The disease of kings, gout was associated with lavish banquets and goblets of wine. Many people think gout is limited to men who dine well and drink beer, and there is a certain truth to that.
Gout is a type of arthritis suffered primarily by overweight males. It is caused when metabolism accumulates too much uric acid in the blood, tissues, and urine. Although known as a toe problem, any joints and the kidneys are also gout sites. The natural healing process is simple. Improving gout involves food change.
Eliminate foods high in purine and limit alcohol that causes sediment in the blood. Foods high in purine are meats, especially organ meats like liver. Fish tend to have high levels. Beef, while having purines, has less than some other meats. Beer is also a problem. An average of two beers a day doubles the risk of gout.
Symptoms are extremely painful joints, usually in the foot and big toe, rapid onset of excruciating pain, redness, swelling, sometimes chills and fever. These symptoms are due to tiny needle-like crystals of uric acid in the blood caused by an overloaded kidney that does not filter properly. Over use of drugs such as diuretics (fluid pills) causing potassium deficiency, obesity, low blood sugar and thyroid problems also appear to be factors. Left untreated, gout will gradually destroy the joint with longer and longer attacks.
Food Therapy Plan:
-Reduce caffeine, white flour foods, fried foods, unsaturated fats.
-Avoid high purine foods: red meats (especially organ meats), rich gravies, rhubarb, sardines, lobster, oysters, and clams.
-Avoid foods and drinks with high levels of fructose (fruit sugars).
-Avoid alcohol during healing.
-Take 1 oz Aloe Vera juice before meal each morning.
-Drink 8 glasses of water daily.
-Drink Black cherry juice to flush the uric acid and acid crystals.
Supplement therapy plan to take down the inflammation and pain:
-Cranberry capsules — 2 with each meal. Reduce uric acid accumulation.
-Rutin — 1 capsule with each meal.
-Devil’s Claw extract (found in Lakota Extra Strength Arthritis) reduces both uric acid and cholesterol build up.
-Celery Seed — 1 capsule with each meal.
Regulate blood sugar levels and improve circulation:
-Chromium 200 — One at lunch, one at supper.
-Vitamin B3 — 50mg. - one at supper to increase circulation.
Lifestyle measures:
-Slowly lose weight to ease pressure on feet and legs. Rapid weight loss shocks your metabolism and may trigger a gout attack.
Flo Lavallie, DNM
