
10 Superfoods to Help Relieve Gout
Gout is inflammatory arthritis, which occurs due to the presence of excessive uric acid in the blood . Gout is marked by symptoms such as pain, extreme stiffness, redness, and swelling in the joints. The knees, big toes, elbows, and ankles are the parts that most commonly get affected by gouty arthritis. On diagnosis, gout is normally treated with anti-inflammatory medicines as well as drugs that help prevent the deposit of uric acid within the body joints. Moreover, watching your diet and maintaining good eating habits can also keep your uric acid levels in control. Following are ten superfoods that you should be eating if you have been diagnosed with gout.
Tart cherry juice
Tart cherries are sour and have much more health benefits than regular, sweet cherries. Tart cherry juice is rich in Vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium, manganese, and copper. Regular consumption of tart cherry juice is known to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation in the body.
Turmeric
Turmeric has long been acknowledged as a miracle food for its immense healing and anti-inflammatory powers. Adding turmeric to your daily diet will slow down the activity of enzymes in your body and act as a natural painkiller as well.
Bananas
This tasty fruit is alkaline in nature and high in potassium and Vitamin C. Both potassium and Vitamin C help lower uric acid levels in the body, thus making bananas the perfect superfood to fight symptoms of gouty arthritis.
Apples
Apples are low in purine and high in Vitamin C, pectin, and malic acid. This helps neutralize uric acid in the bloodstream, making this super fruit the perfect food to fight the effects of gout. Avoid applesauce or canned apples, as only the fresh fruit will help you best.
Beetroot
This deep purple vegetable has numerous health benefits. In particular, it helps fight the symptoms of gout. Rich in iron, beetroots help purify the blood. Moreover, beetroot juice is nutrient-rich and, therefore, excellent for maintaining muscle and joint health.
Low-fat dairy
Medical research shows that consuming low-fat dairy products has immense benefits for gout patients. Drinking a glass of low-fat milk or eating a bowl of yogurt helps reduce uric acid levels in the blood, thereby providing immense relief from arthritic pain.
Green tea
Green tea has long been acknowledged as a superfood in many ways. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce swelling caused by gout. Moreover, regular consumption of green tea can also neutralize the effects of uric acid in the blood. Green tea can also be consumed in the form of capsules.
Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds are low in purines. They are also high in proteins, natural fats, and oils. Therefore, they help reduce inflammation and counter the arthritic pain caused by gout. Eating a handful of walnuts, almonds, cashew nuts, chia, and pumpkin seeds daily will help in keeping fit and fighting the effects of gout.
High-fiber foods
Fibrous foods help absorb excess uric acid from the bloodstream and eliminate this waste successfully through the kidneys. Moreover, high-fiber foods also help neutralize blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol. It is advisable to consume foods that are high in soluble fibers such as pears, avocados, broccoli, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and carrots.
Water
Water helps flush out the hardened gout crystals from the bloodstream. These crystals are the reason that gout causes pain in the joints. Therefore, in an ideal gout diet, it is not simply sufficient to pay attention to what one eats. One must also stay sufficiently hydrated.