The Best Natural Remedies for Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that usually results in pain in the big toe but can also affect other small joints in the feet and hands. Those who experience it know that it can even make simple tasks like walking painful and difficult. It can form when uric acids build up in the joints, especially the big toe. Fortunately, there are some excellent natural remedies that can help. But before I explore the natural medicines, let’s first review the foods to avoid when it comes to healing gout:

Certain foods contain high amounts of substances known as purines that can cause uric acid buildup as they are metabolized in the body. The foods that are best reduced or avoided include:

organ meats like liver or giblets
beef, bison
lamb
pork
anchovies
herring
mackerel
shrimp
lobster
scallops
poultry
alcohol (particularly beer)
asparagus
mushrooms
foods and beverages that contain high-fructose corn syrup 

THE BEST NATURAL REMEDIES FOR GOUT

CHERRIES AND CHERRY JUICE

Although many people opt for aspirin as the first course of action when they have a gout flare-up, aspirin can actually aggravate the problem. However, tart cherry extract has been found to not only alleviate the inflammation but reduce the pain of gout. Only two tablespoons of the concentrated juice, which is found in many health food stores, needs to be taken daily for effective results. Alternatively, eat approximately 20 cherries daily (tart or sweet are both effective).

CELERY AND CELERY SEEDS

James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy, found more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds in celery and celery seeds, including a substance called apigenin, which is powerful in its anti-inflammatory action. You can eat celery as sticks, add it to soups, salads, stews and curries. If you’re not sure how to use celery seeds, you can add them to soups, stews, or use as a salt substitute in many recipes. You can also eat celery seed bread in place of garlic bread. Or use both garlic and celery seeds for a taste sensation. Simply brush olive oil on whole grain or gluten-free bread and sprinkle with celery seeds (and chopped fresh garlic, if using) and bake in a 300 degree Fahrenheit oven until golden brown.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Many people find drinking water with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar helpful for gout. Choose apple cider vinegar that contains some sediment (known as the ‘mother,’ which is the natural probiotic cultures that turn apples or apple cider into vinegar). Also make sure that the one you choose has not been pasteurized, as pasteurization kills the beneficial microbes. Apple cider vinegar not only contains beneficial microbes that help reduce inflammation, it also contains chlorogenic acid, which research shows reduces inflammation linked to gout.

GINGER

Ginger has been found to be effective for many types of arthritis, including: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Research in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology link its effectiveness against uric acid crystals to ginger’s naturally-occurring compound known as 6-shogaol. Fresh ginger is superior to dried but both can be helpful. Add fresh or dried ginger to stir-fries, curries, soups, noodle dishes or vegetable dishes, or make it into tea. To make a ginger tea, simple chop a two- to three-inch piece of fresh ginger, add it to a quart of water, and boil on the stove for 45 to 60 minutes. Strain, add stevia (if desired) and drink three cups daily. Store any leftover tea in the fridge. You can also add an inch or two of fresh ginger root to your juicer when making fresh vegetable juices.

WATER

While most of us know that we need to rehydrate daily, it is important for those suffering from gout to drink plenty of water to flush excess uric acid from the body.

While being overweight can be a risk factor for gout, it is important to avoid high animal protein diets to lose weight as they can aggravate gout.