Gout (literally from ancient Greek - foot trap) is a serious disease associated with a disorder of protein metabolism in the human body. In the past, it was also called the disease of the rich or aristocrats, because most often it develops with excess food, abuse of meat products and alcohol. A sedentary lifestyle and frequent cooling of the extremities also contribute to the occurrence of the disease.
Clinically described manifestations of gout are recurrent acute arthritis and the formation of gouty nodules. The human body accumulates uric acid salts - urates, which tend to be deposited in tissues, kidneys and joints in the form of needle-shaped crystals. Unfortunately, the disease cannot be completely cured.
Correctly selected drug therapy and a diet low in purine substances, lipids and protein can significantly lengthen the periods of calm between attacks of acute gouty arthritis.
Diet is the most important component of treatment for this condition. A person diagnosed with gout is forced to completely reconsider his diet. You will have to adhere to the doctor’s recommendations for life, but this will help significantly alleviate the course of the disease and improve the patient’s quality of life.
Some foods should be completely eliminated from your daily diet. You should not eat foods rich in purine bases; you need to significantly reduce your protein intake, both animal and plant origin, to 1 g/1 kg of body weight per day. Products that interfere with the removal of uric acid from the kidneys are prohibited. The use of salt and spices is limited, with the exception of garlic and bay leaves.
The largest amount of purines is contained in the tissues of young animals with high metabolic activity and by-products (liver, kidneys, lungs, brains). For a patient with gout, all types of meat broths and sauces based on them are dangerous, since during cooking, approximately half of the purine substances contained in meat turn into a decoction. You cannot eat pork and veal in any form, jellied meat, smoked deli meats and canned food, and sausages. The consumption of animal fats (lard, lard, lamb fat) should also be kept to a minimum.
Fried, salted, smoked fish, fish broth cause an increase in uric acid levels. All fatty fish are prohibited during an exacerbation. You will have to forget about canned food (sprats, mackerel, sardines, sprat) altogether.
Dry peas, lentils, beans, chickpeas, soybeans and all dishes made from them are on the list of excluded foods, as they are a source of purines. Fresh and pickled green peas should not be eaten.
Gifts of the forest, pickled and canned, and soups based on mushroom broths are not suitable for this diet. Even if we do not take into account the high content of harmful substances, they are difficult to digest and have a bad effect on the gastrointestinal tract, causing fermentation, which is unacceptable for gout.
Due to the high rate of cell division, yeast is a champion in purine content. For this reason, bread kvass can be called a real purine bomb for gout. In the process of preparing natural kvass, two types of fermentation are used at once, yeast and lactic acid. This enhances its negative effects on gout. Store-bought kvass contains too much sugar and its substitutes. You also need to be careful with all types of berry kvass.
Despite the fact that there are practically no purines in alcoholic drinks, alcohol is strictly prohibited due to its ability to retain uric acid.
One of the most active provocateurs of gout exacerbation is beer.
A couple of bottles of beer a day increases the risk of getting sick by two and a half times compared to those who do not drink it at all, and half as often as those who drink wine. Even non-alcoholic beer can cause an attack of acute arthritis. Recent studies have somewhat rehabilitated grape wine in limited quantities, however, of course, it cannot be abused. Stronger alcoholic drinks (vodka, cognac, whiskey) are also forbidden products.
If you do decide to drink alcohol, it is better to opt for one or two glasses of dry white or red wine.
Fortified wine contains large amounts of sugar, so it is best to avoid it even in small quantities. You can drink a little vodka, but you need to wash it down with alkaline mineral water and have a good snack. Drinking any alcohol causes the release of uric acid. Be sure to evaluate all the risks!
Despite a fairly large number of restrictions, it is difficult to remain hungry on a low-purine diet. Almost all vegetables, berries and fruits, and vegetable oil are allowed. Low-fat dairy products are purine-free and can be eaten every day in any form.
Two or three times a week you can include in your diet a small piece of boiled chicken or turkey breast; rabbit meat is allowed. You can use pre-cooked beef. It is important that the animals whose meat is used for food are already quite “old”. The broth is not used in further preparation. During the period of relapse of the disease, any meat and fish will have to be abandoned. Eggs are allowed (up to 1 piece per day) in any cooking.
Despite the fact that red fish contain purines, they are not prohibited for gout. Salmon, salmon, and trout fillets are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which improve fat metabolism, which, in turn, facilitates the excretion of uric acid. River and white sea fish species are also not completely excluded from gout. With fish products you need to do the same as with meat - boil, drain the broth. Other seafood allowed are shrimp, squid and crab meat. You can treat yourself to caviar extremely rarely and in small doses.
