“Drink, son, carrot juice, you will be slim and tall!” Soviet advertising from the sixties promised exceptional health benefits to anyone who drank the juice.
Until now, little has changed: advertising of juices, lemonades and other non-alcoholic drinks has become an integral part of the daily information flow. However, are such drinks really as harmless as their manufacturers promise? It’s worth trying to look at them from a medical point of view, namely from the point of view of the effect of sugar on gout
So harmful, but so tasty: sugar is gout’s friend!
People love sweet things. More likely, not even so: People adore sweet things. Drinks, sweets, desserts, and with the development of the modern food industry, sugar began to be added to almost all products. Many, if not all, have heard about the consequences of sugar abuse such as excess weight and diabetes. They are talked about in all medical and not only medical programs.
However, modern research published recently in the medical journal Journal of the American Medical Association clearly indicates a connection between increased sugar consumption and the development of such an unpleasant and often painful disease as gout.
Gout is a deposit of urate or uric acid crystals in the body, as a result of which acute attacks of arthritis occur again and again and the formation of so-called tophi - gouty nodes. In addition, gout severely affects the kidneys and, as recent research confirms, the blood vessels.
According to statistics in the Journal, people who drink one sugar-sweetened beverage daily have a 74% higher risk of developing gout than people who drink such drinks occasionally. For those who drink more than one serving of such drinks per day, the risk rises to 97%. In addition, the risk of getting fatty liver disease is growing.
Sugar and uric acid formation
So, is it possible to have sugar for gout ? Uric acid is formed in the human body as a result of the breakdown of purines, substances contained in offal, peas and lentils. Sugar does not directly lead to the formation of uric acid, but it prevents its removal from the body, causing it to accumulate above any norm, which is why gout often develops in diabetes.
With the help of a certain enzyme, allantoin, animals are able to break down uric acid, after which it is easily excreted. Hominids (apes) and humans lost this enzyme during evolution. Their bodies get rid of uric acid through urine (75%) and feces (25%).
As uric acid levels rise, so does the risk of various diseases, primarily gout and kidney disease. Tiny crystals form in the blood, which with their sharp edges scratch the delicate endothelium - the inner surface of the blood vessels. This, in turn, creates favorable conditions for the formation of deposits of blood lipids - the so-called cholesterol plaques.
While the level of uric acid is low, it remains liquid and is relatively easily excreted, mainly in the urine. But as its concentration increases, it begins to crystallize, becoming a risk factor. How this happens is clear from a school experiment on creating a supersaturated solution. If you dissolve salt or sugar in water, they become invisible. But as the liquid becomes saturated with them, they stop dissolving. When a solution becomes supersaturated, the salt or sugar no longer dissolves but remains crystalline. The same thing happens in the circulatory system.
Monkeys, by the way, do not get gout. Their diet is too healthy. Scientists also noticed that less civilized peoples, such as New Zealand aborigines, also do not suffer from gout. However, changes in diet and the consumption of modern, industrially produced foods are leading to a very rapid spread of gout and other typically civilized diseases.
By reducing the amount of sugar you consume, you can significantly reduce your risk of gout. Other organs will also be grateful for such “innovations” in the diet. It is worth reducing or completely abandoning the consumption of the following drinks and foods:
It is desirable that the acid-base balance in the body tends to be alkaline rather than acidic. This can be achieved by consuming a lot of vegetables, raw and cooked, as well as a large amount of liquid - unsweetened, of course.
Vegetables contain no less vitamins, microelements and fiber than fruits, but significantly less fructose. Eat more vegetables!
About the diet for gout
As you know, diabetes requires a special diet. But with diabetes, which is burdened by a disease such as gout, a special diet is simply necessary, including only specific chocolate . This is explained by the fact that with gout it is necessary not only to maintain optimal metabolic functioning, but also to remember about the functioning of the joints and many other nuances that are accompanied by type 1 and type 2 diabetes. What kind of diet is this and what are its nuances?
