If you’ve been experiencing sudden, severe attacks of pain, tenderness and swelling, in your joints, you might be battling a case of gout. It’s a type of arthritis that affects approximately 8.3 million Americans; primarily men (6.1 million), but sometimes women as well (2.2 million). Unfortunately, people with gout typically only notice once the symptoms become unbearable causing excruciating pain and discomfort throughout the body. What’s worse is that repeated stints of gout can lead to a worsening form of arthritis and although there is no known cure for gout, it can be effectively managed and treated with medication or naturally. In fact, many people have been able to completely eradicate their symptoms of gout simply by changing their diet. And it’s all about knowledge. So, if your symptoms have you waking up feeling like your big toe, knee or ankle is on fire or like you will never live life like you used to, know that with the right advice, you can get all of the relief you need. And we have you covered.
The 101 on Gout
Ask anyone who suffers from gout and they’d likely tell you that gout is the worst feeling in the world. They may even go on to describe unbearable symptoms or gross gout in specific areas of their body. But if we were to look at gout from a technical standpoint, it is a fairly common form of inflammatory arthritis that affects one joint at a time, causing excruciating pain. Sometimes, symptoms can flare up out of nowhere and the next day, you may have no symptoms at all. This makes it a complex form of arthritis and one that can affect absolutely anyone.
In fact, gout affects approximately 8.3 million people (4%) in the United States. Studies show that men are three times more likely to experience it, and the majority of men who do develop gout had a genetic predisposition. For women who develop gout, it typically occurs after menopause. But regardless of when you develop gout, it’s an incredibly painful condition that can drastically affect your quality of life. With this form of arthritis, you can experience sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, and tenderness, which are caused by a build-up of high uric acid. These gout attacks can happen suddenly and typically strike at night with a burning sensation in your big toe, knee or ankle. What’s worse is that these attacks can last for 3 to 10 days with seemingly no cure, making it a condition that takes a serious toll on your mobility and mental health.
What are the Treatment Options for Gout
Although many have said that gout is an incurable condition, there are several effective natural treatment options that can help you manage and even eradicate your symptoms to a point that they no longer affect you. There are also conventional treatments that are designed to reduce pain and inflammation. But if you’re experiencing gout, chances are that you want to get rid of it as much as possible instead of simply soothing your symptoms. The only way to do that is to make some changes, particularly related to your diet since gout occurs when the body has too much uric acid. This is the result of your body consuming or being unable to get rid of purine in your diet. So, adjusting your diet is going to have a drastic improvement on your condition, while also decreasing the likelihood of a gout flare-up occurring.
But where do you start?
Here are some simple dietary changes, tips and natural remedies you can implement to start tackling your gout at the source to effectively heal your symptoms and even eliminate them for good.
Eat More Cherries
Something as simple and delicious as eating a handful of cherries or any form of the extract can help prevent gout attacks. In fact, studies found that over a 2-day period, having cherries in your diet can lower your risk of having a gout attack by 35% and having any cherry extract lowered the risk by 45%. And if you’re taking allopurinol, a medication commonly used to treat gout, you can reduce the risk of a flare-up by 75% when combined with some cherries. So, whether you prefer sour, sweet, black or red cherries, the extract, juice or raw kind, start snacking on three servings for the most effective relief.
Supplement Magnesium
Getting adequate magnesium in the body is associated with lower and healthier levels of uric acid, according to new studies. And with almost 50% of the American population not getting enough, this could be one simple change that can potentially lower your gout risk, especially considering a magnesium deficiency has shown to worsen chronic inflammatory stress in the body. But you don’t have to take it as a supplement. Sure, magnesium oral supplements are the easiest way to increase your daily dose. However, magnesium is also easily (and best) absorbed through the skin, so give a lotion or spray a try. You can also just increase your daily dose of these magnesium-rich ingredients:
- Dark chocolate
- Avocados
- Nuts
- Legumes
- Tofu
- Seeds
- Whole grains
- Fatty fish
- Bananas
- Leafy Greens
Use Ginger to Treat Inflammation
With gout being a type of inflammatory arthritis, anything that helps treat inflammation can be an excellent way to soothe your symptoms. Ginger is one of the most common herbs used to help treat inflammatory conditions and has been shown to effectively reduce pain related to gout while also reducing high levels of uric acid. So, add a little extra into your next meal or use it as a topic rub or hot compress applied directly to the sore area.
Crunch on Some Celery
Speaking of food, taking a crunchy bite out of some celery or enjoying it as an extract or seed is a proven remedy for reducing inflammation. This can help soothe your symptoms and even prevent gout attacks.
Hot Cold Therapy
While many people opt for heat when their body is sore from arthritis, cold therapy has shown to be particularly beneficial for gout, as it can drastically reduce inflammation. Try soaking in cold water or use some ice packs on your gout flare-ups. You can also switch between hot and cold therapy, using a hot compress for three minutes and then a cold compress for 30 seconds. This will help reduce the pain and swelling that occurs during a gout attack.
Take a Bath in Epsom Salts
As you’re taking advantage of some hot therapy with a warm bath, add in some Epsom salts to enjoy the added benefits of magnesium. This simple hack not only makes you feel nice and relaxed but it can also lower gout risk and symptoms.
Make a Tonic
Grab some ingredients out of your pantry because it’s time to make a drink! Mixing apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and turmeric with some warm water is a highly-recommended natural remedy for gout. It’s a soothing beverage that has been proven to lower uric acid, thus reducing gout attacks and preventing them altogether. Aim to have this drink two to three times a day for maximum results.
Pick Some Dandelions and Hibiscus
Flowers aren’t just for show. Both dandelions and hibiscus can lower uric acid levels, making them an excellent home remedy. So, grab some flowers and make a tea.
Remove Dietary Triggers
Avoiding things that are known to trigger gout by increasing uric acid, inflammation or other symptoms, is one of the most straightforward things you can do to prevent gout attacks. So, try to remove these things from your diet:
- Red meat
- Seafood
- Sugar
- Alcohol
Instead, try to increase your intake of low-sugar fruits, nuts, legumes, vegetables, and low-fat dairy for a gout-friendly diet. Apples and bananas are particularly great, as apples contain malic acid, which reduces uric acid, and the high potassium in bananas can help the body function properly. But remember, moderation is key since they also contain sugar.
Drink Up
Staying hydrated is key for treating gout, as it helps to keep your kidneys in good shape. It will also reduce uric acid crystal build-up and help prevent gout attacks. So, aim to get around 8 cups of water each day and don’t be scared to mix in some flavour with a couple of slices of fruit or a fresh squeeze of lemon.
Rest Up
The last thing you’re likely doing during a gout attack is running laps, as even the simplest forms of movement become increasingly difficult during these times. So, take time to rest and relax until the attack is over.
Gout is an incredibly painful type of arthritis that can leave you feeling debilitated and depleted. Fortunately, the symptoms can be drastically reduced and even eliminated simply by making small changes to your diet and lifestyle. However, if you find yourself struggling or your symptoms worsening, contact your doctor immediately to discuss all of your options. You may also want to check out our recommendation: The End of Gout program.
