Guidelines for Gout

Guidelines for Gout
Gout is one of those ailments that is caused by different factors for different people. What happens is that crystals of Sodium urate form in the connective tissues and /or joint spaces when the uric acid content of the blood gets high enough. Commonly the joint most affected is the big toe. Listed under rheumatic diseases and arthritis, gout can be helped by some of the same protocols for these ailments. The main thing to figure out is what makes your specific form of gout flare up? My roommate’s brother found that collard greens were the culprit. He kept a food journal to discover this. This might be a good idea for you. Another friend isolated shellfish as a guaranteed irritant in this manner. Generally, if one is too acid overall it can trigger an attack of Gout. The first thing to do is get yourself on an anti-inflammatory, alkaline diet. Health food stores sell kits that enable you to test your pH. It is a good idea to pick up a kit and test yourself from time to time.
Diet in general, avoid foods high in purines such as organ meats and sardines/anchovies. Avoid alcohol. Dairy products, eggs and gluten can be culprits, check to see how you process these foods. On the possible irritant list are acidic foods like pickles and vinegar, foods high in oxalic acid like Currants, Rhubarb, Gooseberries, Sorrel. Also listed as suspect are Coffee, Black tea, Sugar and Salt…well that about covers everything you could possible eat doesn’t it? If you keep a log for a month or so, you will be able to tell which foods are best for you. You experiment and try a pure whole grains and veggie diet for a month and slowly add foods back and see how your system reacts. You want to have fresh untreated foods in your diet always.
Water Drink the freshest pure water you can get. The water in the plastic bottles are not considered all that great because of the high temperatures they are subjected to and the stability of the plastic. It is best to distill your own water and keep it in glass or stainless steel.
Emotional health Anger and conflict are the characteristic blocked emotions that lead to arthritic conditions such as Gout. Do an internal inventory and release those unproductive emotions. You can journal these or speak with a professional, release them through exercise or intentional focused actions. Remember to fill the emotional space with positive energy and express it somewhere in your world.
Some helpful herbal and food supplements: Celery Seed Extract and raisins… Pineapple, Turmeric, Avocado, Cherries, Oats, Olives, Licorice root, Nettles, Willow, Meadowsweet, Barberry, Lavender oil. As you read the list see what jumps out at you, look them up and try them. Your body is wise and you will learn to trust it’s wisdom. First you need to learn to listen, so practice that. Your body will work with you if you’ll let it! Honor. Cherish. Nourish. Be whole.