Dr. Rachna Mehra: Avoid Gout through Diet

Inflammatory arthritis is known to cause a multitude of health problems. Holisitic health practitioners often turn to diet when treating inflammatory conditions. For those seeking to avoid gout flare-ups, the key may indeed lie in adjusting diet.

According to a new study, an individual’s diet can have a high impact on inflammatory symptoms. According to a new article by WebMd, compounds known as purines can contribute to flare-ups of gout. Those with high amounts of dietary purines were five times more likely to experience flare-ups.

Gout is a type of arthritis. It is characterized by swelling and painful inflammation. The condition affects around three million Americans. Gout results from a buildup of uric acid. A diet high in purines can contribute to high levels of uric acid.

Holistic health advocate, Dr. Rachna Mehra agrees that the right diet can alleviate illnesses. This is confirmed by a study in a recent edition of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. During the study, 633 people with gout were tracked and their dietary information was collected. Some foods were explicitly connected to gout flare-ups.

This was the first major study confirming the connection between purines and gout. However, those involved in holistic health practices have always considered the implications of diet. Dr. Rachna Mehra, a prominent rheumatologist, always considers dietary factors during treatment.

WebMD suggest that avoiding certain foods can reduce your risk for gout flare-ups. Many inflammatory diseases can be mitigated through diet. Here are some of the foods for those with arthritis to be careful of:

1. Liver and other organ meats
2. Game meats
3. Sardines, anchovies, mussels, herring, and most seafood
4. Alcohol in excess, especially beer
5. Red meat
6. Cauliflower
7. Lentils and beans
8. Spinach
9. Mushrooms
10. Asparagus

Many of these foods have very high purine content. If you already have gout, eliminating these foods from your diet can reduce flare-ups. If you do not already have gout, a diet with less of these foods will reduce your risk for developing the condition.

The most current research suggests that purine-rich foods can cause gout attacks within a short time. Often, it takes only two days after consuming some foods for gout symptoms to appear. With this large-scale study, the beliefs of holistic healers are finally gaining some support in mainstream medicine.

Dr. Rachna Mehra is an experienced rheumatologist. She has been practicing medicine for over 23 years. She focuses on natural medicine and hormone optimization.