Not only for diabetes, but also for gout, adherence to a proper diet is a prerequisite. You need to eat food regularly - at least four times a day, it is best to do this at the same time of the day. In addition, the diet does not allow overeating and starvation, because this can cause a new attack and significantly worsen the diabetic's condition. Those who are faced with gout need to deal with excess body index, but a sudden decrease in it can also be harmful; the most beneficial will be foods that lower sugar .
The diet introduced for gout and diabetes must include a sufficiently large amount of liquid:
This can be not only mineral water, but also compotes, fruit drinks or weak black or green tea. A decoction made from rose hips will be extremely useful. It is better to use it in between meals for gout and diabetes.
What kind of meat is good for gout?
For a better understanding of what the diet is, you should outline a list of those foods that are prohibited for consumption, not forgetting the nuances when eating grapefruit . First of all, restrictions should apply to meat-type products. Thus, a diabetic whose condition is aggravated by gout is simply obliged to refuse broths made from meat, fish, mushrooms and eggs . Also, for gout and diabetes of any type, it is unacceptable to consume meat from young animals, offal (liver, kidneys, lungs), smoked meats, sauces and animal fats.
The consumption of even minimal quantities of salted and fried fish, canned fish and caviar is excluded. In case of any exacerbation, fatty fish in any form should be excluded.
If you follow such a diet for gout, you should completely stop eating all types of legumes.
We are talking about lentils, peas, beans, beans and soybeans. Also undesirable are various spices, including pepper, horseradish and mustard. Thus, the diet completely excludes any products that are even slightly different from dietary ones and have a spicy or simply harsh taste. After all, this can negatively affect the health of people with diabetes, which, moreover, is burdened by gout.
It is strongly recommended not to drink any alcohol, even if we are talking about such a weak variety as beer. Experts do not recommend resorting to strong tea, coffee and even cocoa. Use excluded:
About cheese prohibited for gout
Among other things, cheeses with a salty and spicy taste remain prohibited. The list of those dishes and products that are acceptable to eat with diabetes is much longer. These products should significantly alleviate the patient's condition with gout. Of course, this will only happen if the diet is followed strictly enough.
The most correct option in the case of gout, aggravated by diabetes, would be a diet with a vegetarian bias. We are talking about all kinds of vegetable and milk soups, fermented milk products and fruit-based decoctions.
Of the varieties of meat, the diet should include, of course, those that are dietary type meat. We are talking about chicken, turkey, rabbit. Experts allow the use of chicken eggs, boiled fish, squid and shrimp for gout and diabetes.
If you follow a diet, low-fat cottage cheese and dishes prepared from it, as well as varieties of low-fat cheese, will be extremely useful. Experts advise eating porridge from a variety of cereals and pasta products. Porridge must be cooked with diluted milk in order for the diet to be fully followed. So-called whole milk must be drunk with extreme caution.
Almost all varieties of vegetables are recommended: from white cabbage and carrots to potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and eggplant. At the same time, it would be much more correct to limit the consumption of cauliflower, asparagus, spinach, rhubarb, celery, peppers and radishes.
Of course, greens should be considered useful, but green onions and parsley are best eaten in small quantities for diabetes and, most importantly, for gout.
What fruits can you eat for gout?
The following fruits are extremely beneficial:
In addition, the diet allows and encourages the consumption of various types of berries, all types of nuts and seeds.
Proper nutrition in case of gout involves limited use of salt and all its varieties.
The diet for this disease allows the consumption of the following drinks, namely: green tea, tea with lemon, milk and chicory. Also, as noted earlier, decoctions of rose hips, based on wheat bran, and fruit juices would be desirable. Juices from berries, vegetables, as well as fruit drinks, kvass and compotes will be no less useful. Fruit drinks made from lingonberries and cranberries should be considered especially valuable. Juice made from cucumbers has a positive effect on removing excess purines from the body. It is recommended to drink no more than one glass per day, as well as so-called alkaline waters of mineral origin, which are minimally mineralized.
