Boy, getting old is no fun is it? As we age, we have heart problems, diabetes, impotence and many other illnesses to worry about. Another condition gaining prominence is gout, where between 2-5 million people in America suffer from this condition.
Just what is gout?
It is a kind of arthritis that causes sudden swelling and stiffness in the joints; the big toe in particular. This condition affects men mainly and can flare up at any time over an extended period of time
Causes
It is well known that this condition is caused by very high levels of uric acid in the blood (as a result of eating high purine foods) leads to the formation of hard crystals in the joint. However, it is now coming to light that consuming high fructose corn syrup in the form of sodas and other foods, is another culprit.
By cutting your sugar intake and drinking more water to flush out uric acid from your body, you could seriously reduce the likelihood of getting gout.
Some Symptoms
a. Pain and swelling in joints, especially big toe.
b. Nodules on ears, hands and elbows
c. Fever
d. Reddish or purplish skin around the affected joints
Gout Prevention
Exercise helps to normalize insulin levels and hence uric acid. Furthermore, cut the amount of sugar in your diet. Other dietary changes include
e. Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption which can help to reduce the amount of uric acid in your blood
f. Diets high in meat and sea food are high purine foods and will raise uric acid levels in your blood, exactly what you don't want
Some people take prescription drugs like allopurinol and cholchicine to reduce uric acid levels. But these can have long term side effects.
Therefore look to herbal supplements for safe effective relief.
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