Got Gout?

The short answer, yes. First and foremost, remember that gout is a form of arthritis. Arthritis is a broad term; there are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The important thing to note, though, is that arthritis is a joint disorder that involves some sort of inflammation.

Arthritis per se could mean osteoarthritis, or the arthritis we’ve all been accustomed to—the one that comes with age. If the arthritis (and the swelling) is caused by the deposit of uric acid crystals in the joint, then it is classified as gouty arthritis. By then you can call your medical condition under the broader “gout” term.

To keep it simple, think of “gouty” as an adjective for arthritis. So a gouty arthritis equals the noun, gout.

You might also encounter terms like acute gouty arthritis and chronic arthritis. Simply put, attaching the word “acute” to medical conditions simply means only one part of the body is affected. Chronic, on the other hand, is a condition that does not go away or happens repeatedly.

Gout accounts for only 5% of all cases of arthritis. 50% of all cases of gout happens in the big toe. However, it can also happen in the heel, ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows.

Apple cider vinegar has long been hailed as a wonder remedy of sorts for various ailments, and this can be no truer for gout. But, is there any scientific truth to this?

10,000 years ago, the Babylonians hailed vinegar for its remarkable healing properties. Nearly 3,000 years ago, Hippocrates used vinegar as an antibiotic.

Apple cider vinegar, or ACV, is simply vinegar made from apples—apple must, which is the crushed state of the apples including stems and skins before they are turned into wine—or cider, which is a fermented beverage made from apple juice.

Now, among these ailments apple cider vinegar allegedly “cures” is arthritis. Since gout is basically a form of arthritis, it is quite ironic that something acidic (vinegar) can heal something that is caused by excess acid (uric acid).

However, it does not purportedly work that way. When consumed, ACV becomes alkaline, and lowers blood pH levels. This is turn is believed to lower uric acid levels.

Taking apple cider vinegar for gout should come with its own caveat. First and foremost, there is no scientific evidence that proves apple cider vinegar has any medicinal properties. What it is is just a smorgasbord of nutrients—ACV contains calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, copper, potassium, manganese, and phosphorus.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but according to this article, even the Arthritis Foundation agrees so. To quote, “The Arthritis Foundation calls vinegar a harmless, but unproven, arthritis remedy.”

Of course, let’s not take away from the millions of people apple cider vinegar has made “well.” If it worked for them, then we don’t see any reason why it won’t work for you. And if it does, or if you think it did, don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.

In closing, the only logical thing to do really is to try ACV for gout. As stated earlier, it is really quite “harmless.” But wait, it ain’t over yet. In concentrated form, ACV is very acidic. To take ACV, it is advised to dilute it with water. 3 teaspoons per full glass should be a good starting point. Others even mix it with honey or maple syrup just to take some of the edge off. Also, when you come across some ACV, there’s this thing they call the “mother,” or mother of vinegar, which is a cobweb-like structure. Others recommend to include the mother as they claim it’s the most concentrated part of the vinegar. Finally, don’t even ask us about using ACV as a topical remedy, we won’t go that low.

What you need to know

Colchicine is probably the most popular and most common medication for gout. However, it is a prescription medication which means you could not possibly (legally) acquire some without the consent of a doctor—and with good reason.

Colchicine is toxic by nature. If ingested in high doses, it can cause symptoms similar to that of arsenic poisoning. The effective (and safe) dosage of colchicine for gout falls only between 1 to 1.2 milligrams. This is normally taken orally (pills), but can also be administered intravenously—but with serious precaution.

Now, all warnings aside, let’s talk about its effectiveness as a preferred gout medication. Colchicine—in tablet form— has long been used (since the 1930s) as a non-Food and Drug Administration-approved drug to treat rheumatic complaints. In actuality, its medicinal value has been recorded since the first century A.D. It is an alkaloid derived from the dried seeds of the meadow saffron, or the Colchicum autumnale genus.

Colchicine does not lower the level of uric acid in the body. It, however, blocks the inflammation caused by said uric acid (crystals), which in time can also reduce the chances of future attacks. Examples of medications that lower uric acid levels are probenecid and sulfinpyrazone. Colchicine can be administered at the same time with these drugs.

Colchicine can relieve gout attack symptoms in as little as 12 hours after medication. It can also stop an attack from developing full-blown when taken at the first sign of discomfort. When used as a sort of maintenance drug, colchicine should only be taken is dosages of 0.5 to 0.6 milligrams per day, for up to four days a week.

