Which Gout Remedies Should You Choose?

If you suffer from gout, you know how important it is to find a way to get rid of it.  Fortunately, there are several effective gout remedies you can choose to help you get rid of this painful condition.  There are a few things you should think about when deciding upon which remedies to implement into your treatment plan.  First of all, do you wish to use prescription and over the counter drugs to combat this disease?  Or do you want to try to control your gout through diet?  Or do you want to add to your regimen natural remedies and treatments?

If you decide to use prescription drugs your doctor will be able to prescribe the best drug for you.  Depending on whether you are ingesting too many purines or your body just can’t break them down properly will determine which drug your doctor prescribes.  You’ll have to take a blood test for your doctor to figure out the best course for you.

If you choose to control your gout through proper diet, it would be wise to learn what foods cause gout because some foods that appear healthy such as  chicken, turkey, and venison can lead to gout.  Artichokes and peas can also cause gout in certain people.  Peanuts are one of the foods I avoid because I have associated it with a few of my more intense attacks.  Gouty foods affect people differently so you will have to experiment.  If you choose to eat these types of foods, eat them in moderation to reduce the likelihood of getting an attack.

Should you decide to try natural treatments for gout there are several to choose from and the success of each one is person dependent.  For instance, cherries work wonderfully for me, yet I have a friend who has no success with cherries at all.

When choosing natural remedies consider basic principles instead of one food versus another.  You should look for remedies that either lower uric acid levels or reduce swelling to provide pain relief for when you are suffering an acute gout attack.  Natural components to look for that help reduce uric acid are items that contain high quantities of vitamin C.  This could many fruits such as bananas, cherries, or papaya.  Vitamin C in studies reduced uric acid levels in some patients by up to 50% which is definitely reduces the risk of having a flare up.

Other components to consider are natural remedies that contain potassium.  These would be foods such as potatoes.  Eat the skins as that is where the majority of the potassium is located.  Most fruits contain enough potassium that if you get your recommended daily allowance it should be helpful.  Potassium works by giving your body the ability to flush the acid from your system more easily.

Whether you choose modern medicine to try and prevent or treat your gout or you choose natural remedies is up to you.  You can combine these two methods and create a healthier lifestyle for yourself.