For gout, as well as diabetes, it is more than acceptable to eat bread, both white and black. It is best to use vegetable oil. You should definitely resort to olive and flaxseed. Restrictions apply to butter of creamy origin. Next, you need to talk about an approximate menu for every day, which should be followed in this case.
About the ideal breakfast in case of gout
So, the role of a properly designed menu for diabetes, as well as for gout, is beyond any doubt. After all, it makes it possible to maintain ideal health, take care of optimal metabolism and much more that is necessary for gout. Thus, diet is truly important in this situation.
So, the ideal breakfast includes a vegetable salad with the addition of vegetable oil, a soft-boiled egg, carrot pudding using apple and millet, as well as unsweetened and weak tea.
Next, namely during the second breakfast, you should consume a special decoction, which was prepared from rose hips. This is followed by lunch, during which you need to eat:
A small amount of fresh apples is ideal as an afternoon snack, and then, for dinner, you should eat baked cheesecakes, cabbage rolls stuffed with vegetables and rice, as well as tea.
An excellent way to end the day if you have gout, which is aggravated by diabetes, is to use a decoction of wheat bran.
They will help improve all digestive processes, making the gastrointestinal tract work much better. All this is necessary in the presented situation when it comes to maintaining health.
The diet presented here and all its principles, in particular what is allowed and what is not, must be followed. This should be considered the only possible way to maintain health and improve it with gout, which tends to develop quite quickly without a qualified approach. Thus, a diet in the case of diabetes and gout is necessary, and it must be followed strictly to achieve 100% results.
Gout, like diabetes, occurs due to metabolic disorders in the body. The simultaneous development of diseases is quite common. Proper nutrition will help control the course of diseases and prevent the development of complications. The diet for gout and diabetes consists of foods with a low glycemic index (GI) and minimal purine content. Nutrition should control blood sugar levels and maintain optimal metabolism and joint function.
Gout occurs due to excessive amounts of uric acid in the body, which accumulates due to impaired metabolism. The patient's diet should include foods with a minimum amount of purines. This substance is transformed during metabolism into uric acid and can accumulate in the joints, complicating the course of gout.
If you do not reduce the intake of purines into the body in time, you may encounter joint deformation and severe pain, which is difficult to eliminate. A special diet helps control the disease. The diet should take into account the characteristics of two diseases at once, and not treat one and complicate the second.
Diet rules for gout and diabetes:
A diet for gout and diabetes should prevent blood sugar from rising to critical levels and at the same time reduce the amount of uric acid in the body. A diet based on vegetarian principles is good, but less strict. Diabetics with gout are allowed to occasionally eat certain types of meat.
A diet for gout and diabetes may include lean meats: chicken, rabbit, turkey. It is recommended to eat almost all types of vegetables, limiting the consumption of asparagus, spinach, cauliflower, rhubarb, radishes, peppers and celery. It is useful to eat cucumbers and juice from them, as they remove purines from the body, thereby easing gout. You are allowed to drink no more than 1 glass per day.
A diabetic's diet for gout should include fermented milk products with a low fat content. It is recommended to eat low-fat cottage cheese, cheeses, kefir, and sour cream. Porridges from various cereals are prepared using diluted milk. It is allowed to include eggs, squid, shrimp and boiled fish in the diet.
Some foods help speed up the removal of uric acid from the body. They contain a large amount of fiber and pectin, which rids the body of bad cholesterol. It is recommended to eat oatmeal, beets, carrots, cucumbers and citrus fruits every day.
It is recommended to consume foods that contain anthocyanins. They prevent uric acid from crystallizing and depositing in the joints. These include:
Foods containing Omega-3 will help reduce cholesterol and uric acid. These include:
For gout and diabetes, eating bread is allowed. Vegetable oil is preferred, especially flaxseed and olive oil. Among the drinks it is recommended to include in the diet:
For gout and diabetes, it is necessary to eat, excluding foods that can harm the body. The patient should avoid alcoholic beverages. Dessert wine and beer double the risk of developing gout. In addition, alcohol leads to increased blood sugar levels, which is unacceptable if you have diabetes. Carbonated sweet drinks and concentrated fruit juices that contain large amounts of glucose are prohibited.