Of course, as with all medications, colchicine is not one without side effects. These can include gastrointestinal upset and anemia among others. However, these are regarded as minor in comparison to the benefits of the medicine. Caution should always be observed as well as ample patient history checks—which is why colchicine is a prescription medication. For pregnant and nursing women, no well-controlled studies have yet been taken.

Always remember, when it comes to colchicine for gout, always consult with a qualified physician first.

Are eggs bad for those with gout? In general, no. But, we all know that when it comes to gout, everything should be taken in moderation.

Chicken eggs have a low enough purine content to be considered safe for a gout-adjusted diet. The breakdown of purines produces uric acid, which in excess causes gout. If you are familiar with any gout diet, the premise is simple: keep everything in moderation and avoid purine-rich foods.

Eggs are usually recommended for gout patients in medical and nutritional circles. They contain less than 50 milligrams of purines per 100 grams, which is considered very low. While eggs will not directly lower your uric acid levels, a diet consisting of eggs to fill in the nutritional gaps will keep purine levels in your meals low. Think of it this way, because of the nutritional value of eggs—for example, high in protein—you can make do without high-purine sources of protein such as red meat.

Keep in mind that eggs should be added to your complete gout diet plan and not separate. You should not treat them as bonus snacks nor should you eat nothing but eggs. They are only part of the bigger picture.

As for other eggs—duck, goose, quail, and turkey—it is known that these have lower acidity levels that chicken eggs so they are also considered “safe.” To be even more on the safe side, others suggest going as far as just eating egg whites. Egg yolks are known to be more acidic than whites. However, personally, I think this has a very minimal effect. After all, gout victims already have a very limited variety in foods so it wouldn’t hurt to add a little flavor and include the yolk. I guess it would also somewhat related to say that when an egg is fried, it becomes a little more acidic than say, when it is boiled.

If you are a gout victim, always keep in mind that your diet should be one that does not add more uric acid to your body and prevents your body from producing more of it. It’s generally quite simple but complicated in how little the variety of foods you have left. Ironic, I know.

Gout is a disease linked to overindulging in food and drinks. Beer, unfortunately, has been singled out among all the alcoholic beverages known to man—quite ironic that the most common drink is the culprit linked to the “disease of kings.”

A large study conducted in the U.S. followed 47,150 men aged 40 to 70 in a span of 12 years—yes, that is definitely a big study. Dr. Hyon Choi and her colleagues at the Massachusetts General Hospital released the results in 2004 which documented 730 cases of gout among men who drank alcohol. Take note, none of the 47,150 men had out before the study. Even more interesting is that the risk of developing gout increased with the daily average amount of alcohol the person was consuming.

According to the study, people who consume two to four beers a week are 25% more likely to get gout. Strong drinkers who average at least 2 beers a day have a 200% risk of developing gout. The more beer you drink, the higher your risk, but as little as 1 beer a month is enough to increase your risk.

As we’ve said, beer has been singled out among the other alcoholic drinks. It was believed that alcohol was a major contributor to gout but it came as a surprise to Dr. Choi and her team when the wine and spirits drinkers of the control group did not show alarming risks. At 4 ounces per day, wine drinkers risk falls at 1.04 wheres 1 bottle a day drinkers are at 1.32.

Dr. Choi believes it is the amount of purines found in beer. Purine is a chemical that breaks down into uric acid, which we all know causes gout. Wine and spirits also contain purines, but the levels are negligible.

So there you have it. Beer is no good for gout. I guess it would be a wise advise to all to regulate beer and alcoholic drinks consumption anyway, but for those interested on how it relates to gout, this is it. By the way, for those interested in the official press release of the study, see The Lancet (or click here for the link).

High-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, has been under high scrutiny for the past decade because of its undesirable health effects. HFCS is primarily used as a replacement for sugar—particularly in processed foods and beverages—because of its relatively effective sweetness-cheapness ratio. Serious health concerns such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and fatty liver disease have all been linked to high-fructose corn syrup. In addition to that, in 2005, a study reported some HFCS manufactured in the U.S. contained mercury.

The primary relationship of high-fructose corn syrup to gout—as a risk factor—is its uncanny ability to increase uric acid formation. Subjecting the liver to large amounts of fructose results in high uric acid formation, which we all know is the number one culprit in gout.

As an organization devoted to stopping gout, we could in fact stop here and tell you to avoid any kind of fructose entirely, especially if you want to prevent a re-occurrence or an episode of gout. However, the unacceptable amount of risk factors associated with the cheap sugar alternative is just so overwhelming that we can easily encourage every health-concerned human being to avoid it altogether. Excess fructose intake has been associated with hypertension, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease, elevated triglyceride levels, and of course, high uric acid levels.