The basis of the gout diet is vegetables. You can eat a variety of dishes made from potatoes, carrots, beets, white cabbage, and pumpkin. Cabbage soup, vegetarian soups, cold soups and with the addition of various cereals, such as rice, are allowed. Salads of fresh cucumbers, herbs and tomatoes (no more than three pieces per day), seasoned with vegetable oil, are good to eat in between main meals.
Eggplants are useful for gout in the form of caviar. Along with zucchini and cucumbers, eggplant pulp normalizes intestinal function and relieves swelling, stimulating the excretion of uric acid salts. Fresh (not canned) corn is a good addition to the diet. You can eat not only boiled ears of corn, but also add it to soups, salads, and stews. You should not overuse popcorn, corn sticks or cereal - their manufacturers use a lot of food additives and preservatives. There is nothing left of the beneficial properties of corn in these products.
Garlic, bay leaf, a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice are allowed as seasonings. From greens, you can add parsley, celery, green onions, and dill to dishes.
It is necessary to limit vegetables containing oxalic acid. These include peppers, rhubarb, sorrel, cauliflower, radishes, and spinach.
Almost all fruits, including sour ones, are on the gout “white list”. They can be eaten fresh or baked, in various types of baked goods, or made into jelly and compotes. It is better to choose green apples and pears. Bananas are included in the diet in reasonable quantities, one or two per day, twice a week. It is believed that bananas can reduce the intensity of inflammation in the joints. Pineapples and citrus fruits, when consumed regularly, reduce the rate of formation of uric acid crystals and are a source of vitamin C.
From the extensive list of berries for gout, only raspberries and partially plums are excluded. Due to their calorie content, grapes should be treated with caution. You can eat apricots, peaches, strawberries, gooseberries, cherries and cherries. Cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks and freshly squeezed juices are of great value.
Watermelon and melon have a diuretic effect and remove uric acid from the kidneys well. Melon pulp contains large amounts of potassium and iron. However, you should note that melon, unlike watermelon, is considered a heavy product, so it should be eaten 2 hours before or after the main meal. Watermelon can be consumed in reasonable quantities throughout the season. Unfortunately, melons are contraindicated for diabetics due to their high sugar content.
Buckwheat, rice, oatmeal and other dried grains contain purines. But if you do not feed exclusively on them and do not consume them in exorbitant quantities, then they will not bring harm. Rice contains a lot of potassium, which helps remove excess salt from the body. Buckwheat contains a large amount of B vitamins, which are usually lacking on a low-purine diet.
Milk and low-fat fermented milk products are the main source of protein in the menu of a gout patient. You can eat cottage cheese, milk porridges in various varieties, drink kefir, yogurt and yogurt. It is recommended to limit fatty and spicy cheeses, whole milk and butter.
For a long time it was believed that tea and coffee should not be drunk if you have gout. However, recent studies have shown that caffeine, theophylline and theobromine, related to purine formations, contained in coffee, tea, chocolate and cocoa, do not form uric acid during metabolism.
But coffee may be prohibited for other reasons, and then the question arises: is it possible to drink chicory for gout? The answer is yes, since there are few purines in processed chicory root. All kinds of compotes, freshly squeezed juices, jelly, green and herbal tea are also allowed. Particular attention should be paid to mineral waters with alkali. Your doctor will help you choose the optimal composition of water and the duration of its use.
For uncomplicated gout, honey, marshmallows, marmalade, homemade jam, and marshmallows are allowed. You can treat yourself to dried fruits (except figs and raisins), chocolate is allowed occasionally.
Flour has a low purine content; yeast fermentation processes are completed during baking, so bread can and should be eaten. During exacerbations, it is recommended to limit bread made from wholemeal and rye flour. There is no ban on pasta and various dishes made from it.
Breakfast: Sandwich with butter and cheese, vegetable vinaigrette, weak coffee with milk.
Second breakfast: Rice boiled in milk, baked apple, green or herbal tea.
Lunch: Vegetarian soup (cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots, corn, greens), potatoes with olive oil and garlic dressing, a small piece of boiled chicken breast, berry compote.
Afternoon snack: Two or three pieces of watermelon or melon, or two bananas.
Dinner: Vegetable cutlets, cottage cheese casserole, milk jelly.
Before going to bed, you can drink a glass of kefir.