Diabetics suffering from gout should not eat fatty meats and fish. The consumption of meat from young animals and offal (liver, lungs, kidneys) is prohibited. Lean meats are allowed to be eaten no more than twice a week, but it is better to steam or boil them.
Prohibited for use:
Dietary restrictions for gout and diabetes do not make food monotonous and tasteless. The list of allowed foods is quite large, so you can choose not only healthy, but also tasty food. The patient's menu may look like this:
Another menu example:
Proper nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of gout in diabetics. Both diseases have their own characteristics that must be taken into account when creating a diet. Foods that are approved for consumption help maintain normal blood sugar levels and reduce the amount of uric acid in the body. By adhering to the basics of proper nutrition, you can control the course of both diseases and prevent the development of complications. The video below will tell you more about gout and diet for patients with this disease.
SALAD OF FRESH CUCUMBERS AND LEAF SALAD WITH SOUR CREAM
Ingredients: cucumbers 80 g, salad 60 g, sour cream 30 g, lemon juice and sugar to taste.
Wash the cucumbers, peel them, sort the salad, wash them. Chop the prepared vegetables, mix, season with sour cream, lemon juice or citric acid, and sugar. Place in a heap in a salad bowl.
BEET AND APPLE SALAD WITH SOUR CREAM
Ingredients: beets 80 g, apples 60 g, sugar 7 g, sour cream 25 g, citric acid to taste.
Wash the beets, cook, cool, and chop into strips. Peel the apples, remove the core, chop, combine with beets, season with citric acid, sugar, add half the sour cream. Place in a heap in a salad bowl, garnish with apple slices and pour over the remaining sour cream.
RAW CARROTS AND APPLES SALAD WITH SOUR CREAM
Products: carrots 80 g, apples 70 g, sour cream 25 g, sugar 7 g.
Wash the carrots, peel them, grate them on a fine grater. Peel the apples, remove the core, grate or cut into strips. Mix carrots and apples, add sugar, half the sour cream, mix, put in a heap in a salad bowl and pour over the remaining sour cream.
VEGETABLE SALAD WITH MEAT AND VEGETABLE OIL
Products: meat 60 g, fresh cucumbers 50 g, potatoes 60 g, canned green peas 40 g, 1/4 egg, apples 30 g, vegetable oil 25 g.
Cut boiled peeled potatoes and boiled meat into small slices, add canned green peas, peeled and chopped apples, chopped fresh cucumbers, season with vegetable oil, mix. Hard boil the egg and chop finely. Place the vegetables in a heap in a salad bowl, decorate with slices of meat, fresh cucumbers, apples, and sprinkle with chopped egg on top.
VINAIGRETTE WITH VEGETABLE OIL
Products: potatoes 50 g, carrots 40 g, beets 40 g, fresh cucumbers 40 g, apples 30 g, leaf lettuce 20 g, 1/4 egg, vegetable oil 20 g.
Boil potatoes, beets, carrots separately, cool, cut into small cubes. Wash, peel and finely chop apples, lettuce, fresh cucumbers. Finely chop the hard-boiled egg. Mix vegetables with chopped egg, season with vegetable oil. Place the vinaigrette in a heap in a salad bowl and garnish with lettuce leaves.
FRESH CUCUMBER SALAD
Products: fresh cucumbers 100 g, sour cream 10 g.
Cut the prepared cucumbers into thin slices, lightly salt them and put sour cream in them.
FRESH TOMATO SALAD
Ingredients: fresh tomatoes 100 g, sour cream 10 g.
Cut the prepared tomatoes into thin slices, lightly salt and add sour cream. You can make a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers together.
