Can Gout Be Treated Through Diet?
Limiting certain foods along with medication to control uric acid can be very helpful in the long run.
There Is No Cure For Gout.
It can be treated and controlled with
- Medicines.
- Dietary Restrictions.
- Lifestyle Changes.
- Alternative Medicine.
What are the medicines supposed to do?
- Relieve pain and inflammation.
- Prevent future gout attacks that could lead to permanent joint damage.
MEDICINES
- Drugs to reduce Pain, Inflammation.(Anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Corticosteroids
- Colchicine
- Medications to lower your body’s level of uric acid.
- Medications that block uric acid production.
- Medication that improves uric acid removal.
NASIDs
- They reduce joint inflammation and swelling.
- Usually prescribed in an acute attack.
- They are continued till the attack of gout resolves.
- They have potential side affects.
- They cannot be given if you kidney disease, gastric ulcers.
- Examples, Ibuprofen, Naproxen Sodium, Diclofenac, indomethacin,
CORTECOSTEROIDS
- Control gout inflammation and pain
- Given in patients where NSAIDs/Colhicine cannot be given.
- They can be injected or taken as a pill.
- Example, Predisolone.
- They can cause increased blood sugar levels.
COLCHICINE
- A type of pain reliever that effectively reduces gout pain.
- It is given in an acute attack.
- It causes vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea.
Read more: What is gout?
Medications To Prevent Complications Of Gout.
Usually indicated when
- Frequent Gout attacks
- Painful gout attack.
- Damage to the joints.
- TOPHI formation.
- Chronic Kidney Disease.
The goal of lowering the blood uric acid is to slowly dissolve joint deposits of sodium urate.
Lowering the uric acid will not treat an acute attack, but will over time prevent additional attacks from occurring.
Stopping and starting the uric acid lowering medication may cause additional attacks.
Do Not Stop These Medicines In Case Of A Gout Attack
Medications that block uric acid production.
- Xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs),
- including allopurinol, febuxostat
- Limit the amount of uric acid your body makes.
- This may lower your blood’s uric acid level and reduce your risk of gout.
Medication that improves uric acid removal.
- Uricosurics,
- include probenecid.
- improve your kidneys’ ability to remove uric acid from your body.
- This may lower your uric acid levels and reduce your risk of gout
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Certain lifestyle changes also are important, such as:
- Limiting alcoholic beverages and drinks sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose).
- Limiting intake of foods high in purines, such as red meat, organ meats and seafood. Instead, choose low-fat or nondairy products or vegetables.
- Exercising regularly and losing weight. Keeping your body at a healthy weight reduces your risk of gout.
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Recommendations for specific foods or supplements include the following:
Coffee. Studies have found an association between coffee drinking — both regular and decaffeinated coffee — and lower uric acid levels,
Vitamin C. Supplements containing vitamin C may reduce the levels of uric acid in your blood. It does not affect the frequency or severity of gout attacks.
Cherries. Cherries have been reported to lower levels of uric acid, as well as reduce the number of gout attacks.
Read more: What is gout?
GOUT DIET
The General Principles Of Gout Diet are
- Weight loss.
Being overweight increases the risk of developing gout, and
Losing weight lowers the risk of gout.
Losing weight also lessens the overall stress on joints.
- Complex carbohydrates.
Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Avoid foods such as white bread, cakes, candy, sugar-sweetened beverages.
- Water.
Keep yourself hydrated by drinking water.
An increase in water consumption has been linked to fewer gout attacks.
- Fat.
Cut back on saturated fats from red meats, fatty poultry and high-fat dairy products.
- Proteins.
Add protein to your diet with low-fat or fat-free dairy products, such as low-fat yogurt or skim milk, which are associated with reduced uric acid levels.