Don't forget that the main motto of a gout lifestyle is moderation.
It is important not to go to extremes, because any excesses in nutrition are equally dangerous. It is necessary to diversify your menu and drink enough liquid during the day. If all conditions are met, the number of gout attacks will decrease, and periods of remission will be long and calm.
But orthopedist Sergei Bubnovsky claims that a truly effective remedy for joint pain exists! Read more >>
Drinking green tea for gout is beneficial because it helps remove uric acid from the joints through its diuretic effect. In addition to this information, the product also has other wonderful properties for the body, since it contains about 450 useful substances.
Today you can find a huge number of different types of green tea on supermarket shelves. The lowest-grade product is filled with disposable bags, so it is better to refrain from such options. The best varieties are collected in Japan, India or China.
Green tea quenches thirst well both cold in the hot season and warm when body temperature rises, and thanks to its diuretic effect it also accelerates the removal of toxins from the body, which significantly improves overall well-being. It also has a positive effect on digestive processes and is recognized as an excellent tool for weight loss, which is also important for patients suffering from gout.
This drink has only one drawback, which is still of significant importance - it contains purines in considerable quantities.
Green tea and gout are compatible only if you use the drink correctly, since it still contains quite a lot of purines. According to the recommendations, it is better to add milk or lemon to tea. This tactic will help neutralize the purines it contains. The diluted drink retains all its properties and does not harm joints due to gout.
There are a number of rules that help not to aggravate the disease when drinking green tea.
This tea for gout should be consumed 1-2 times a week.
Hibiscus is made from the Sudanese rose plant and has a number of positive properties. It normalizes blood pressure, lowers cholesterol levels in the body, and has a beneficial effect on digestive processes. In addition to the above, it helps remove salts and toxins from the body. It relieves hangovers and cleanses liver cells.
Drinking Hibiscus for gout is useful, but it is better not to abuse it. A sudden release of salts from their depot in the patient’s joints leads to an exacerbation of the disease, accompanied by pain.
Ivan tea helps with gout thanks to its components that prevent the occurrence of inflammatory reactions in the body. It is also able to reduce the intensity of pain, normalize metabolic processes and improve immunity. There are two ways to prepare the drink.
This type of tea should not be consumed in large quantities, as this will provoke a sharp release of salts from the joints and an attack of gout.
Currently, a disease such as gout is not a rare occurrence. Known since ancient times, the “disease of well-being”, according to statistics, most often affects men over 40 and people prone to obesity. The disease manifests itself as acute inflammation in cartilage and joints caused by the deposition of uric acid salts.
Improper synthesis of purines in the body or kidney disease leads to the formation of excess urine (uric acid), which is deposited in the joints and periarticular tissues, causing inflammation and acute pain.
Attacks of gout are similar to symptoms of arthritis. Diseased joints swell, the skin around them turns red, which causes severe pain. The patient's body temperature rises. Despite the fact that the disease is considered quite rare, doctors say that cases of gout are becoming noticeably more frequent. This is due to the growing prosperity and lifestyle of the population. Excessive eating, especially meat, and addiction to alcohol are the best “friends” of gout.
Gout can be accompanied by complications: when uric acid salts combine into conglomerates and form so-called gouty nodes. Urine can cause kidney stones and lead to serious complications such as kidney failure.
Many people are interested in the question: why does gout occur? To understand how the disease occurs and why it is directly related to nutrition, you need to consider in detail how deposits characteristic of gout are formed in the joints. Normally, uric acid is formed in the body during life. The kidneys are responsible for its breakdown and excretion. If the level of uric acid goes through the roof, and this happens after systematically overeating meat or after drinking alcohol, then the kidneys are not able to cope with such a volume of work. The acid crystallizes, forming uric salts (urine). They “wander” throughout the body, trying to find a secluded place with less blood supply.
Cartilage and joints become such ideal places for deposition. When the accumulation of uric acid becomes significant, the immune system recognizes it and gives a signal about a foreign “invader”. Leukocytes enter the battle and die. An inflammatory process inevitably occurs at the site of the “battle.” As a result, the patient feels that the joints are swollen, the surrounding tissues become painful and the temperature rises.
Patients with gout often wonder if they can eat this or that food? If you have gout, you need to exclude animal proteins from your diet, that is, meat, cutlets, kebabs, dumplings, etc. As an alternative source of protein, you can eat seeds, nuts, and tofu. Sunflower seeds can also be an excellent solution when it comes to dessert - sunflower halva can be consumed by patients with gout, as it does not cause the formation of uric acid. Sesame seeds can be an excellent solution for making sauces and dressings. They will not only add a pleasant variety of taste, but will also lower cholesterol levels in the blood and improve digestion.