CARROT AND GREEN PEAS SALAD
Ingredients: 110 g carrots, 250 g canned green peas, 10 g parsley, 30 g sour cream.
Grate the carrots on a fine grater, add peas, finely chopped parsley, and season the salad with sour cream.
SALAD OF CARROTS, APPLES AND CUCUMBERS WITH SOUR CREAM
Ingredients: 3 small carrots, 2 fresh cucumbers, 2 apples, 40 g of lettuce, 100 g of tomatoes, 80 g of sour cream, lemon juice, sugar.
Cut carrots, cucumbers and cored apples into thin strips, add finely chopped lettuce leaves. Mix everything, season with sour cream, adding lemon juice, salt and sugar to taste. Garnish the salad with sliced tomatoes.
CARROT AND BLACKCURRANT SALAD
Products: carrots 90 g, black currants 40 g, sour cream 15 g, sugar 7 g.
Wash the carrots, peel them, grate them on a coarse grater. Wash the blackcurrants, remove the inflorescences, mash a little with a wooden spoon, combine with carrots, add sour cream, sugar and mix carefully.
BEET AND PRUNE SALAD
Ingredients: beets 80 g, prunes 40 g, sugar 5 g, 1/2 hard-boiled egg, peeled walnuts 10 g, sour cream 15 g.
Boil the beets, peel and grate. Wash the prunes, cover with hot water for 15 minutes, remove the pits and finely chop. Finely chop the egg, grind the walnut kernels well. Mix everything thoroughly.
POTATO SALAD WITH FRESH VEGETABLES
Ingredients: 400 g potatoes, 1 fresh cucumber, 1 carrot, 1 tomato, 100 g sour cream sauce, greens.
Boil potatoes, cut into cubes, wash cucumbers and finely chop, grate raw carrots, finely chop tomatoes, mix everything, pour in sour cream sauce, garnish with parsley.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SALAD
Ingredients: 2 medium apples, 1 fresh cucumber, 1 raw carrot, 50 g of lettuce, 50 g of sour cream, a little lemon juice, parsley.
Cut apples, cucumbers, carrots into strips, cut some of the salad greens into strips, mix everything, add lemon juice, lightly salt, season with sour cream, sprinkle with finely chopped parsley.
CARROT AND COOK SALAD
Ingredients: 1 carrot, 200 g of cottage cheese, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons of sour cream.
Grate the carrots on a fine grater, grind thoroughly with cottage cheese, sugar and sour cream.
Tests for gout can determine the increased level of uric acid in the patient’s body. Crystals are deposited in joints and many internal organs, damaging them and causing pathological functional changes.
Diagnosis of the disease is carried out by a specialist and includes laboratory tests in the form of a blood test, biochemical determination of indicators inherent in gout in the legs, studying the amount of uric acid, microscopy of synovial fluid.
Diagnosis of gout allows you to determine the level of urate salts in the renal pelvis, the amount of protein, casts, and red blood cells in a urine test. A general clinical blood test is prescribed by a doctor during an acute attack of the disease, and biochemical indicators indicate the presence of fibrin, stem acids, haptoglobin, and urea in the patient’s blood serum.
Patients donate not only urine and blood, but also undergo an X-ray examination to determine the pathology of gouty arthritis. X-ray signs indicate the age of the inflammatory process.
Synovial fluid is taken from the joint capsule to determine sodium urate crystals. To make a diagnosis, the doctor determines the composition of the contents of the tophi.
To take the tests, you need to do a little preliminary preparation. You should not engage in intense training or heavy physical work on the eve of the study; smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited.
The patient will have to temporarily stop taking medications. For blood biochemistry, 5-10 ml of fluid from the cubital vein is donated. Tests are taken in the morning; on the eve of the test, stressful situations must be avoided.
