Joint discomfort can be painful and disruptive, often affecting mobility and overall quality of life. When flare-ups occur, finding effective ways to manage symptoms and support long-term joint health becomes essential. In addition to dietary and lifestyle changes, many individuals are turning to gout supplements to help support healthy uric acid levels, reduce inflammation, and promote comfort. 

Let's explore natural strategies to help you manage symptoms and feel your best.

What is Gout?

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, high uric acid may be 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.

What Are Gout Supporting Treatments & Supplements?

Conventional Treatments

Conventional treatments may be given to treat some of the acute symptoms or to decrease uric acid levels. To decrease uric acid, allopurinol 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 Support

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.

Gout Supporting Supplements

Eat whole grains, wheat germ, cherries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. These foods contain B vitamins and flavonoids that prevent gout attacks.

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.

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, you can use MSM as a substitute; it has a similar inflammation and pain-reducing effect.