Naturopathic Treatment/ Diet
Naturopathic and conventional medicine agree on their recommendations for diet and lifestyle changes in treating gout. The goal of treatment is to reduce hyperuricemia by avoiding uric acid-forming foods and beverages and to reduce inflammation through nutrition and supplements.
It should be noted that the primary drug used to treat gout, colchicine, has no direct effect on uric acid levels; rather it works by reducing inflammation in the affected area. Colchicine is also associated with several very serious side effects (e.g., bone marrow depression, hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea). Many people are unable to tolerate this drug.
Nutrition
- Achieve and maintain an ideal body weight.
- Eat fresh, unrefined, and unprocessed foods. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soy, beans, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, and halibut).
- Eat unsweetened cherries (canned, fresh, or frozen). Cherries lower uric acid levels and can prevent gout attack. Blueberries, blackberries, and other deeply pigmented berries are also helpful.
- Eliminate purine-containing foods, such as organ meats, shellfish, brewers yeast (beer), bakers yeast (baked goods and bread), anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel.
- Avoid alcohol, animal fats, red meat, poultry, sugar, dairy products, refined foods, fried foods, junk foods, and caffeine.
- Drink 50% of body weight in ounces of water daily (e.g., a 150 lb person would drink 75 oz of water).
Supplements
- Quercetin—Take 200 to 400 mg daily between meals. Quercetin inhibits uric acid production.
- Bromelain—Take 200 to 400 mg daily between meals. This enzyme found in pineapples is anti-inflammatory. For best results, take with quercetin.
- Vitamin E—Take 400 IUs daily.
- Flaxseed oil—Take 1 tbs daily.
High doses of vitamin C and niacin (vitamin B-3) should be avoided since both may increase uric acid levels.
Podiatrist-developed and -monitored.
Original Date of Publication: 01 Jan 2000
Reviewed by: John J. Swierzewski, D.P.M., Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 15 May 2007
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