Have you ever experienced waking up in the morning with your great toe swollen and sore? and you’re unable to recall stubbing or tripping your foot. Its likely that you’ve developed Gout. We often hear about Gout and how serious it is but most of us are unsure of how it actually starts. Gout is a type of arthritis that happens when there’s a build up of uric acid in your blood. The uric acids will then crystallize and gets deposited in your joints causing the inflammation & swelling.
Although Gout can happen at any joint, your great toe is usually the most commonly affected. A ‘gout attack’ is quite disabling for those who has experienced it & may take days to weeks to resolve.
The build up of uric acid may arise from your kidney’s reduced ability to clear the uric acid or it may be from an overproduction of purines- which we get from our diet!
If you read my previous article about Filipinos unhealthy diet- this is where we get Gout. There’s a few other things that we can do to minimize your risk of gout- maintain a healthy weight, & reduce alcohol, (most specially beer-it contains high levels of purines).
Reduce your purine intake (purines when broken down produces uric acid)- reduce red meat (beef & pork) & seafood! Anchovies, mackerel, trout, sardines shrimps, crabs and herring has high levels of purines. Limit sugary and sweetened foods which can eventually lead to obesity & weight gain. A healthy & balanced diet is the key. Make sure you have enough fruits & vegetables in your daily regime.
If you do experience an attack its better to consult your doctor as there are tablets which can help with the swelling and lower down your uric acid. Still, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.