People with gout need to say no to alcohol. Do not assume that less strong drinks, such as beer and wine, are not prohibited. They are the main catalyst for the disease. There is even an ancient proverb that says that even 1 glass of wine contains gout.
It is worth paying more attention to various medications. For example, aspirin should not be taken if you have gout. There are various popular folk recipes for gout that include aspirin, but they can only be used if it is an ointment or lotion, i.e. externally. Once in the body, aspirin causes a delay in the breakdown of uric acid and creates additional stress on the kidneys.
We often come across questions of this nature - is it possible to smoke if you have gout? The answer is clear - no. You should not smoke at all if you want to maintain overall health, and even more so if you have gout. Nicotine causes vasoconstriction, which worsens already poor nutrition in the joints and accelerates the growth of gouty nodes.
Many people ask the question: “I play sports, doesn’t this aggravate the disease?” Gout is not a contraindication for sports. The exception is the period of exacerbation of the disease. The rest of the time, it is allowed to engage in sports and gymnastics with moderate loads, without causing muscle pain. Exercising too hard can lead to excess uric acid in the body.
Having heard about the miraculous healing properties of this root, many gout patients wonder whether ginger will help with their disease. You can and even need to use ginger for gout. Ginger root is rich in vitamins of all groups and minerals, and its ability to break down fats and cleanse the body of toxins will be an invaluable advantage for gout patients, who are often overweight. In addition, ginger tea is perfectly invigorating and refreshing; it will be an excellent alternative to black tea and coffee, the consumption of which is prohibited for patients with gout.
What foods will help you feel better if you have gout? The best “breakers” of conglomerates from uric salts are:
Constant consumption of tomatoes is very beneficial for gout patients. Tomatoes contain a huge amount of vitamins and can prevent exacerbations of the disease. Chicken eggs can also be an excellent source of protein. Patients with gout need to drink plenty of fluids, preferably natural freshly squeezed tomato and citrus juices and ginger tea with honey.
What foods should be excluded from the menu?
All of these foods contain high amounts of purines and lead to increased levels of uric acid in the body. Patients suffering from gout should avoid high-calorie foods and overeating. It is also worth excluding products with sweeteners and fructose from the menu. Food during the day should be divided into 4-5 meals. The main principle of nutrition is moderation, fractionation, and the content of purines in consumed foods should be minimal. Gourmets find it difficult to maintain such a diet and will have to show willpower. When preparing food, patients with gout need to look for optimal dietary options. For example, when preparing dumplings, you can replace the minced meat with soy meat or herbed tofu. It is not only very tasty, but also healthy: soy helps remove uric acid from the body. When creating a menu, you need to check special tables about the amount of purines in the ingredients.
There are cases when gout occurs for genetic reasons, due to a hormonal metabolic disorder or a malfunction of the kidneys, and a person cannot influence the occurrence of the disease in any way. But basically this disease remains the “disease of kings.” A tendency to constantly overeat, a passion for alcoholic beverages and smoking, a sedentary lifestyle - all this can lead to the rapid development of the disease.
If regular exercise, the absence of bad habits and proper nutrition have become the norm, it means that everything possible has been done to protect yourself from gout.
. An old friend called and puzzled me with the question, what should he drink? The question is not as funny as it seems at first glance. Recently his big toe hurt, he was treated by a surgeon for two weeks, then little by little everything began to return to normal. I recommended that, just in case, he take biochemistry. It turned out that it was not in vain - the level of uric acid is really greatly elevated, which means that the baby has gout and toe disease - the first attack (which is very typical for this disease). I sent him for a consultation to the Institute of Rheumatology, where the diagnosis was confirmed, treatment and diet were prescribed. The main goal of the diet is a complete abstinence from beer, wine and, especially, tea and coffee (well, this is understandable - they contain a high content of purines - theine, caffeine, etc., precursors of uric acid, which, falling out in the form of crystals, affects the joints and internal organs, primarily the kidneys). Well then, what should you drink? Refreshed my knowledge of herbal medicine. It turns out this:
From traditional teas, everything is eliminated - black and red, yellow and white. Everywhere there is a high content of theine (the chemical formula is identical to caffeine in coffee) and its weight composition is greater than in coffee. A small exception is pu-erh (in China, all our “black” teas are considered red and only pu-erh is considered black) - here due to the maximum number of treatments (its technology is unique - collected, fixed, twisted, sun-dried, steamed and pressed, then aged like good cognac for 10-20 years) the theine content decreases, so it can be consumed in small quantities for gout.
