The Harmful Effects of Uric Acid and 8 Surprising Foods That Help To Keep Gout in Check

If the level of uric acid build up crosses a limit in our body, it could cause a very painful kind of arthritis called Gout. It happens more in men and is usually caused because of poor dietary habits. Bringing changes to your diet is among the best strategies for treating it.

Harmful Effects of Uric Acid

Here you can learn about the harmful effects of uric acid, different ways to control it and how you can lower the uric acid level in your body.

Uric Acid Tophi

Hyperuricemia refers to the high amounts of uric acid in our blood. It can be caused because of 2 reasons:

• Excess generation of uric acid in our body
• Reduced excretion of uric acid by our kidneys

When uric acid levels are very high, crystals can form in our joints and various other body parts. It can also cause various painful problems in our body, including gout. The crystals are heavy compared to blood and thus they start creating deposits in the body. But because of gravity, the heavy crystals get pulled to our lower body parts. This includes the larger spaces between the joints in our big toe. If uric acid crystals start forming in our kidneys, it can also result in kidney stones. Tophi is another problem of crystal formation which occurs under the skin in some parts of our body. They could also lead to other issues such as gouty arthritis, cardiovascular disease, renal failure, and hypertension.

Our normal uric acid levels are as following:

• Women – 2.4 to 6.0 mg per dL
• Men – 3.4 to 7.0 mg per dL

Factors That Can Cause High Uric Acid Levels

There are many factors including the following:

• Diets containing high amounts of purines (because they break down into uric acid)
• Renal insufficiency
• Consumption of excess alcohol
• Under-active thyroid
• Obesity
• Endocrine/metabolic conditions such as acidosis or diabetes
• Genetics
• Various other diseases

Some types of cancers, some medications like diuretics and chemotherapy agents are also believed to contribute to the problem. Your uric acid levels also get elevated temporarily when you exercise, crash diet and fast.High levels of uric acid and gout may not always be caused by your foods. In some cases, they may be because your body is unable to eliminate uric acid due to many reasons. If you are suffering from any of these problems, make sure to seek proper treatment for keep control over your gout:

• Certain people suffering from gout could suffer from an enzyme defect where the body finds it extremely hard to break down purines.
• Those who have undergone organ transplantation are highly susceptible.
• Certain people can develop gout because of exposure to lead from the environment.

But there are some natural remedies and tips that could help in reducing and controlling the levels of uric acid. Besides, you should also undergo appropriate diagnosis and treatment by only a healthcare professional.

How to Control Uric Acid Levels?

Foods You Must Avoid

You should avoid all fruits, veggies, and legumes containing high levels of uric acid. There are also non-meat products which have naturally high levels of purines. All these foods are going to add to the creation of uric acid in our blood. Here are the fruits, veggies, and legumes which contain high levels of uric acid:

• Bananas
• Kiwi
• Avocado
• Beans
• Pineapple
• Mushrooms
• Lentils
• Peas

No High-Fructose Corn Syrup

Uric acid levels can be increased by fructose. This is why you should avoid any beverages which are sweetened using high-fructose corn syrup, and even the desserts and various other items which may have the substance. Make sure to read the food packages thoroughly, as HF-CS can be found in many items. It can also be present in food products which don't have a sweet taste, such as some snack food and bread.

No High-Fat & Fried Foods

Taking high amount of saturated fat (excluding coconut oil) has also been found to affect our body’s ability for processing uric acid.

Switch to a Diet with Low Purines

Purines are compounds that contain high amounts of nitrogen, which break down and form uric acid. This will increase uric acid levels in your body. Animal proteins contain high amounts of purines. So you should avoid animal proteins such as fish, meats, poultry and organ meats. Even asparagus, mushrooms, bean and legumes contain high amounts of purine. Even beer has high levels of purine.

Which Foods to Eat to Lower Uric Acid Levels?

