Gout is a common, painful form of arthritis. Gout is a condition in which the body has a problem in the handling of uric acid. Uric acid is a waste product that naturally occurs in the body. It is normally flushed from the body by the kidneys through urine. It causes swollen, red, hot and stiff joints. Gout occurs when uric acid builds up in your blood. Men are more likely to get gout than women are, but women become increasingly susceptible to gout after menopause. Gout usually attacks the big toe however, it also can affect other joints such as the ankle, heel, instep, knee, wrist, elbow, fingers, and spine.

In some cases, the condition may appear in the joints of small toes that have become immobile due to impact injury earlier in life, causing poor blood circulation that leads to gout. It occurs more frequently in countries that have a high standard of living. Approximately one million people in the United States suffer from attacks of gout. Gout affects up to 500,000 Canadians. Men who develop gout usually do so between the ages of 30 and 50. Women are more likely to develop gout after the age of 60. The most common type of medicine used to treat an acute attack of gout is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

These drugs help reduce the pain and swelling of joints and decrease stiffness. If you think that diet acts as a trigger for your gout attacks, changing your diet may help, but it is important to talk to your healthcare provider about choosing the right diet for you. Gout diet prevention consists of a prevention diet low purine or modified purine diet may help gout improve. Gout diet prevention puts and emphasis on dairy products, vegetable protein and water intake and a decrease in high purine foods. A low-purine gout diet is often prescribed for individuals with gout. Purine is a compound that is mainly found in animal protein which is metabolized to uric acid in the body.

A low-purine diet and medications are commonly used to treat gout. Purines are mostly found in foods which are high in protein and fat content. For breakfast, take low-fat protein foods. High-protein foods that are low in fat have been found to be safe. Include lemon juice at lunch for cleansing. Lemon juice is filled with vitamin C and antioxidants to help flush your body from unwanted uric acids. Grilled or baked lean meat, wrapped foil to retain moisture, is ideal for dinner. Pair with potatoes and steamed spinach. After dinners make sure to have a bowl of cherries, berries or grapes on the side.