Next come the so-called “tea” drinks. The first one I hear is mate, which is also not suitable (by the way, the emphasis is correct on the first syllable). The alkaloid mateine contained there is close in composition to caffeine, but does not cause palpitations, its action is 2-3 times longer than that of caffeine, but these are still purines, precursors of uric acid. And the consumption of hot mate is recognized as “presumably carcinogenic to humans” and is included in the IARC list of group 2A carcinogens. A study conducted at the Montevideo Institute of Oncology confirmed the link between yerba mate consumption and esophageal cancer, previously discovered by scientists in Uruguay. Judging by the results, this relationship is equally strongly influenced by two different mechanisms: on the one hand, this is the carcinogenic effect of the substances that make up mate; and on the other hand, chronic thermal damage to the esophagus as a result of drinking very hot mate.
Kudin is also a kind of mate, only of Chinese origin :). These are the leaves of Holly broadleaf - a subtropical evergreen plant, which, like Paraguayan mate, belongs to the Holly genus. The purine content is slightly lower, but not by much (they may decompose more intensively during manufacturing).
What remains (from what I know) is hibiscus, rooibos (rotbush, rooibos, rooibos), lapacho and herbal teas (chamomile, rosehip, currant, St. John's wort tea, oregano and thyme tea, etc.).
Hibiscus contains no caffeine, but contains oxalic acid, which is not very good for gout (though in moderation). The taste, however, is so hackneyed - they stick it everywhere where it is needed and where it is not needed, that many simply cannot digest it.
Rooibos contains no caffeine at all, very little oxalic acid, and contains more antioxidants than green tea (a powerful stable antioxidant, superoxide dismutase (SOD) - extremely effective at neutralizing free radicals). Useful in the treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, atherosclerosis, allergic epidemics, liver diseases and cataracts. The anti-spasmodic properties of rooibos can relieve colic and stomach cramps, as well as help with skin conditions such as eczema, rashes and acne. Three cups of rooibos have been shown to provide one-third of a person's daily iron requirement. And two cups of the drink fulfill the body’s daily need for vitamin C, which is extremely important for the immune system. Rooibos contains an optimal ratio of sodium and potassium. The body needs to replenish these elements both during physical activity and stress.
From the same legume family, Honeybush (botanical name Cyclopia intermedia) grows on the mountain slopes in the Kedaberg and Langloof areas. It is like a variety of tea. So all the properties are the same.
In South Africa, Rooibos is simmered for 30 minutes, then strained and served hot or cold. We need to insist for at least 10 minutes.
Lapacho is an Inca tea, a drink made from the bark of the Lapacho tecome tree, which grows in the tropical jungles of Argentina, Mexico and Peru. This tree lives up to 700 years, and the recipe for this drink was known to the Incas. Outside of South America, parquet made from lapacho wood is better known than the drink made from its bark. Lapacho contains many vitamins and microelements: iron, potassium, copper, calcium. Lapacho contains 18 different quinones, which are rarely found in a single plant. There is no caffeine. The Incas called lapacho the “tree of life” and used a drink made from its crushed bark to treat almost all diseases: intestinal inflammation, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, anemia, asthma, impotence, hair loss, etc. Today the plant is used in clinics in Brazil to treat patients with leukemia, diseases that reduce immunity. The antitumor effect explains the presence of an antioxidant such as carnasol in lapacho. The presence of tecomine helps reduce blood sugar levels. And thanks to the presence of tecomin in the composition, it helps remove toxins from the body. True, the taste is quite unique: something from a decoction of oak bark with a taste of anise drops and absinthe :). Perhaps lapacho is the only tea-like drink that is boiled for preparation. The preparation method is simple: boil a liter of water and add 3-4 teaspoons of lapacho, then boil for another 5 minutes and let the tea steep for another 15 minutes. The result is a light brown, refreshing drink with a peculiar bitter taste. You can drink it either warm or cold.
Well, herbal teas are almost all characterized by the absence of caffeine. Exceptions are well known. This is common viburnum. Due to the high purine content, viburnum fruits are contraindicated for gout and kidney disease. Due to their high purine content, raspberries are contraindicated for gout and kidney disease. This also includes sweet clover.
