Gout Supplements: Natural Support for Uric Acid Balance
Updated Apr. 08th, 2024
Gout is an inflammation of the joints caused by the crystallization of excess uric acid. The crystals have jagged edges that irritate the tissue and cause pain. Gout is caused by genetic susceptibility, diets that are high in meat and saturated fat, alcohol consumption, fungal overgrowth, obesity, diabetes, stress, psoriasis and some cancers.
Gout attacks are most common in the main joint of the big toe but can also affect the knee, elbow and thumb. Prior to symptoms, there may be high uric acid found in the blood. The symptoms of gout include joint pain, heat, redness and swelling and tend to occur suddenly. There may also be a fever and fatigue. An attack can last a few days to a few weeks and will continue to happen until uric acid levels are normalized.
Conventional treatments may be given to treat some of the acute symptoms or to decrease uric acid levels. To decrease uric acid, allupurinol and colchicine may be prescribed. These medications have side effects such as liver toxicity, skin eruptions and vasculitis. Indomethacin or cortisone are symptomatic treatments that can cause adrenal depletion, confusion and headaches.
Dietary changes can alter uric acid levels by 10-20% which is often enough to stop crystallization. Do not eat rich foods, sugar or white flour products. Do not drink coffee or alcohol. Avoid eating purine-rich foods such as red meat, shellfish, anchovies, sardines, herring, meat gravy, mussels, organ meat, asparagus and yeast products. Other foods that increase uric acid, and should be avoided during acute attacks, are fish, poultry, dried beans, lentils, peas, spinach, cauliflower, oatmeal and mushrooms.
Avoid high doses of niacin and vitamin A. By eating a vegetarian diet, with lots of raw food, the body remains alkaline and prevents uric acid from crystallizing. Drink lots of filtered water to keep the urine dilute.
Eat whole grains, wheat germ, cherries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. These foods contain B vitamins and flavinoids that prevent gout attacks.
Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (use only the type specifically for topical/internal use) is an anti-inflammatory and can be applied topically. Bee venom injections can also help to relieve joint pain. If DMSO is unavailable, the you can use MSM as a substitute; it has a similar inflammation and pain reducing effect.
Great article, thanks. I used to suffer from gout and my health was ruined. Then I ate a few simple foods and my gout was gone.
Hello Sasha,
Thanks for sharing! We love a good natural health success story. Our diet and lifestyle play a key role in our overall health and if your diet can't supply or allow the body to absorb all the necessary nutrients, that's where supplements can help fill the void to support health.
Stay healthy & well!
It seems more and more people are suffering with Gout these days. Thank you for this wealth of information on the causes & cures of this ailment.
Hello Judy,
Happy you enjoyed our article and learning about natural ways to help relieve symptoms of Gout. If you're interested in learning more about the supplements outlined in this article, check out our individual supplement articles too: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/
Stay healthy & well.