To define further, HFCS is actually a mix of fructose and glucose. It is exactly a 55% fructose and 45% glucose mix. Standard table sugar is a 50-50 mix. Do not be fooled by the 10% difference. That 10% is enough to alter how your body consumes magnesium, copper, and chromium. This is because the 10% fructose is in the form of free molecules, unlike in a table sugar (50-50), where each glucose molecule is bonded to a fructose molecule.

While all these adverse effects of HFCS is, in theory, debatable. Do know that the top proponents for HFCS are the processed foods and beverages manufacturers. Bear in mind that these are multinational corporations that have millions of dollars in investments to protect. To give HFCS some benefit of the doubt—in its relationship with increased uric acid levels, ergo gout—a popular argument is that table sugar, or sucrose, is no more healthy than HFCS. While this is debatably true, it makes common sense to avoid or regulate consumption of all forms of sugar, except for those found in natural forms such as fruits.

So there you have it. The relationship is clear. HFCS increased uric acid production in the body, which is why it is a known contributor for gout. (We could have said “indirect” but you can’t deny that uric acid is the number one culprit in gout.)

What is the link between rheumatoid arthritis and the foods we eat? Can a proper diet relieve arthritis symptoms? You may have heard that specific foods can help ease your arthritis pain so we have compiled information that can help you separate the myths from the facts.

Eating and avoiding certain foods may help relieve your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Unlike gout, the Arthritis Foundation does not endorse diets that treat arthritis. In this matter, personal observance of foods that worsen or improve your symptoms is key—your body tells you what’s best so make adjustments in your diet accordingly.

A known way of assessing symptoms triggered by food is by going through an elimination diet. An elimination diet helps you identify which foods trigger your arthritis symptoms. By eliminating suspect foods from your daily diet and slowly adding them back after a period of time, you may notice which ones increase pain and stiffness. After picking out the obvious culprits, eliminating them altogether may help decrease overall rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the long run.

While an elimination diet may prove workable for some, going though a trial and error method may seem like a complete waste of time for others. Studies have shown that saturated fats increase inflammation in the body—part of the top-foods-to-avoid list in gout. Animal products high in saturated fats such as bacon, steak, and butter increase chemicals in the body called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemicals that cause inflammation and swelling in arthritis.

Linked to prostaglandins is a fatty acid called arachidonic acid, which is converted by the body to the former. This type of acid is found in high concentration on red meats. This is part of the reason some people claim that switching to a vegetarian diet helped relieve their symptoms of pain and stiffness. While this may be true for some, others get no benefit from a meat-free diet.

Excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids is linked to promoting inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Instead, replacing omega-6 fatty acids with omega-3 fatty acids, on the other hand, may suppress inflammation. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in vegetable oils that contain linoleic acid such as corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, and sesame oil. Omega-3 fatty acid is a fat normally found in cold-water fish, nuts, and soybean products. Studies have shown a positive anti-inflammatory effect of omega-3 on rheumatoid arthritis; it also helps reduce the risks of heart disease.

Taking fish oil supplements that contain omega-3 may help reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but it may take weeks before you see any decrease in symptoms.

Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Italy have less-severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis. A Mediterranean-style diet comprised of large amounts of fruits, vegetables, olive oil and fatty fish may lower the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

It may also come as a surprise to you but drinking alcohol has been linked to reduced chances of getting rheumatoid arthritis. However, this theory is not backed by strong evidence and the relationship of how alcohol protects against arthritis is still unknown.

Finally, keep your weight at a healthy level. Weight loss reduces the strain on joints such as hips and knees, not to mention your heart.

As we grow older we begin to experience body pains, especially knee joint pain. This can be just from the wearing on the joints that happens over time and turns into arthritis, because of an unexpected injury or due to bursitis and its inflammation. The pain can be decreased by taking some of the stress away from the joints. Managing the pain is easy if you use a few of these suggestions.

Probably the most common treatment is to apply ice to the knee that is sore. If you do not have an ice pack you can freeze some water in a coffee cup made of foam. Apply the ice to the sore knee about four times a day for ten minutes at a time. If you are using the cup you can just peel away the cup as the ice melts.

To manage the pain with meds you can use ibuprofen but it should be a prescription because the tables you can get over-the-counter as way too low of a dosage at 200 milligrams. It is necessary to have at least 800 milligrams which needs a prescription.