Of the plants not recommended for gout, rhubarb is not prescribed to patients with gout and patients suffering from kidney stones with oxalate stones. Sour sorrel contains purine substances and oxalic acid. It is not recommended to use sorrel if salt metabolism is impaired (rheumatism, gout). Tomatoes are distinguished by a high content of purines and calcium salts of oxalic acid. The significant content of purines in legumes (beans, peas) limits their use in the diet of people suffering from gout. Spinach, lettuce, cauliflower, etc. are also contraindicated. honey and watermelons.
Plants that have the ability to remove excess uric acid from the body come to the fore. This category includes birch buds, burdock (root), common heather, Veronica officinalis, madder, tenacious and true bedstraw and some other plants.
In general, the most suitable drink for gout is plain water (still), rooibos, lapacho, herbal teas; for acidic urine - periodic courses of alkaline mineral waters (medium mineralization - Borjomi, Lugansk.)
PS In a word, lord's disease (gout) - from the Greek podagra, which literally means “foot trap” or “leg that has become a victim” - a good reason to switch to a dairy-vegetable diet.
One of the courtiers noted that gout is the only disease that gives a person even more weight in society. Mirabeau immediately chimed in: “Of course! It’s like the cross of St. Louis, given for success with the ladies!”
Gout is a deposit of uric acid crystals in the joints. As a rule, the process occurs in the hands, elbows, knees, but most often in the joints of the big toes. In the initial stages, gout appears on the big toes, and there is a logical explanation for this.
Uric acid is an integral component of blood, but in different proportions. When the amount of uric acid increases, the body cannot quickly utilize it, and gradually it begins to accumulate in different parts of the body. This is easiest to do in the joints of the big toes. In these areas, blood circulation occurs slowly.
Uric acid salts have the shape of crystalline needles. When they are deposited in the joints, people with gout may periodically experience attacks of acute pain in the areas where the salts are deposited.
The pain associated with this disease is truly extremely severe. Typically, a person cannot move during an attack. Such situational deterioration of the condition can be observed throughout life.
In order to prevent the chronic form of the disease, it is important to understand the reason for the increase in the volume of uric acid in the human body.
When preventing and treating gout, initially, the patient should limit the consumption of foods with large amounts of protein.
In other words, it is important to start a special vegetable diet that contains a lot of useful elements and vitamins.
One of the important components of diet and treatment for gout is celery. Regular use improves the binding of uric acid, which leads to its rapid removal from the body.
As a result, after just a few weeks, the symptoms of gout begin to gradually fade away, and then disappear completely.
Celery works faster for gout if you make juice from it. The liquid actively circulates in the body, promoting the elimination of uric acid. It is necessary to achieve a high concentration of celery juice, otherwise the effect will be noticeable later.
If symptoms of gout are suspected, but they have not manifested themselves in full force, it is necessary to engage in disease prevention.
Celery juice is of great help in the treatment of gout, as a preventive measure. This plant has the ability to effectively bind uric acid in the body.
You need to eat celery every day, in this case the level of uric acid will noticeably decrease, and at the same time the risk of developing gout will decrease.
A glass of freshly squeezed celery juice is a concentrated prophylactic remedy.
Gout is a common metabolic disease. This diagnosis imposes serious restrictions on lifestyle and nutrition. The disease often forces patients to give up many pleasures - for example, not eating chocolate or drinking coffee, beer, wine.
When you have gout, your body's metabolism suffers. Uric acid begins to accumulate in the blood, which is easily determined by a biochemical blood test. Sometimes it happens that initially the production of uric acid is not impaired, but due to kidney damage it is not eliminated from the body so quickly.
An increased level of this substance leads to its deposition in tissues in the form of characteristic crystalline compactions - tophi.
Gout also has a destructive effect on the joints, causing the development of an acute inflammatory process followed by degeneration of the joint. Gouty arthritis is usually the first manifestation of this insidious disease.
Another complication of this metabolic disorder is the formation of kidney stones. This is also due to the accumulation of uric acid. Nephrolithiasis can be complicated over time by the development of chronic renal failure, an incurable complication that often leads to death.
An important therapeutic measure for gout is diet and proper drinking regimen.
With gout, purine metabolism is disrupted in the body. These are substances that are found in many foods and drinks. Rich in purines:
Avoiding such foods not only treats gout, but also prevents new attacks. Often, patients manage to maintain remission for a long time without medications, but solely with the help of diet.
