Gout is an excruciatingly painful form of arthritis that is caused by deposits of uric acid crystals in the joints. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, gout affects roughly six million people in the United States.
Identifying your gout triggers is important as it can help you minimize your risk of an attack as well as determine what form of gout treatment is best for you. This might already be familiar to you, but here are some of the most common gout triggers that could be causing your gout pain.
Certain Foods Can Be Gout Triggers
Historically, most people have been preoccupied with foods that contain a high level of purines that can raise blood uric acid as being the primary cause of gout attacks. Different high protein foods like salmon, mussels, anchovies, sardines, liver and spinach are just some of the most common examples.
Eating these foods can be a cause of a gout flare however, in our modern times gout is caused more often by low quality, high glycemic fast foods and processed foods, especially those loaded with high fructose corn syrup and trans fatty acids.
Did You Know Aspirin Can Trigger Gout?
A daily low-dose aspirin is usually prescribed to prevent cardiovascular disease, which from a nutritional therapy standpoint is questionable. It can also drive up the amount of uric acid in your blood. If this drug is prescribed for you by you medical doctor, you shouldn’t skip your daily pill in fear of a gout attack unless advised by your doctor.
In order to prevent uric acid build up, you have to avoid other gout triggers, like high purine foods and allowing yourself to become dehydrated.
Dehydration Is A Sure Way To A Gout Attack
When your body is dehydrated, your kidney’s ability to eliminate the extra uric acid in your body decreases, thus potentially increasing your blood uric concentration.
The fact is, the most common nutritional deficiency of the American population is water and consistently drinking lots of high quality water is the simplest way to prevent future gout attacks and speed the elimination of current gout attacks.
And We All Know, Alcohol Causes Gout
Liquor and especially beer are well known triggers for bringing on a gout attack. These beverages need be avoided as they can make you dehydrated and in the case of beer, loaded with purines.
Wine and especially red wine on the other hand, is not generally associated with gout attacks, so you can enjoy it in moderation. However, some individuals report that wine can be one of their gout triggers, so proceed with caution.
Obesity Is A Big Risk Factor For Gout
Limiting intake of foods that are particularly bad for gout is not enough, you also have to watch your weight.
According to studies, people who are obese are more likely to suffer from gout. If you are carrying extra pounds, it can stimulate an increase in uric acid production and work to block uric acid excretion. To keep uric acid levels under control, maintaining a healthy weight is of fundamental importance.
☆ Bottom-Line: Gout triggers are completely unique to all of us because we are all very biochemically individual. Learn to manage your diet, nutrition, and lifestyle in order to avoid future gout pain.
“I know your pain. Let me help you kill your gout for good! And teach you to advocate for yourself and take ownership of your gout recovery, by showing you how to live the gout-free lifestyle.” Two decades ago, Bert Middleton found himself diagnosed with gout. Like 8.3 million other people in the United States (approximately 4% of the population), he struggled helplessly with the physical, emotional, social, and financial impact that gout left unchecked can have on your life. Prescription drugs were of limited help… And the terrible pain of regular gout attacks left him unable to enjoy even the simplest daily pleasures. His marriage was suffering. His finances were spiraling due to the impact gout had on his ability to work. And maintaining a social life was often nearly impossible. Tophi surgeries left him in terrible pain. And he found himself depressed … and angry … that gout was stealing years of his life.
Until one day, after hundreds of hours of research and self-experimentation, Bert finally had a breakthrough and created a blueprint for a way of living that would prove to be “the answer” to living gout-free for nearly a decade now. Today, Bert and his “Gout Wife” Sharon devote their evenings and weekends to educating other gout sufferers on how to live the gout-free lifestyle. Showing others his 911 Emergency Response Gout Recovery Plan for getting PAINFUL gout attacks under control in as little as 4 hours. And then, how to make daily choices that keep gout under control for GOOD! So you can finally start LIVING again!