Natural Remedy for High Uric Acid

High levels of uric acid in the body cause conditions from gout to kidney trouble. Treatment for high uric acid levels can include medications that have side effects and can be costly. Treatment can also include lifestyle changes such as abstaining from alcohol, eating a special diet and maintaining your ideal weight, according to the Mayo Clinic There is also a natural treatment that is effective against high uric acid levels.

The Cause of High Uric Acid

• Inside the body you have what are called purines. Purines are a natural substance contained within cells within the body and within certain plant and animal foods. When cells die through a process of natural regeneration, the purines from the cells need to be broken down. This breakdown of purines forms uric acid in the blood. According to the Mayo Clinic, uric acid is normally dissolved in the blood, passed through the kidneys and out of the body by way of the urine. When uric acid levels are too high, whether you add too much through purines in the diet or your kidneys aren't functioning correctly, crystals can form from the uric acid. These are called urate crystals, and they gather aound joints, causing the swelling and pain associated with gout.

  In the June 2004 issue of Clinical and Experimental Nephrology, researchers from the Department of Pathology at the University of Florida, Gainesville, explain that when urate crystals form in the kidneys, they cause urate crystal kidney stones. This can lead to inflammation of the organs, causing fibrosis, loss of nephrons (small blood filters) and eventually possible kidney failure. Foods with high purine content are anchovies, asparagus, sardines, beef, chicken, cauliflower, oatmeal, crab, mushrooms, turkey and spinach.

The Natural Treatment

• If you like cherries, you will like the natural treatment for high uric acid. A study in the June 2003 Journal of Nutrition conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of California at Davis, reports that consumption of cherry juice will lower uric acid levels in the blood. In the study, women who consumed two servings of tart cherry juice in the mornings showed a decrease in uric acid in the blood as well as increased uric acid content in urine.

  Another study, conducted by St. Mary's University and the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York City, published in the May 2009 issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise states that cherries, especially tart cherries, contain several plant compounds, particularly antioxidants called anthocyanins. These anthocyanins help reduce inflammation, even inflammation that occurs after strenuous exercise, and they also can help reduce muscle damage. The Journal of Nutrition study suggests that cherry juice is an effective treatment for gout, and the conclusion of both of these studies is that cherry juice works on conditions caused by high uric acid by reducing inflammation in the body.

  To use cherry juice as a natural remedy for high uric acid levels, consume one to two servings (approximately 1 1/4 cup) of pure, tart cherry juice first thing in the morning. If you use this treatment for two weeks, and your symptoms do not begin to improve, see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.