What can you drink with this pathology and in what quantity? After all, not all drinks are equally healthy. In case of metabolic disorders, it is necessary to take into account the composition of the product, the presence of purines in it, the effect on the metabolism of uric acid and the condition of the kidneys.
If you have gout, it is advisable to drink more. But in the case of this disease, the right choice of drinks is very important. If you have metabolic disorders, you can drink:
But since gout affects men much more often, the question of the possibility of drinking alcoholic beverages is especially relevant for them. Women are usually more interested in whether it is possible to drink coffee and tea with this pathology.
However, rheumatologists still cannot give a definite answer to these questions.
Previously, doctors were unanimous that drinking coffee and strong black tea for gout is strictly not recommended. These drinks contain large amounts of caffeine, which, according to doctors, provokes exacerbations of gout.
However, their American colleagues are not so categorical. As a result of their research, it was found that attacks of the disease usually occurred in those patients who did not have the habit of drinking tea and coffee regularly or simply abused them.
Doctors have suggested that this situation is developing due to some similarities between caffeine and Allopurinol, a drug for the treatment of gout. They both have the property of removing uric acid. Taking Allopurinol in large doses or in the first days sometimes leads to an exacerbation of the disease. The same thing happens when you abuse coffee or take it irregularly.
If a patient drinks tea or coffee every day throughout his life, then these drinks are unlikely to cause him an attack of illness.
However, this theory has not yet found convincing evidence. And rheumatologists still advise their patients to drink less drinks containing caffeine.
With alcoholic beverages the situation is much more serious. For a long time, rheumatologists could not come to a consensus on what alcohol patients could drink and what should be completely avoided.
You should know that any alcohol-containing drinks, when consumed regularly - even in small quantities - lead to damage to the liver and kidneys. This means that the excretion of uric acid will slow down and its level in the blood will increase. Excess of this substance will lead to progression of the disease over time, frequent exacerbations and poor response to drug therapy.
Alcohol for gout is harmful in principle, and the strength of alcoholic beverages in this case is not decisive. Sometimes drinks with low alcohol content are much more harmful than vodka.
Despite the fact that beer is considered a harmless alcoholic drink, and many people prefer to drink it in hot weather instead of compote, it is strictly prohibited for gout.
It can worsen the course of the disease and cause exacerbation. Gout attacks due to beer abuse are not uncommon, but a pattern. This is due to the high content of purines in the drink.
Many patients believe that the diuretic effect of beer has a beneficial effect on the condition of the kidneys and improves their function. But this is a misconception. Despite the low percentage of alcohol in beer, it is toxic to the body.
For gout, both dark and light varieties of this low-alcohol drink are prohibited. Do not ignore your doctor's recommendations regarding beer. In the case of gout, the ban on its use is quite justified.
For a long time, red wine was allowed for this metabolic disease. Of course, we were talking only about dry varieties and in quantities of no more than 1–2 glasses per day. It was believed that this drink had a beneficial effect on the heart muscle and increased the tone of the body as a whole. Doctors also prescribed drinking either homemade wine or high-quality varieties from a trusted manufacturer.
But today, rheumatologists have revised their recommendations and restrictions. Numerous studies have demonstrated a link between wine consumption and disease progression. Even small amounts of this drink can seriously worsen the patient’s quality of life, causing a gout attack with intense pain.
However, if the patient is not able to give up alcohol completely, he can limit himself to one or two glasses of good wine per week and, if possible, drink it in a diluted form. Women should give up this habit altogether.
Wine, like any other alcohol, is poisonous to the liver and kidneys. One should always remember about its toxic effect on these organs, because it indirectly worsens the course of the disease. And dependence on wine develops as quickly as on strong drinks.
Moreover, some studies have shown that drinking different types of wine causes gout flare-ups even more often than drinking beer. That is why the answer to the question “Can I drink wine?” for most doctors today is obvious.
Vodka has also long been the subject of fierce debate in medicine. Many rheumatologists considered it a relatively harmless drink for gout and argued that it was safe to drink.
Vodka does not contain purines and does not affect the level of uric acid in the body. Some doctors still say that, if you choose from all types of alcohol, then 50 g of vodka is much less harmful than a glass of beer or wine.
But this is only true for one-time, casual use. Most likely, such a violation will indeed not cause any negative consequences for the body and will not provoke an exacerbation of metabolic disorders.
But with regular consumption of vodka, its effect on metabolism is very serious. Vodka is inherently a toxic drink. The alcohol content in it reaches significant numbers, and its destructive effect on the kidneys is obvious.
