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Gout - A Diet For Gout Helps You to Lose Weight

July 11th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Do you suffer from gout? Gout is a form of arthritis, and it’s often recommended that gout sufferers lose weight. Here are some tips to help.

If you are overweight you are a prime candidate to get hit with a sever case of gout. This article will explain how to lose weight with a diet for gout.

By the way the information contained in this article is not medical advice, nor should it be taken as medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. As always with a physical illness you should consult your personal physician right away.

Gout is a type of arthritic illness which occurs in your body’s extremities such as the fingers, elbows, knees and toes. Uric acid is the cause of gout and when there is excessive uric acid in the bloodstream, crystal deposits form in your joints which causes swelling, redness and excruciating pain.

You may be one of the thousands upon thousands of people who thought gout was a thing of the past. However, it is alive and well in today’s overweight society. Obesity is one of the primary contributors which can cause this painful attack on your joints.

In the old days gout sufferers used to have to drastically modify their diet to relieve and prevent gout symptoms. However modern day medicine has eliminated this requirement. Regardless of medications however, it will help you to undergo some diet restrictions so as to reduce your weight and the severity of the gout attacks.

Do you eat a lot of meat, especially red meat? If you do it will help you to shed those extra pounds by restricting yourself to 6 ounces of meat per day (preferably chicken or fish). In addition it will reduce the chances of a gout attack occurring. This is due to the purines found in meats. If gout sufferers eat a lot of food containing purines (a chemical) then uric acid can form, leading to gout.

Other foods that are particularly high in purines are:
• Mackerel
• Herring
• dried beans
• dried peas
• liver
• kidney
• anchovies

Where possible these foods should be avoided when following a diet for gout.

There are many other diet tips that can help to minimize the occurrence of gout and help you lose weight while doing so. These are just a couple of suggestion which may help you. Again check with your doctor to make sure it’s ok to use these tips.

The avoidance of alcohol is an important factor for you to keep in mind. Excess alcohol affects the removal of uric acid from your body. A gout attack supplemented with alcohol can go bad very quickly, as hyperuricemia can occur. Ideally alcohol should be completely eliminated by all gout sufferers.

Drinking a lot of water can have a positive effect on gout as water helps in the removal of uric acid which is what gout sufferers need. Furthermore, as you know water will help you to digest your food more thoroughly and help too flush the excess from your body.

Weight is an issue that needs to be addressed. Excess weight puts extra stress on the joints and drastically increases the chance of gout and hyperuricemia. Sensible weight loss which avoids excess purines is the correct way for gout sufferers to lose weight without increasing the risk of illness. High protein diets can be dangerous as most protein comes from meat and fish. Also avoid low carbohydrate diets; instead maintaining a balance of various nutrients.

There are many low purine foods that can make up the majority of the diet for gout sufferers and the overweight. These include:

1. Low fibre breads and cereals
2. Vegetables
3. Fruit juice
4. Low fat cheese
5. Nuts
6. Peanut butter
7. Soups (without meat)
8. Strawberries
9. Dark berries

If you are an avid meat eater you may find it hard to adjust to a virtually meat free diet. Consider tofu as a meat alternative. It has a rough texture and is filling like meat.

As you can see a diet for gout is a healthy diet, which can also help you to lose weight.

Holistic Pain Relief for Arthritis

August 9th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Arthritis is a chronic condition, so taking medication for pain relief is a depressing thought - will you have to take medication forever?

Rather than relying on medication, many people are trying alternatives: complementary medicine.

Acupressure can help relieve the stiff, achy joints associated with arthritis. It can be particularly beneficial to those with rheumatoid forms of arthritis because it improves blood circulation. An acupressure practitioner applies pressure to various anti-inflammatory points on the body. A typical session will last between 30 and 60 minutes.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into various anti-inflammatory points on the body to promote circulation. As circulation improves, blockages are opened and pain is relieved. Acupuncture helps the body produce endorphins; the body’s natural painkillers.