The results are interpreted by a doctor. The urea rate is up to 8.7 mmol/l. Gout is characterized by an increase in its level, which indicates impaired renal function, followed by the development of renal failure. Creatinine normally reaches a value of 115 mmol/l. Its low level is characteristic of kidney pathology and is a specific indicator of the disease.
Uric acids appear in large quantities during the development of urate stones in the kidneys. Gout is accompanied by additional pathology of many organs, therefore a biochemical blood test establishes:
Uric acid causes serious changes in metabolism, causing the development of gout. An acute attack of the disease is accompanied by a change in the number of neutrophils, which are an indicator of the development of a chronic inflammatory process. Normally, their number in the general analysis is 45-70% of all leukocytes, and during an acute attack, activation of neutrophils is observed.
The leukocyte formula shifts to the left, but its change depends on the age characteristics of the patient. When the formula shifts to the left during an acute attack, the number of mature neutrophils increases and young myelocytes appear. Neutrophils are closely related to the increase in the total number of leukocytes in the patient’s blood.
In the case of an acute process, the number of lymphocytes in the blood decreases. Lymphocytes form the immune status of the patient, regulate and coordinate the work of the entire immune complex, releasing special protein regulators - cytokines.
With the concomitant development of rheumatoid arthritis, the patient's number of monocytes in the blood increases.
The study of the biological fluid of the patient’s body is a highly informative process and is mandatory for a patient suffering from gout. The analysis helps to adjust the prescribed treatment and determine:
The presence of chemical indicators is taken into account:
Normally, the color of urine is straw-yellow, the specific gravity is 1010-1022 g/l. In the event of renal failure, the relative density of urine decreases to less than 1010 g/l.
The reaction of urine is studied: the normal pH is 5.5-7.0. An increase in the alkaline reaction to pH>7 is observed with kidney disease in the late stages of gout development.
Normally, there are no nitrites in the urine; their formation occurs as a result of exposure to bacteria, when urine stagnates in the detrusor. An increase in nitrates is characteristic of asymptomatic gout.
The norm of leukocytes in urine analysis is 0-3 in the field of view, and an increase in their number is associated with the development of the inflammatory process and the formation of stones in the ureter. Uric acid and urates are present in acidic urine and accompany the development of the acute phase of gout.
The procedure is widely used to diagnose the disease. The examination includes fluoroscopy of the joints of the hands and feet. In modern medicine, diagnosing the disease using x-rays allows us to determine the condition of tophi and destroyed areas of damaged bones.
Diagnosis of gout on the big toe using x-rays reveals damage to the cartilage and bone tissue. In the image, the doctor can see tophi on the hands that form in the chronic phase of the disease.
If the patient is prescribed CT and MRI, the feasibility of conducting advanced methods of examining tophi should be discussed with the doctor.
During the study, the presence of defects in several layers of bones and an increase in the shadow of the joint are observed. In the photograph, the defect in the bone on which the affected joint rests is 5 mm in diameter.
Synovial fluid in its chemical composition resembles blood plasma, but contains a special substance - hyaluronic acid. Normally, the composition of biological fluid includes cells such as:
The cholesterol content in the liquid is 3.8±0.4 mmol/l.
The diagnosis of gout is confirmed by studying changes in the synovial structure. The method is quite informative and accessible for laboratory use. The study is carried out by performing a puncture of the joint cavity. Anesthesia is not used during the intervention, since novocaine negatively affects the chromatin contained in the cell nucleus.
A further study of the liquid is carried out under a microscope and, on the recommendation of a doctor, a bacteriological and bacterioscopic analysis of the contents of the joint capsule is prescribed. Set parameters:
Synovial fluid may be cloudy and yellow-green in color. With reduced viscosity, it flows in a stream from the tip of the needle. The normal pH of the liquid is 7.3-7.6.
Red blood cells, destroyed cells, neutrophils, and leukocytes are found in the contents of the effusion. The presence of phagocytes indicates activation of the inflammatory process in gout.
To determine the degree of inflammation, a synoviocytogram is performed.