With prolonged abuse of vodka, uric acid is difficult to remove from the body. It is deposited in all organs and tissues in the form of tophi and stones, destroying joints. In addition, a person’s addiction to alcohol develops very quickly, and in the future he can no longer give up the addiction.
The simultaneous use of gout medications and vodka significantly reduces the effectiveness of the drugs and contributes to the progression of the pathological process. That is why even small doses of such a drink should be prohibited in case of metabolic disorders.
Gout, although it is a common disease and is not always taken seriously by patients, is in fact a dangerous pathological process. Kidney damage goes unnoticed for a long time, unlike arthritis, but causes irreparable harm to the body. If a doctor has established this diagnosis, you need to listen to his recommendations and give up any bad habits - be it drinking coffee, beer, wine or vodka.
Patients diagnosed with gout, in addition to taking medications, must adhere to a drinking regime. If you have gout, you should drink tea with caution. This drink contains excess purines, which are dangerous for this disease. But, if the drink is taken no more than 3 times a day and is not strong, then the body will be saturated with useful substances that are necessary to improve well-being, normalize metabolic processes and immune reactions in gouty arthritis.
The question arises due to the fact that different types of tea contain purines. Purine bases participate in the body's metabolic processes, are responsible for transporting vitamins and delivering energy to cells. Sometimes there is a failure of purine metabolism, which occurs under the influence of genetic disorders or is associated with poor nutrition, which leads to gout. Purines are synthesized by the body and also come from food and drinks, but are not included in the complex of essential nutritional elements.
The end product of purine metabolism is uric acid, which is a natural component of metabolism in the body and is found in tissues and the bloodstream. Normally, trihydroxypurine protects the body from malignant neoplasms and aging. An increase in the level of trihydroxypurine provokes the deposition of urates in cartilage tissues and joint spaces.
Excessive consumption of tea leads to additional intake of purines. During normal metabolism, no deposition of uric acid salts occurs. Their excess is excreted or destroyed by the body. With gout, this possibility is excluded. Therefore, patients should be careful about their diet.
Doctors have different opinions about tea drinks. New data obtained by scientists regarding gout does not prohibit the use of the drink. To quench thirst and strengthen the body, drinking herbal teas is allowed. The main thing is moderation. For patients with gout, phytonaste helps:
Tea contains vitamins, microelements, copper, zinc and calcium.
Before drinking black tea, you should familiarize yourself with some of the preparation features. For consumption, use fresh tea leaves, which are infused for no more than 10 minutes. Do not take the drink immediately after eating. Half an hour should pass from your last meal. Use exclusively warm, because cold provokes the formation of toxins and mucus, and boiling water burns. This drink is not intended to be taken with medications, as this reduces or enhances the effect of the drug on the body.
If you have gouty arthritis, you should drink green tea with lemon or milk, because these products can neutralize the effects of caffeine, and, consequently, the purine bases entering the body. The drink has a diuretic and diaphoretic effect, removes excess moisture, along with which excess uric acid goes away, which is necessary for gout. Perfectly tones, promotes weight loss, rejuvenation, improves the functioning of the heart, vascular system and digestion. For overweight patients, you can drink tea at room temperature, this will burn additional calories.
It is necessary to drink herbal tea from plant materials, because herbs contain useful substances necessary for the complex treatment of gout. Blackberry, currant and lingonberry leaves normalize metabolic processes. Strengthen the body's defenses - viburnum, strawberries, chicory. Horsetail and nettle purify the blood. You can brew herbal teas using one type of plant or in a certain combination.
Fireweed tea (fireweed tea) is very popular for gout. Its peculiarity is that it does not contain purine bases and caffeine. The medicinal herb has the following effects on the body:
Among the herbs, monastery tea is especially useful for gout. It includes:
Among the drinks allowed for gout are freshly squeezed juices, white and rosehip teas, hibiscus, and compote. Among juices for gouty arthritis, preference should be given to grape, cranberry, and orange, provided that the glucose content in the bloodstream is normal. Hibiscus drink is recommended for use for gout. It is prepared from Sudanese rose petals. The plant has a diuretic and choleretic effect, reduces swelling, removes salts and sand from the kidneys.
White tea helps cleanse the body of toxic substances and toxins, has antioxidant and antibacterial effects, stimulates metabolic reactions, and quenches thirst well. Tea drink promotes weight loss. Tea made from rose hips strengthens blood vessels, has a moderate anti-inflammatory effect, and is a source of vitamin C.