What Are the Treatments for Gout?

Uric acid is a chemical that appears in the body as a result of a substance called purines. Under normal circumstances, this uric acid gets flushed from the system through the urine. But when it builds up in the body, gout can appear. When this happens, the uric acid pools up at the joints, which can cause pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness. Although there is no complete cure for gout, there are many ways it can be treated.

Elimination

• There are a lot of foods that are high in purine content. Eating these foods can exacerbate the symptoms of gout and they should be avoided. Some examples of these include liver and organ meats, pork, lamb, chicken, anchovies, sardines, lentils and black eyed peas. Anything that is made with meat extracts should also be avoided, such as gravy.

Medications

• There are various drugs that can be used to treat gout. Some of these are over the counter and others are by prescription. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can be bought at a pharmacy and they help to control pain and inflammation. If they do not work effectively, corticosteroid injections can be administered to the affected joints. Also prescription drugs like colchicine, probenecid and allopurinol are often times used.

Yeast

• Another way to treat gout is to eliminate yeast from the diet as it is also high in purines. Brewer's yeast, breads, bagels and anything that has yeast as an ingredient should be avoided. Beer and wine should also be eliminated as they have yeast in them to help with the fermentation process.

Cherries

• Cherries are high in antioxidants and they also have a compound in them called anthocyanins. They are beneficial in fighting gout for a number of reasons. First of all, they help promote collagen in the body, which is essential to healthy connective tissue. Second, they help escort uric acid from the body, and lastly, they help to reduce inflammation. They can be consumed fresh, frozen or in the form of juice.

Fluid Intake

• Water serves many beneficial purposes in the system. It helps keep the body hydrated, it has no calories, it helps metabolize fat and it also lubricates the joints. One other thing it does, which is especially beneficial to gout, is it flushes toxins from the body, which includes uric acid. According to the Institute of Medicine, women should consume 2.2 liters a day and men should consume 3 liters a day.