Another way to control pain in a sore knee joint is by using the support of a knee brace. This will prevent the knee from twisting and the muscles of the knee will be kept warm. This will encourage the healing process.

Your feet have a lot to do with how your knee feels. Shoes with support are important to relieve the stress and pressure to the joints because they bring your legs in proper alignment. One way to know there is a problem with your feet is if your shoes are wearing down on one side. This means that you are experiencing pronation or your feet are turning when you walk. When the bones of the feet turn, this is pronation and the body weight is thrown to the inside of the foot causing the body to be out of balance.

Probably the biggest stress on the knees is from being overweight. The weight that we carry puts an enormous strain on the knee joints because they take the brunt of the body weight. Just a small reduction in weight will make a huge difference.

Strengthening the muscles of the thighs will help to support the joints of the knees. If you have knee joint pain walking may not seem like a good thing for your legs but actually it is because it will lubricate the joint as long as you use proper shoes for walking and you walk on something soft like dirt. The cushioned shoes will help relieve some of the stress that walking causes on the joints.

Author’s Notes

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If you or one of your family members is suffering from arthritis then you may have tried various prescriptions and oral based treatments. It has been found that one of the best ways to relieve the pain and symptoms of arthritis is by applying arthritis cream to the affected joints. It is often believed that creams and ointments are preferential in some patients as they do not cause any damage to internal organs or produce ulcers of the stomach.

There are plenty of cream based products available in the market that can help to alleviate the pain. They range from pharmaceutical to homeopathic based solutions. It is important to choose the right arthritis cream for you. The success of such treatments can vary depending on the severity and the form of arthritis that is present.

One of the longest used and most recommended products is Arnica. This is a plant of the sunflower family that commonly occurs in temperate regions. It has been successfully used to treat arthritis and similar ailments since the sixteenth century. It is now possible to purchase arthritis creams that contain high dosages of Arnica.

The pain associated with arthritis can also be tempered by applying creams that have castor oil as the main ingredient. Regular application of castor oil to the joints that are giving the pain can drastically improve the standard of life for the individual. Another proven ointment that is used widely is Tiger Balm. This balm, as well as others, contains menthol, clove, and camphor.

An ingredient derived from the chilli plant has also been shown to be effective in relieving pain in arthritis sufferers is capsaicin. This creates a hot sensation when applied to the affected areas. The nerve cells then react by sending signals to the brain to release a naturally occurring chemical called endorphins into the blood stream. Endorphins then help to block the feeling of pain.

Arthritis creams that are pharmaceutically based are used by numerous people. These can contain hyaluronic acid, chondroitins, and glucosamine. It has been suggested that these pharmaceutical creams are most beneficial when they are combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

As with any treatment, it is always best to get the advice of your doctor before proceeding. Also research should be done into any possible side-effects as certain creams have occasionally caused skin irritation, inflammation, and blistering. Also you should always make sure you do not accidentally rub the arthritis cream into a wound, eye, or the mouth.

A Gout Cure in Itself

Gout affects millions of people worldwide. Gout is a type of rheumatic problem affecting the joints and it happens when uric acid builds up due to the excessive amount of purine in the body. Avoiding purine serves as a good method to avoid gout and is a gout cure in itself.

Uric acid can be accumulated in two ways in the body. The first is by way of eating foods which contain too many purines. The second one is when the body is unable to eliminate the excessive purine present in our system.

To keep gout attacks from happening, it is important to understand which foods to avoid for gout. Understanding this will indeed prevent gout attacks for longer intervals.

Every human being has purines inn their tissue and this compound is present in our daily diet and can be beneficial within the right amounts. In all cases concerning gout, foods rich in purine must be avoided. Purine rich foods are mussels, alcoholic drinks, dried beans and peas. Meats, kidneys, liver and other organs are also rich in purine. These foods will trigger an attack. Even those who don’t yet experience gout but have a diet very rich in purine especially high in meat can put themselves at risk of getting gout very soon.

When gout occurs, most patients observe that it tends to start in the big toe and gradually affect the other joints including the elbows, knees, ankles, and so on.

The pain associated with the gout attack is due to the crystals of uric acid produced in the joints. The crystals are accumulated in the joints’ fluids and this can sometimes cause some swelling and pain particularly when the joints are moved. The sufferer is then left not able to walk while in extreme pain. With this in mind, it is therefore very important to recognize the fact that the mere understanding of which foods to avoid is already a great way to avoid and cure gout.

Author’s Notes

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