| Only a few vitamins have been really researched as | | | | therefore a deficiency of calcium. |
| contributors to a natural gout remedy. One is vitamin C | | | | Vitamins work in other ways to help in natural gout |
| which a few studies have found lowers uric acid levels | | | | treatment. Those that work as antioxidants perform |
| somewhat. I have written about vitamin C for gout in | | | | the helpful function of squelching free radicals. Why is |
| earlier articles. Make sure you buy a Vitamin C | | | | this helpful? Because during gout attacks, free radical |
| preparation that contains added flavonoids, the more | | | | levels rise. Some leading antioxidant vitamins are |
| the better, to make it work more effectively. And buy | | | | vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene and selenium. |
| a time (sustained) release vitamin C product, because | | | | Given that gout attacks are inflammatory, as shown |
| vitamin C is excreted quickly. | | | | by the painful inflammation of the affected joints, any |
| Other vitamins which have been reported from various | | | | substance which acts as an anti-inflammatory may |
| sources to help in natural gout treatment are quercetin, | | | | make the attack less painful and inflamed. Fish oils |
| folic acid, potassium citrate calcium, and fish oils. | | | | have well researched anti-inflammatory properties. |
| Quercetin may inhibit xanthine oxidase, the enzyme | | | | Fish oils are also good for gout because they promote |
| required to convert purines into uric acid. This is the | | | | a healthier body. Their omega -3 fatty acids (EPA and |
| method used by the leading long term gout | | | | DHA) are a dietary deficiency for many people, |
| pharmaceutical, allopurinol. Quercetin has done this in | | | | especially those who don't eat fish. Omega -3 fatty |
| test tube studies. | | | | acids are required to bring about a better balance of |
| Folic acid has been found in at least one study to be | | | | omega -3 and omega -6 oils in the body. Most people, |
| helpful because it inhibited xanthine oxidase, but in | | | | it is thought, do get sufficient omega -6 fatty acids, |
| others to have no effect. It was part of the late Dr. | | | | especially if they fry with oils such as corn, soy, |
| Atkins's (the Atkins diet) formula for curing gout | | | | sunflower, safflower or sesame. Or, if they use these |
| naturally but in large amounts. It should certainly only be | | | | oils as salad oils. But people don't get enough of the |
| taken under supervision by a qualified and experienced | | | | omega -3's. This better balance promotes better |
| practitioner. | | | | health. Gout sufferers need to be as healthy as |
| Potassium citrate is reported to be helpful in natural | | | | possible. Note: gout sufferers should not eat fish high in |
| gout treatment, and has been the subject of gout | | | | purines such as mackerel, anchovies, and sardines. |
| studies. It aids excretion of uric acid, by raising the pH | | | | Ensure the fish oil supplement you buy has been |
| of urine. (Higher body pH levels make uric acid more | | | | manufactured with a molecular distillation process. It |
| soluble and thus better excreted). Potassium citrate | | | | takes out mercury, PCBs and dioxins. |
| can also head off the danger of kidney stones, of the | | | | Since cherries have been researched as blocking |
| uric acid variety, forming. One estimate is that there is | | | | inflammation, they should be considered. Cherries have |
| a 20% chance that kidney stones will form in gout | | | | also been found in studies to lower uric acid levels. |
| patients who also have acidic urine. | | | | When they are not in season cherry dietary |
| Calcium may be helpful because it helps to alkalize the | | | | supplement extracts, juice and in dried form can be |
| body, (i.e. it raises its pH levels making the body more | | | | taken. Cherries enjoy testimonials from gout sufferers |
| alkaline) and thus, the theory is, more uric acid will be | | | | both for curing gout naturally and halting the pain of |
| excreted. In pH theory, because the blood's pH must | | | | attacks, but they won't do this for everyone. Celery, in |
| be maintained at pH 7.365, the body will scavenge | | | | two studies, also reduced pain and inflammation, so |
| calcium from bones to maintain blood pH at 7.365. | | | | you can consider celery seed extract as part of |
| Most people, it's said, and probably most gout sufferers | | | | natural gout treatment. |
| too, have acidic bodies (which ought to be alkaline) and | | | | |