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Joint
Pain After a Rich Meal? Certain Foods Trigger Gout
Gout seems like a forgotten affliction. No one runs marathons to
fund gout research and drug companies don't publish slick
advertisements promoting their latest remedies, but gout remains a
serious form of arthritis affecting many beginning in middle age.
Fortunately, the treatment can be as simple as a change of diet.
Men account for six out of seven gout sufferers and many can
probably trace their problems to the food they eat. A person who
suffers joint pain after indulging in rich foods over holidays may
have gout, although not everyone is quick to make the connection
between painful joints and eating fatty foods or drinking alcohol.
The joint between the big toe and the foot is most commonly
affected but any joint in the arms or legs can be inflamed.
Joint pain caused by gout results when needlelike crystals of uric
acid form in the joints and other parts of the body. Foods
containing compounds called purines increase the production of
uric acid in the body. Some plants also increase uric acid, so
vegetarians can be stricken with gout, too. For people who have
had periodic joint pain in the past, the Annals
of Internal Medicine describes a method for diagnosing whether
gout is the problem in between flare-ups.
Good nutrition builds
healthy joints
Diet is a powerful therapy for any condition, and
joint health is no exception. A low-fat, moderate-protein diet,
based around vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains, is what the
human body was designed for, and it functions best when fueled
properly. Plus, the most important dietary consideration in any
inflammatory condition such as joint aches and stiffness is the
proper type and amount of fat. For example, cold-water fish and
flaxseed are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote a healthy
inflammatory response. In other words, if you eat cold-water fish
several times a week and add flaxseed to your recipes, you'll give
your body more of what it needs to fight inflammation. Most other
types of fat tend to promote inflammation. The worst culprits are
processed oils, saturated fats and hydrogenated oils (such as
peanut butter and margarine). Keep your overall fat intake in the
20 percent range, and avoid unhealthy fats as much as possible.
Nutrient recommendations in a nutshell...
To relieve joint aches and rebuild cartilage, take 1,000-1,500
mg glucosamine daily in divided doses with meals. As you notice
improvements, cut back to 500 or 1,000 mg. If your symptoms do not
improve, take up to 3,000 mg daily, and back down later.
Also add 200 mg of chondroitin sulfate, with meals. This can be
increased up to 1,200 mg as symptoms warrant or reduced as
symptoms improve.
Copyright © 2002 Rx Remedy, Inc.
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