Have you been diagnosed with gout? Or has your doctor mentioned that your uric acid levels are high?
Is joint pain keeping you up at night?
Are you no longer able to enjoy the physical activities you used to enjoy due to chronic or recurrent joint pain?
The good news is that with a few simple dietary changes, you can feel more rested and energized again while also resuming the activities that you love to do to keep you healthy and happy. Elevated uric acid levels (the cause of gout) also increase your risk of kidney stones, so addressing the problem now can reduce more debilitating problems down the road.
Last week, one of my long-time patients had a gout flare after a 3-day family reunion. He contacted me a few days after they left because he could not sleep due to the pain; his activities of daily living were also severely limited at work and home. I asked him what changed over the weekend while celebrating in the family festivities and he acknowledged that he had consumed a lot more “goodies” and processed foods whereas usually he tries to eat a whole foods, largely gluten-free, omnivorous diet with emphasis on plant-based foods. While his family was in town he had sugar, processed foods, and/or gluten at every meal. Surprisingly he did not overconsume alcohol which most people assume is a primary gout trigger. We got him back on track within a few days by incorporating the following strategies;
- Avoid sugar in all forms (cane & beet sugar, honey, maple syrup, molasses, agave nectar, coconut sugar, etc); fructose is actually the number one.
- Eliminate all alcohol
- Limit animal foods; especially seafood and organ meat
- Eat fresh or frozen cherries daily
- 4 oz of cherry juice 3-4 times daily
- Increase hydration
- Focus on plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds
- Eat eggs and dairy in moderation
For most of my patients who struggle with gout, these steps can prevent or reverse gout symptoms; sometimes additional supplements are necessary. If you need additional guidance implementing these recommendations or are still suffering from lingering gout symptoms, please contact me today to schedule an appointment to design an individualized protocol for you so that you can live pain free naturally.