Treating Gout With an Alkaline Diet

Gout is a form of arthritis and is often extremely painful during flare-ups. Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the body. The buildup collects in the joints and forms small crystals. The presence of the acid and the crystals cause inflammation. The result is intense joint pain, particularly in the big toe. The area may feel warm to the touch and swollen and the pain may be worse at night.

Although there is no cure for gout, it is a completely manageable condition. Many take a prescribed medicine that can reduce the inflammation and ease the pain. Between flare-ups of pain, a different medicine is used to help reduce the amount of uric acid in the blood and ward away future attacks.

In addition to medicine, gout may be helped by following a diet consisting of mainly alkaline foods. These foods can help balance the body's pH levels and neutralize the excess acid. This will prevent the uric acid from building up and crystallizing in the joints. Alkaline foods can also combat the effects of eating the occasional acidic food that increase the production of uric acid.

Almost all vegetables and many fruits are alkaline. Legumes, nuts and tubers are also options for an alkaline diet. Foods to avoid include red meat, fish and sweetbreads. The following foods are alkaline and can help reduce uric acid.

Fruits - Banana, berries, melons, grapes, pineapple, peach, papaya, apples, cherries, dates,pears and mango.

Vegetables - Parsley, broccoli, kelp, carrots, potatoes, celery, pumpkin, cabbage, radish, lettuce, kale and beet

Others - Cayenne pepper, cinnamon, ginger, almonds, fruit juice, curry and mustard.

As an added benefit, an alkaline diet consists of foods that are healthy and low in fat. Eating these foods can aid in weight loss, digestive health, maintaining energy, reducing blood pressure and keeping bones strong. Making an effort to include these foods will result in overall better health and well-being.

Many of the foods that are on the food pyramid are highly acidic. Because of this, the common American diet is full of foods that increase acid. Those with gout need to monitor the kinds of foods they eat. Adjusting the diet so that it comprised of mainly alkaline foods may take some self-discipline. In the end, it is worth it when painful flare-ups are a thing of the past.

Alkaline foods can be used to reduce the effects of uric acid as well as the time between painful gout flare-ups. However, they will generally not help during the actual flare-up. In times of incapacitating pain, individuals need to seek immediate care from a medical professional. The doctor can prescribe pain and anti-inflammatory medicine to help relieve joint pain.