What Causes Gout?
Sugar Consumption
Sugar drinks and treats are other risk factors for gout. We want to put a lot of emphasis on this because these days, you can’t leave the supermarket without having some type of processed sugar food in your cart. It’s scary how prevalent sugar is in our society today. What was once a rich man’s disease is now a poor man’s disease too. This is because sugary food is often the cheapest that’s available to the poor.
Recent studies have found that there is indeed a connection between sugar and gout. Fructose, particularly the artificial kind, breaks down and turns into uric acid which can cause painful crystals to build up in the joints.
Also, excessive sugar consumption can lead to weight gain and obesity as fructose turns into fat easily. And as mentioned earlier, being obese means, you have more uric acid and it limits your body’s ability to process it efficiently.
Does this mean you should abandon sugar completely? No. There are still healthy sugars found in fruits that you consume. These are okay for your gout and should be part of a healthy diet. However, artificial sugar is the biggest culprit and should be limited in your diet.
Dehydration
Not drinking enough water can cause a gout flare because it makes uric acid denser. Water not only serves as a great lubricant for your joints, but it also dilutes the uric acid in the blood. It makes it easy for the kidneys to excrete uric acid helping you to avoid those gout attacks.
Dehydration will do your gout no good at all, so make it a point to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. If you find the amount too intimidating, try to spread the intake throughout the day. You’ll know you’re drinking enough water when your urine is pale yellow and odor-free. Meat eaters should pay special attention since it takes seven times as much water for the kidneys to detoxify compared to carbs.
Aside from fighting dehydration, water can help you lose that excess weight. Drink a glass of water before a meal so you feel fuller than you are making you less likely to binge. Also, don’t forget to rehydrate after an intense workout!
People who drink water frequently find that their risk for gout flare decreases compared to those who only drank one glass of water a day.
Diet and Fasting
Following a healthy diet is highly recommended for gout sufferers; however, the wrong kind can lead you straight to the ER due to a painful gout flare. Be careful with the type of diet you are following and don’t fall for trends. It helps to speak with a dietician so they can work on a plan that works with your health goals.
Fasting is one such trend that’s getting increasingly popular. While the practice of fasting does have its benefits such as mental clarity and weight loss, it might pose a risk for those suffering a chronic condition. Gout is considered a chronic condition.
What fasting does is produce ketone bodies and lactic acid which impact the kidneys excretion of uric acid. It also leads to dehydration which can elevate uric acid in the blood.
You are better off following a healthy diet consisting of 80 percent veggies, fruits, legumes, whole grain foods, 10 percent protein, and 10 percent fat. The problem isn’t really that you’re overeating but that you’re eating the wrong kinds of food. It takes a while to adjust to a new gout-friendly diet, but small changes built up over time can do wonders to your health.
Lead Exposure
People who are exposed to lead may be at risk for gout. Dr. Krishnan of Stanford University School of Medicine found an association between the two.
Lead in the blood with a concentration of 80 mcg per deciliter can mean that you have hyperuricemia or gout. A job in mining, smelting, and battery manufacturing puts you at more risk for developing gout. If you are a smoker, you are guaranteed to have high levels of lead in your blood so better quit now.
In order to minimize exposure to lead, it’s important to wear a mask and do the work in a well-ventilated space.
In Conclusion
Figuring out the causes for your gout is half the battle. Once you find out the reasons behind those painful flares, it’s time to apply the appropriate steps to prevent it from happening in the again. We hope this extensive guide helped you figure out the true cause for your gout attacks.