The process occurs with an increased number of neutrophils to 50-93%, a decrease in the content of lymphocytes to 0-8%. In the chronic course of the disease, the cytogram remains within normal limits. Crystals of sodium urate and calcium phosphate located inside the cells are installed.
Effective methods for studying the biological environments of the patient’s body are an informative document for diagnosing gout.
Gout is a complex pathological process localized in the joints. It requires long-term, and most importantly, proper treatment. Without a thorough diagnosis, it is impossible to accurately determine the cause of the disease. Therefore, you should clearly understand what tests will help determine that a person has gout.
The main factor in the progression of the disease is an increase in the concentration of uric acid in the body. Due to impaired lipid metabolism, kidney dysfunction and an increase in the amount of sodium salts are observed.
When the maximum level is reached, the salts turn into crystals. They lead to tissue destruction and deformation of joint bones. The main concomitant pathologies of gout are arthritis, kidney disease and disruption of the urinary system. To create a clear clinical picture, each patient is prescribed a series of instrumental examinations and laboratory tests. Depending on the severity of the disease, their number may be less or more.
Note: depending on which specialist the patient consulted, diagnostics may be prescribed by a gynecologist, nephrologist, therapist, oncologist or rheumatologist.
To confirm the primary diagnosis, urine is given; in case of gout, synovial fluid and blood are taken for examination. By performing an ultrasound examination of the genitourinary system, in some cases it is possible to clearly determine the number and location of crystals.
Gout can occur against the background of other pathological processes progressing in the body, or it can be an independent problem. Therefore, experts prescribe various tests for gout. This is very helpful in making a diagnosis and determining the factors that provoke the disease. Without a thorough examination of the patient, it is not possible to prescribe therapy.
So, the diagnosis of gout (tests) includes:
By submitting the material for biochemical testing, laboratory technicians accurately determine the level of fibrin (a high-molecular, non-globular protein) in the patient’s blood, check the quality of protein metabolism, identify acyl derivatives of neurominic acid and the presence of acute phase protein.
Intravenous blood is used for analysis to diagnose gout.
Important! If there is a suspicion that gout is progressing, blood tests can help establish a high urate concentration .
Normally, in males the indicator should not go beyond the value of 460, and in women the upper limit is only 330 µM/l. Unfortunately, laboratory blood tests alone are not enough to definitively confirm the diagnosis, so doctors prescribe additional tests.
If you correctly take a urine test for gout, you can determine the exact factor that triggered the onset of the disease. All attention is directed to indicators of acidity level and uric acid concentration. If the doctors’ suspicions are confirmed, then the next test is prescribed to determine the daily volume of urine.
If a patient suspects the development of gout, he should seek medical help. At the same time, it is very good if he understands that a series of collections of biological materials for research lies ahead.
A clear symptom of the progression of the disease that caused the deformity
Fans of spicy foods, alcoholic drinks, as well as people who consume large quantities of meat should be more attentive to their body. They may be at risk of such an unpleasant disease as gout. In addition to poor nutrition, the development of this disease is accompanied by a sedentary lifestyle, nervous stress and regular overwork. Gout can also be caused by heredity.
The essence of this disease is a violation of uric acid metabolism, in which uric acid accumulates in the body, and its derivative (sodium urate) begins to be deposited in joints and other organs.
Most often, gout affects the big toes, but any other joints can be affected.
To confirm this diagnosis, it is enough to conduct a blood test for uric acid content. The study will take one to two days and will provide reliable information about your health status.
A diet for gout in the legs, like a diet for gout in any other joints, involves avoiding eating foods rich in purines. First of all, to reduce the level of uric acid in the body, it is necessary to reduce protein intake.
