Help Relieve Feet From Gout

Gout is a disease that usually afflicts the feet, knees and legs of people who have high levels of uric acid in their bloodstream. The most commonly afflicted body part is the big toe. Gout is a form of acute arthritis usually linked with lack of physical activity and a poor diet. There are medications that will diminish the effects of gout, but adjusting your diet is also essential.

Diet

• Alcohol should be avoided if you have gout. Beer increases your risk of gout by almost 50 percent.
  Stay away from dried beans like lentils and peas, asparagus, oatmeal, spinach, mushrooms, and cauliflower. Skip candy, syrup, soft drinks, fruit preserves, jelly, jam, or anything high in sucrose or fructose corn syrup.
  Your diet should also be low in purines, a compound that forms uric acid. Beef, pork, lamb, meat extracts and gravies should be avoided. "Organ meats" like liver, kidneys or brains, are especially damaging. Also avoid certain seafoods like anchovies, sardines, roe (fish eggs), mussels, scallops, herring, trout, haddock and codfish.

Medications

• To determine the medication that is right for you, talk to your doctor. Some medications improve the body's removal of uric acid and others work to block the production of uric acid. Doctors may prescribe steroids to help control inflammation and pain. Steroids can either be injected directly into the joint or be taken in pill form. But most people take anti-inflammatory drugs for gout. These do not contain steroids, but are over-the-counter options like ibuprofen and naproxen.

Alternatives to Medication

• There are alternatives to medications for treating gout. Vitamin C reduces uric acid in the blood, so choose foods high in vitamin C, or take a supplement. Cherries and cherry juice have been known to relieve symptoms. Other foods that are gout-friendly are cereals, fruits, chocolate, breads, pasta, grains, rice, olives, eggs, cheese and milk products. It's also important to increase your daily intake of water.