Many years ago, gout was called the "disease of kings" because only the wealthy could afford to eat rich foods. But today gout affects millions of people all around the world who have many of the rich food advantages - or disadvantages - of kings.
But, whether you're rich or not, natural pain relief is possible.
What is Gout and Who Gets it?
Gout usually develops quickly, often overnight, in one or two specific joints. You can go to bed feeling fine and wake up the next morning with an incredibly painful, swollen toe or ankle. The pain can last five to ten days and go away, only to return sometime later.
If you don't take care of this painful inflammatory condition, the swelling and pain will become more severe over time, causing permanent damage to the affected joints.
Gout is caused by the buildup of uric acid, a natural by-product of certain foods, particularly red meat. It usually affects men after age 40. But, since estrogen helps empty uric acid from the kidneys, post-menopausal women are also susceptible.
A study published in the British Medical Journal shows that the usually prescribed arthritis painkillers only reduce pain temporarily and just slightly better than placebos. And, besides being ineffective, drug treatments have no direct effect on uric acid levels.
What's more, these medications are very powerful, not curative and have serious side effects. Vioxx and other COX-2 inhibitors, for example, are now being linked to fatal heart attacks. Arthritic painkillers should be taken only with careful consideration, if at all.
What You Can Do About Gout - Naturally
As long as the first attack is taken as a wake up call, gout can be prevented naturally and controlled effectively through the following lifestyle and dietary changes.
Begin by gradually achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, which will help lighten the load on the affected joints and reduce your uric acid levels.
Eat a diet low in red meat and high in red, yellow, orange and green vegetables and fruit. Studies also show that eating low fat-dairy helps reduce uric acid.
Alcohol interferes with the removal of uric acid and should be avoided. Instead, drink 10 to 12 glasses of pure water a day, since it helps flush uric acid from the body.
Dr. Hyon Choi, leading gout researcher at Harvard University School of Public Health, highly recommends taking daily full-spectrum omega 3 fish oil supplements to help prevent gout and eliminate or dramatically reduce the painful symptoms.
Fish oil is a highly effective natural anti-inflammatory without the harmful side effects associated with prescription and over-the-counter pain killers.
Although protein in certain seafood increases uric acid, good quality fish oil supplements have the opposite effect. They naturally prevent or, at the very least, dramatically reduce the painful inflammation and swelling associated with bouts of gout.
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