Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Joint Pains No More

Joint pains can be really disturbing. Approximately 1 out of 70 UK adults suffer from gout. In the United State, it is estimated to be 840 out of every 100,000 people. The most debilitating aspect of having gout is its inflammatory effect on joints causing pain that has a significant effect on daily living.
Benjamin Franklin once said, "Be temperate in wine, in eating girls, and sloth; or the Gout will seize you and plague you both." There is truth to that. In fact, eating certain foods can exacerbate joint pains. First of all, gout is caused by increased uric acid in the body, which forms deposits in joints and tissues causing inflammation that leads to painful joints with stiffness. The culprit in this exacerbation of pain is food high in purines, which are chemical compounds that form uric acid once metabolized by the body.
One thing that can make a great impact on the lives of those affected with gout is to know which foods are the ones that should be avoided. This includes organ meats, certain fishes, grain, alcohol, legumes and vegetables.
It is best that patients with gout avoid organ meats namely, hearts, kidneys, testicles and brain which contain high purines that cause increased levels of uric acid. The tongue is particularly high in purines as well a mincemeats, broths, meat extracts and bouillons. Other meats include those of goose, duck, partridge, pheasant and turkey
Aside from meat, seafoods can also cause gout pains. These include anchovies, mackerel, herring, sardines, mussels and scallops. Eating fish eggs can also increase uric levels acid as well as haddock and salmon.
Even vegetables, though known to be healthy for most people, can increase uric acid in the body. The main vegetables to be avoided are peas, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, beans, lentils and mushrooms. It is true that these vegetables are nutritious but for those afflicted with gout, it may just cause exacerbation of signs and symptoms.
Grains are also sources of purines. Whole grain cereals, breads, wheat bran and oatmeal wheat germ should be taken in moderation as these foods are sources of purines. These foods are common in the diet so, one should really think on how they can avoid these as much as possible.
What patients with gout should really avoid is alcohol as it contains high levels of purine that can trigger inflammation and stiffness of joints. Beer in particular is high in purines together with wine and hard liquor. In brewing alcohol, yeast is used which contains significant levels of purines. In fact, it is also used in baking.
It is difficult to cut these foods in the diet, however patients with gout should consider modifying their lives to lessen joint pains. The solution to this is moderation. Of course, one cannot live life normally without eating meat, fish, bread and alcohol. However, for these people, eating only a small portion is enough. It may surprise them as to how it can significantly reduce inflamed and painful joints.

No comments:

Post a Comment