With such a diet, offal, caviar, yeast, legumes, chocolate, mushrooms, meat and fish should be excluded. Outside of exacerbation, meat and fish are consumed no more than 2 times a week and only boiled. At the same time, 50% of purines are released into the broth, which means that its consumption is also not recommended. This applies to meat, fish, chicken and mushroom broths. It will be useful to steam and bake meat, fish and vegetables. Lean meats can be eaten no more than three times a week, 150 grams each, fish, 160-170 grams each. Every other day you should do fasting days: vegetable or fruit (1.5 kg of permitted vegetables or fruits), cottage cheese-kefir (400 grams of low-fat cottage cheese and half a liter of milk), dairy or kefir (1-2 liters per day).
Meat extracts, smoked meats, and offal (liver, kidneys, lungs, brains, tongue) are strictly prohibited. Consumption of sausages should be limited. Chicken, rabbit, and turkey are allowed. In case of exacerbation, fatty fish, fried fish, salted fish, and canned fish are prohibited. From seafood, it is allowed to eat low-fat fish, squid, and shrimp.
When treating gout, regular nutrition is important - fasting is just as dangerous as overeating, since fasting provokes the release of uric acid. It would be correct to have 5 meals a day.
A diet for gout involves drinking large amounts of liquid, while carbonated and canned drinks should be avoided. You can drink alkaline mineral water, natural fruit and berry juices (especially citrus fruits), cranberry or lingonberry juice, and rosehip decoction. Sugar is not added to these drinks, since sugar raises insulin levels in the blood, which in turn slows down the excretion of uric acid. The volume of liquid consumed should be 2-2.5 liters. Cocoa, strong tea, and coffee are prohibited due to their effects on the nervous system. Of course, alcohol is strictly prohibited in any dose. This applies to both strong and low-alcohol drinks.
Milk and dairy products can be consumed in unlimited quantities, as they help eliminate uric acid. Spicy and salty cheeses are prohibited.
Also, seasonings and spices should not be added to food, with the exception of salt, vinegar, bay leaves, and the consumption of green onions and parsley is limited. You will have to give up ketchup and tomato paste; sauces based on vegetable broth are allowed - tomato, sour cream, milk.
It is forbidden to eat chocolate, cream cakes, pastries, but for sweets you can eat marshmallows, marmalade, marshmallows, jam, and candies without chocolate. Mushrooms, pickles and marinades are limited, but you can safely eat honey, dried fruits (with the exception of raisins), almonds, avocados, pistachios, hazelnuts, pine nuts, and seeds. Raspberries, figs, grapes and all their derivatives should be excluded. Of the vegetables, it is allowed to consume white cabbage, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, eggplants, and cucumbers in any quantity; with restrictions, it is allowed to include peppers, cauliflower, spinach, celery, sorrel, asparagus, radishes, and turnips in the diet. Vegetables can be eaten fresh or processed in any way. You need to eat as much vegetables as possible, as they will not only remove unnecessary substances from the body, but will also help you lose weight. And excess weight is often a faithful companion to gout. You can also eat freshly prepared vegetable caviar. It is healthy to eat vegetable soups, okroshka, borscht, cabbage soup, rassolnik, beetroot soup, potato soup, soups with added cereals, milk and fruit soups. Cereals, pasta and eggs (no more than one per day) are allowed in limited quantities. Rye, wheat, white bread is allowed, or with bran. Products made from butter and puff pastry are not recommended.
Watermelons, gooseberries, citrus fruits and berries are also allowed. Apples, pears, plums, apricots, peaches, cherries, cherries, blueberries, and strawberries are especially useful.
In case of exacerbation of the disease, only liquid intake is allowed in the first few days, then a transition to a dairy diet should be made.
For gout, it is recommended to consume soy products, in particular tofu. Soy contains substances that remove uric acid from the body. Japanese residents who consume soy products daily are not familiar with diseases such as arthritis and gout. Pineapple is also considered extremely useful for treating this disease. Not only does it help reduce excess weight, but thanks to bromelain, it reduces inflammation throughout the body. It should be remembered that this substance disappears quickly, so you should eat the pineapple immediately after cutting.
Any disease must be treated in a complex manner, so you should consult a doctor to prescribe procedures that complement the diet.