Foods Rich in Fiber

The foods which have high levels of dietary fiber can help in reducing uric acid levels. They absorb and eliminate uric acid from our body. Eating foods containing high starchy carbs is also good because they don't have much purine. Pears, apples, whole grains, strawberries, and oranges are the perfect high-fiber foods to be included in your meals. Brown rice, oats, potato, whole grain pasta, bananas, and quinoa are foods containing high levels of starchy carbs. Drinking green papaya tea will also help in preventing the buildup of uric acid. It can also help in treating uric acid and gout-liked issues. Green papaya has papain which helps your body in maintaining an alkaline state and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Drink Plenty of Water

When you drink plenty of water, it will help in filtering uric acid out of your body. Water will help in diluting uric acid and stimulating your kidneys in removing excess uric acid through urine. Besides, when you drink sufficient amounts of water on a regular basis, it will help in minimizing the risk of recurring gout attacks. According to an internet-based study (presented – American College of Rheumatology annual meet in 2009), the researchers discovered that the participants who took 5-8 glasses of water during the 1-day period before a likely gout attack had 40 percent reduced risk of attack in comparison to those who took just 1 glass of water.

• So make sure to drink 8-10 glasses of water every day.
• Make sure to have various kinds of fluids and water-rich, fresh fruits and veggies as part of your diet.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar works as a natural detoxifier and cleanser that is amazing in assisting with the removal of wastes from our body. It has malic acid, which is helpful in breaking down and eliminating uric acid. The vinegar is also good in restoring the alkaline acid balance in our body, while also providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

• Mix 1 tsp of raw and organic apple cider vinegar (unpasteurized) in 1 glass water.
• Drink it 2-3 times per day.

The amount can be increased at a gradual pace to 2 tbsp in 1 glass water. The remedy could be taken until your uric acid levels become under control. Note: Apple cider vinegar should not be taken in surplus amounts. It might reduce your potassium levels, and affect the diuretic drugs.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice may appear to be something that could create an acidic environment in our body, in actual terms it has an alkaline effect. It works by neutralizing uric acid. Besides, the vitamin C in it helps in lowering uric acid levels too.

• Squeeze out juice from 1 lemon into 1 glass of warm water and drink on an empty stomach when you wake up in the morning.
• Keep drinking for a few weeks.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is also great in reducing the levels of uric acid and gout pain. It will help in maintaining your body’s natural alkaline balance while also making uric acid easily soluble. This makes it easier for flushing it out of the kidneys.

• Take one-half tsp of baking soda and mix in 1 glass water.
• Drink a maximum of 4 glasses of this solution every day for 2 weeks. Drink it with a gap of 2-4 hours.

Note: This remedy should not be used regularly. It should not be followed if you have high blood pressure. Besides, keep the limit to 3 glasses of the baking soda solution per day if you are 60 or above.

Cherries and Tart Cherry Juice

Cherries, dark berries, and tart cherry juice have compounds which are effective in reducing uric acid levels. Berries with blue and purple color have flavonoids known as anthocyanins which help in reducing uric acid, stiffness, and inflammation.

• Take one-half cup cherries every day for some weeks. Also, take 1-2 cups tart cherry juice for around weeks.
• You should also include strawberries, blueberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, and other antioxidant and vitamin C-rich fruits and veggies into your diet.

Coconut & Olive Oil

Usually, most of the vegetable oils will change to rancid fats when they are processed or heated. So make sure to avoid them. Rancid fats will destroy the essential vitamin E within our body. Vitamin E is required to control uric acid levels. Choose cold-pressed coconut oil or olive oil in place of vegetable oil, shortening or butter for baking and cooking purposes. Both these oils will stay stable under heat. They also contain high levels of antioxidants and vitamin E, and are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Maintain Control over Your Weight

If you have obese or overweight, you have higher chances of getting gout. You can prevent chances of gout by reducing your weight.

Reduce Alcohol Consumption, Specifically Beer

A beer has a notorious reputation for increasing uric acid. You should avoid it entirely to fight high levels of uric acid and gout. But you could take wine in small amounts as it doesn’t cause enhanced uric acid in very small quantity. Via E Times