Natural Relief for Gout - Terry Talks Nutrition...Uric Acid Buildup • Diet – Foods high in...
Transcript of Natural Relief for Gout - Terry Talks Nutrition...Uric Acid Buildup • Diet – Foods high in...
Natural Relief for Gout
Gout: Now, Everyman’s Disease
Men are 4 times more likely
than women to have gout.
Number of gout cases has
increased 44% in the last 20 years!
Gout: Symptoms
• Sudden, intense pain that starts during the night
• Warmth, pain, swelling, and extreme tenderness in a
joint (usually a big toe)
• Pain increases rapidly and lasts 12 to 24 hours, eases
during the next few days
• May also have…
– Very red or purplish skin around the affected joint, which
may appear to be infected
– Limited movement in the affected joint
Gout
Gout: Conventional Treatment
• NSAIDs – Adverse effects: stomach ulcers, liver failure
• Colchicine – Adverse effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Corticosteroids – Adverse effects: bone thinning, immune suppression
• Urate lowering drugs – (Zyloprim, Aloprim) and febuxostat (Uloric) reduce
uric acid production
– Probenecid (Probalan) increases excretion of uric acid
– Adverse effects: rash, low blood counts, reduced liver function, kidney stones
Understanding Uric Acid
• Formed from the breakdown of purines
• Some uric acid is always naturally present in our body and has a purpose
– Antioxidant, prevents damage to blood vessel linings
• Two sources:
• Our bodies: purines are natural substances found in all body cells
– Provide part of the chemical structure of our genes
– As a normal part of cell life, dying cells are broken down releasing
purine, which is further broken down into uric acid, which is excreted
in urine
• Our diets: some foods contain high amounts of concentrated purines
– liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas, beer, and wine, bacon, trout, scallops
Normal Uric Acid Formation and Excretion
Purines
Uric
Acid
Kidney
Urine
The kidneys maintain
levels of uric acid.
Kidney problems are
one cause of excessive
uric acid buildup.
Conventional Risk Factors for
Uric Acid Buildup
• Diet
– Foods high in purines (organ meats)
– Alcohol
• Genetics
• Gender
– Men produce more uric acid and are less efficient at excreting it
• Obesity
• Untreated medical conditions
– High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease
• Certain medications
– Low dose aspirin, diuretics
What else is going on?
• Under excretion of uric acid
• Suboptimal hydration
• Nutritional choices
• pH imbalances
pH
• pH = measurement of the body’s acidity/alkalinity – Ideal is “acid tummy, basic body”
• pH is tightly regulated
• Intake of high levels of protein forms acids in the bloodstream – including uric acid
• Must be neutralized with alkaline minerals – Calcium pulled from bones (calcium neutralizes acid)
– Acid crystals deposited throughout the body
• Arteries (plaques) (heart disease)
• Synovial joints (gout)
• Heels and shoulders (bone spurs)
• Kidneys (kidney stones)
• Bones become weak and brittle (osteopenia/osteoporosis)
Prevention is the Solution
Step 1: Water
• Hydration is crucial
• 8-10 glasses of water daily
• Urine should be pale or clear in color
– Dark yellow urine means drink
more water
Number one cause of
kidney stones is not
drinking enough water!
Step 2: Improve ratio of alkaline to acid foods
• Most vegetables: cauliflower,
spinach, peas, green beans, pepper,
radish, sweet potato, eggplant,
carrot, cabbage
• Most fruits: apple, orange, peach,
pear, rhubarb, strawberry, tomato,
lemon
• Some proteins: almonds, tofu, whey
protein powder
• Liquids: green drinks, apple cider
vinegar, fruit juice, REAL LEMONADE
• NO relationship to TOTAL protein
intake
Eat These Alkaline Foods Minimize Acidic Foods
• Some vegetables: corn, lentils, some beans
• Many grains: white flour, wheat, oatmeal, cornstarch
• Excessive amounts: bacon, beef, clams, pork, lobster, shrimp, tuna, turkey, veal, sardines, cod, etc.
• Beer
• ABSOLUTELY AVOID:
– soft drinks
– corn oil and corn syrup
– SODIUM
Drinking a regular
(not diet) soda
daily increases
gout risk by 45%;
2 sodas daily
raises risk by
85%!
Step 3: Appropriate Supplements
Cherry Fruit Extract
• Increases excretion of uric acid
• Sweet cherry or tart cherry? SWEET
• Clinical research in women consuming sweet cherries – Plasma urate levels decreased 15%, and urinary urate excretion increased 73%
– Also showed reduction in inflammation markers: c-reactive protein and nitric
oxide
• Clinical research specifically on inflammation markers after consuming
sweet cherries – 25% decrease in c-reactive protein
– 18% decrease in inducible nitric oxide
• Consuming cherry extract was associated with a 40% reduced risk of
recurrent gout attacks
NOTE: Endothelial nitric oxide has heart protective
effects; inducible nitric oxide is associated with
inflammation and arthritic joint damage
Cherry Juice or Cherry Capsules?
• Calories: 140
• Carbohydrate: 33 grams
• Cost: $1.87 per serving
• Convenience: low (must
be refrigerated)
• Portable: no
8 oz Juice Encapsulated cherry extract
• Calories: 0
• Carbohydrates: 0
• Cost: 60¢ per serving
• Convenience: high (no
refrigeration necessary)
• Portable: yes
Unlike other drying techniques,
freeze drying cherry extract
preserves the key nutrients for
best benefits!
Curcumin
• Shown to inhibit crystal formation in experimental model
– Also helpful in preventing kidney stones, which can also form from
either uric acid or calcium oxalate crystals
• Has protective effects against experimentally induced kidney
inflammation
• A very powerful anti-inflammatory
– Reduces inflammation associated with gout or kidney stone formation
WITHOUT the adverse effects of NSAIDS (ibupropen, acetaminophen,
etc)
• Combine with boswellia, DLPA and nattokinase for superior
pain relief
Pharmacognosy Res. 2010 Nov-Dec; 2(6): 388–392
Biol Pharm Bull. 2011;34(2):226-32.
Turmeric and Curcumin are not the same!
• Turmeric is the rhizome of the plant
• Curcumin is the bioactive compound extracted from
turmeric
– Turmeric = Spice
– Curcumin = Medicine
• Curcumin is poorly absorbed
• Look for bioavailable, micronized curcumin with
turmeric essential oils for best results
Other natural interventions
• Minerals shown to inhibit crystal formation include: zinc, potassium, magnesium – Supplement with a good daily multiple, or a specific
mineral supplement (15mg zinc, 400 mg magnesium, 100 mg potassium)
• Vitamin B6 – 30 mg of B6 as pyridoxal-5-phosphate (the bioactive
form), with 100 mg of magnesium for fluid balance • Asparagus – Mild diuretic; Helps “flush” the urinary tract – 340 mg
Recap
• Prevention is Key to avoiding gout and kidney stones
• Step 1: plenty of water, stay hydrated
• Step 2: keep your body alkaline, avoid acid-forming
foods
• Step 3: reduce uric acid levels and inflammation with
freeze dried cherry extract and bioavailable curcumin
– 1500 mg cherry extract daily
– 750 – 1500 mg of bioavailable curcumin daily