Dr. Heiks is a board certified Family Medicine doctor and lives in Bluffton, Ohio.
Dear Dr. Heiks: My husband has gout but doesn’t want to take anything for it. Is there anything natural he can try?
Reader from Bluffton, Ohio
Dear Reader: When I think of gout, needles come to mind. An acute gout attack is the equivalent of needles poking around in the joint, oftentimes the large toe. Understandably, this will result in a lot of pain and swelling.
Gout crystals even have the appearance of needles under the microscope. They look like they hurt. So, it behooves those who have gout to do what they can to avoid attacks.
An acute flare of gout is usually treated with the NSAID type of medications, colchicine, or in some cases steroids. If the flares are frequent enough, doctors may prescribe daily medication to reduce the number of attacks.
Gout affects the joints, but can affect the kidneys and can even cause lesions in the soft tissues of the skin (called tophi). It has a strong genetic component, but like most diseases can be modified by lifestyle measures.
Imagine a fat king eating meat and several of gout’s risk factors come to mind. Gout affects men more than women, often strikes in middle age, and is associated with feasting on organ meats, seafood and beer.
Thankfully, there are many preventive approaches to take.
First, take a good look at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eat less meat (especially organ meats), less seafood, limit beer, fructose and soda. Choosing an anti-inflammatory diet high in fruits and vegetables is a good place to start. Also, stay hydrated (with water) throughout the day.
Second, beware of high doses of supplemental vitamin C and niacin, which can increase uric acid levels. Dietary sources are not a problem.
Third, some medications can be offenders. Most commonly this includes a diuretic blood pressure medication (like hydrochlorothiazide) or low dose aspirin.
Fourth, add one or two cups of tart cherries, raspberries, blackberries, red and purple grapes or strawberries to the diet. These foods can reduce inflammation, helping to prevent attacks.
Fifth, increase consumption of anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids such as fish oils, flaxseed oil, walnuts, ground flaxseed, and leafy green vegetables.
Finally, in some cases, consider using bromelain (a protelytic enzyme from pineapples) and high dose folic acid. The food equivalent of bromelain is six ounces of raw pineapple three times per day.
Gout is important to get under control. Thankfully, taking simple lifestyle measures can have an impact.
This column provides general health information and is not specific advice intended for any particular individual(s). It is not a professional medical opinion or a diagnosis. Always consult your personal health care provider about your concerns. No ongoing relationship of any sort (including but not limited to any form of professional relationship) is implied or offered by Dr. Heiks to people submitting questions.
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