is called xanthine oxidase (XO). The uric acid itself, as well as the reactive oxygen species released during the enzymatic reaction, can have detrimental effects on the body. Excessive uric acid levels in the blood cause hyperuricemia, which can lead (or not) to a gout attack. The XO inhibitors are the mainstay of therapy for reducing uric acid levels in patients with gout. Currently available XO-inhibitor drugs, including allopurinol and febuxostat, may have significant side effects, such as hypersensitivity drug reactions, and they are currently not recommended for broad use in many hyperuricemia-related diseases. Scientists are looking for new XO inhibitors with no or much milder adverse effects. New XO inhibitors may have different chemical structures and could be used in combination therapy at a small dose to reduce toxicity and potential drug resistance. Meanwhile, medication and lifestyle or dietary changes can help ease symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of gout attacks. When your gout gets under control, it’s important to stick with the lifestyle changes you have made. If diagnosed early, most people with gout can live a normal life. However, on average, having gout raises a person's risk of dying earlier than a similar person without gout by 25 percent. Lowering your uric acid level can improve joint function and resolve problems. To learn little-known facts about gout and to find some revival recipes that are easy to include in your diet to lower uric acid levels and prevent gout flares, go here. Read the full article
