Gout Diet Diet Plan - Low Uric Acid Diet Plan

In the middle ages, gout was known as the disease of the wealthy. Nowadays, it is one of the most common metabolism illnesses among adults that is associated with nutrition. Gout results from excessively high uric acid levels in the blood. There are two types of gout, primary gout, which is congenital and secondary gout, which is an acquired disease. Primary gout is the result of a metabolism problem associated with insufficient removal of waste by the kidneys. In the case of the second form, the gout is caused by illnesses such as tumours, anaemia and diabetes with kidney function problems. Nutrition-related causes include total fasting and the increased consumption of meat and alcohol.

But what causes excessive uric acid in the blood?
Organic compounds called Purines are changed into uric acid by the metabolic activity of the body. Uric acid is then eliminated from the body through the kidneys. If this function is disrupted, as in the case of primary gout, the uric acid will remain in the body. This means that the uric acid level in the blood will increase. We also absorb uric acid from our food, particularly from animal products.

How does uric acid cause gout?
Increased uric acid levels usually remain unnoticed for many years due to the lack of symptoms. Ultimately however, permanently increased uric acid levels will result in gout. These increased levels cause the formation of uric acid crystals. These crystals tend to gather in the large toe, in bursae, tendon sheaths, and ear cartilage or in the kidneys as stones. Acute gout attacks typically involve the sudden onset of severe pain, accompanied by extreme redness and swelling in these areas. There is no reason to get to this stage if countermeasures can be taken at the right time, and symptoms can be avoided with a balanced diet.

How to diagnose gout?
Uric acid levels can be determined through a blood test. Men are much more frequently affected by raised values and gout than women. However, the risk for women also increases at the beginning of the menopause period, as the protective effect of oestrogen will no longer be provided. During a longer fasting period or in the case of extreme diets, the increased breakdown of body cells can increase uric acid levels. And the opposite is also true: if you eat too much meat and drink excessive amounts of alcohol, the levels will increase.