Arthritis diets focus on providing the proper balance of fruits, vegetables, grains, and essential fatty acids. They can also be effective in helping one achieve normal body weight. This type of holistic medicine comes in the form of fresh, whole organic foods that are rich in vitamin, mineral, and fiber content.

Select colorful fruits and vegetables that contain phytochemicals — a potent element in fighting inflammation. Choose fruits high in vitamin C content such as blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, kiwi fruit, mango, cantaloupe melon and apples.

Select vegetables with high contents of vitamins A and C. These include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, kale, spinach, squash, and sweet potatoes.

Last, but not least, be certain to consume foods or dietary supplements rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 EFAs are known to reduce inflammation and relieve arthritis pain. Fish oils and plant oils are the primary dietary source for Omega 3 fatty acids. Sources include cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, and herring; flaxseeds and flaxseed oil; canola, pumpkin, soybean, and walnut oils.

Aromatherapy is a form of holistic medicine for arthritis. Therapeutic essential oils can provide relief for many arthritis symptoms through direct application to the body. Therapeutic oils are the highest quality of essential oils available. They are highly concentrated and typically only a few drops are required to obtain benefit from their healing properties. These oils should always be mixed with a carrier oil (such as olive or sunflower oil) prior to applying them to the body.

Common essential oils used in holistic medicine for arthritis include: Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary, Juniper, Eucalyptus, Chamomile, Angelica Root, Ginger, Black Pepper and Lemon. It’s a good idea to work with a qualified Aromatherapist when working with essential oils. Some oils should not be used when taking prescription medications, or if you are pregnant or nursing.

Homeopathy is a holistic healing system first developed in the 18th century. Based on the concept that “like cures like”, homeopathic remedies use minute amounts of natural substances to stimulate the body’s own defenses against specific symptoms.

Homeopathy is complex and requires extensive knowledge in the subject. It’s best to work with a professional homeopath in order to obtain maximum benefit and avoid potential side effects.

Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

June 6th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Approximately 20 million Americans are affected by osteoarthritis every year; this is a condition that occurs mainly with age in the joints affecting the cartilage and deforming the bones while inducing severe pain.

Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis because it is a form of arthritis that further damages the cartilages found in between the bones in places such as the knees, spine, hands and feet. Osteoarthritis is directly related to age however one may also get this disease through heredity, obesity where your joints will be overworked from excessive weight, other medical conditions such as diabetes, gout and hormonal imbalances.

Finding Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

Osteoarthritis is not curable but there are many types of medications traditional and natural that can help you get osteoarthritis pain relief fast. Special therapy exercises such as swimming can help osteoarthritis patients to relief pain but not excessive exercise, as that will create inflammation and pain in the joints. When your joints are aching from osteoarthritis, rest is indicated in order to relax and subside the inflammation before you try and use that joint again.

Traditional medication such as, acetaminophen, which is found in Tylenol, will provide fast pain relief for mild pain in the joints. Creams and sprays are also available, which can be applied locally to obtain fast osteoarthritis pain relief. Natural methods include acupuncture, herbal teas, drugs and creams, which can be applied directly on the affected part or administered orally.

Acupuncture will provide fast and efficient osteoarthritis pain relief but you need to maintain regular sessions and also administer some herbal supplements along with it for further enhancement of the therapy.

Your diet can also play a vital role in osteoarthritis pain relief; first and foremost you need to drink plenty of water everyday and then get supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin. However, before administering any medication or altering your food supplements ensure to check with your doctor who is aware of your medical history and can offer you a precise and accurate prescription for you needs.

Healthy diets that contain the required dose of vitamins and minerals help with joint pain relief as well as the natural benefits found from the rays of the sun and that is vitamin D; don’t expose to the sun for more then 5 minutes a day for maximum of couple of times a week, as the sun rays also have side effects such as, skin cancer from the ultra violet rays.

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