We often hear the word arthritis while others complain about gout. Gout is actually a type of arthritis. Arthritis is about the condition of gout – the inflammation of joints. Gout is what causes the inflammation of joints. When a person has over production of uric acid that is not eliminated by the urine through the filtering of the kidney, the uric acid crystals will accumulate in the body, especially around the joints. When the uric acid deposits builds up, there will be swelling, pain and the joints become inflamed.

There is no definite reason as to why other people are predisposed to increased uric acid levels in their blood. But there are evidences that it may be hereditary since there are families with members of high uric acid levels. People with diseases such as diabetes and kidney problems are also prone to develop high uric acid levels, mostly because of the adverse effects of taking certain medication that will not be eliminated by the body easily. When a person is diagnosed with gout, they are given medications to alleviate the symptoms of inflammation. The mainstay is colchicine, which can help reduce the pain experience in gouty individuals. But to lower the uric acid levels, allopurinol and probenecid is prescribed by the doctor, especially if there are already tophi formations. Tophi formations are the swollen joints due to uric acid accumulations. All these are effective in fighting gout, but they are chemicals that are sure to develop side effects in the body.

The best way therefore to fight gout is to have some lifestyle changes, especially the diet. Lowering the consumption of purine-rich foods is advisable. Purine is a precursor of uric acid, which can be found in sardines, anchovies, organ meats, dried beans and peas, or any products that contains brewer’s yeasts, such as alcoholic drinks. But there are fruits that gouty individuals or those who have the susceptibility to develop gout must increase in consumption. These fruits have been studied and have shown to fight gout, the symptoms of gout and the causes of gout – increasing levels of uric acid.

1. Cherries

   Cherries are fleshy stone fruit from the genus Prunus. More than ten years ago, a study was made at the Michigan State University showing that a substance that is found in tart cherries can actually work as a pain reliever. This substance, called anthocyanin, is what gives tart cherries its luscious red color. But not only will it reduce pain, it also acts as an antioxidant. In the experiment, eating 20 tart cherries per day is enough to realize the anti-inflammatory benefits in gout. During inflammation, the enzymes cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (Cox1 and Cox2) are released by the body which causes the pain, swelling, redness and tenderness. With cherries, Cox1 and Cox2 are inhibited.

   In recent studies by the US Agricultural Research Services, they were also able to find evidence that Bing cherries can actually reduce the inflammation symptoms of any types of arthritis. In their studies, they focused on the levels of urate, the precursor of uric acid, in the blood and urine samples. After a bowl of cherries consumed by several subjects, they were able to find out that the urate plasma levels have decreased significantly after 5 hours, while the urine urates have increased. This indicates that cherries are indeed beneficial for those who have gout problems because of its tendency to decrease the amount of urates and therefore the uric acid crystals that may be accumulating within the synovial fluids at the joint.

2. Berries

   There are practically hundred types of berries in the world. The most common is strawberries, followed by blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries and many more. All berries have one thing in common, they are rich in phytonutrients that are considered to be antioxidants, and they are also rich in vitamin C, K and manganese. As gout-fighter, there are four berries that have shown benefits to those suffering from the disease: strawberry, elderberry, raspberry and elderberry. Elderberry contains huge amounts of cyaniding in its extract. It also contains quercetin. Cyanidin and quercetin, which can be found in almost all types of berries,  are flavonoids, substances that can help prevent the blood vessels from leakage and rupture, that can enhance Vitamin C’s power and therefore prevent the body from contracting too much inflammation, such as in the case of gout.

3. Grapefruit

   Just a half of the grapefruit can already provide 73.3 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin C. Compared to orange, grapefruit has more amounts of juice that can be extracted. This therefore indicates that grapefruit has more health benefits than an orange juice. In fact it is since it is considered to be one with the highest amounts of antioxidants available for the body. With increasing antioxidants, severity of inflammation is reduced. Since it is also a type of acidic fluid, it can flush easily the uric acid that has been accumulating within the joints.

4. Pineapple

   Among the tropical fruits in America, pineapple is second only to banana in popularity. But pineapple can provide greater health benefits especially in fighting gout. A cup of pineapple, or approximately 160 grams of the fruit can already yield about 130 percent of the required daily value for vitamin C. 76.5 percent of the daily value for manganese can also be taken from a cup of pineapple that only provides 84 calories. Pineapple is known for bromelain, a substance that is associated as being potent anti-inflammatory enzyme. Additionally, it contains potassium that can convert uric acid into a form that is easily filtered and eliminated by the kidney.

5. Grapes

   Quite uncommon as a therapy for gout problems, grapes are used mainly for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Grapes may only boast of its manganese, vitamins K and C content, but grapes have long been popular with its rich phytonutrient content. The richest amount of antioxidants however can be found in the seeds and the skin of grapes. And this decreases gout’s biomarkers of oxidative stress. Additionally, grapes disable the overproduction of enzymes that are pro-inflammatory. This will therefore decrease the severity of the symptoms of inflammation due to gout.

Sources
livestrong.com
remedies4u.com
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
sciencedaily.com
best-gout-remedies.com