Got Gout?

by Kathy Nelson

If you are one of many people who suffer from gout, then chances are that you’ve heard people saying that the is the disease of kings and that the cause of it is too much beer and rich food. This can lead people to thinking that their kids are not at risk from gout, as I’m quite sure your kids don’t drink a lot of beer.

A build up of uric acid crystals around your joints causes gout and it normally starts in the big toe and can then travel around the body from here. These uric acid crystals don’t consider what your age is, they dont consider that you may be too young to feel the nasty burning pain that comes when gout attacks.

The last twenty years or so have brought about changes in children’s habits. In general, children will not spend so much time outdoors playing sports or doing exercise. They also tend to eat more processed food and beverages. Many children are not happy to drink just water, instead they prefer sodas and flavoured drinks which tend to contain a lot of fructose.

Fructose and sodas have been shown in recent studies to increase the levels of uric acid in peoples bodies, this has led to increased incidences of gout. Gout is definitely not a disease of kings anymore, as the amount of soda and so called “health” drinks that we all consume continues to increase so will the instances of gout.

People who suffer from gout can greatly reduce the number of attacks they have by simply controlling their diet. It sounds easy, but some will not have the focus to stick to a healthier diet despite the obvious benefits. If you are in a routine then it can be hard to break it, even more if you are a little older. But it can be done and can have a very positive effect on your gout.

You need to think about how your child’s diet will affect them not only now, but years down the line when they are older. You could be allowing them to get into bad eating habits which will stick with them for a long time. Because of this you should try to steer them away from foods or beverages which are high in their fructose content.

Because of the effect our work has on our personal lives, it can sometimes be hard to spend enough time shopping and cooking with good quality foods. We tend to go for fast foods because they are more convenient and we just haven’t got the time to ensure that our children are fed properly.

Your weekly trip to the supermarket should be the basis of preventing gout problems in your family. You can cut out foods which are bad for you before they get anywhere near your fridge or kitchen. For a start you can avoid foods and drinks which contain high levels of uric acid causing chemicals. Also try to cut out drinks which are high in fructose. By doing this you can cut down on the chances of your children developing gout problems, as well as leading a more healthy lifestyle in general.

About the Author

You should remember that gout is a problem which can affect you whether you are young or old. But the original problems can start from when you are a child. There are however some very effective forms of gout treatment which can help you.