Gout, also known as a type of Inflammatory arthritis, is a common condition due to the buildup of uric acid in the blood. Due to this acid, crystal formation in a joint produces acute pain and swelling. These crystals are identified as foreign bodies by the body and are thus attacked by white blood cells. In response, the white cells secrete cytokines, which are inflammatory substances, into the synovial fluid.
According to research, many foods consumed daily are linked to health issues, so the simple answer to healing Gout is modifying the diet and lifestyle. The first step is to reduce the consumption of sweets, carbohydrates, and processed meat. A gout diet should focus on increasing the consumption of fresh produce, fruits, and organic proteins.
Professor of clinical medicine, Theodore Fields, explains that gout makes the joint feel like a battleground. Gout flares may persist for up to ten days, but with medication, the recovery process can be sped up, and further episodes can be avoided. Since each episode has varying pain and severity, lasting for long periods, it is crucial to be familiar with the alternative treatments that can be done at home.
Cherries or Tart Cherry Juice
According to the Mayo Clinic, cherries’ antioxidant characteristics make them an effective home treatment for gout alleviation. Cherries contain anthocyanins, a natural anti-inflammatory chemical that helps lessen gout-related edema. According to the report, oxidative stress may contribute to the development of gout, which is responsible for the imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals in the body. The anthocyanins from cherries inhibit the oxidation process and eliminate radicals.
In fact, cherry skins alone are abundant in powerful polyphenol antioxidants, indicating that tart cherry juice concentrate is good at absorbing free radicals.
Research published in Arthritis & Rheumatism analyzed 633 gout patients treated with cherry extract over the course of two days. This cherry therapy was linked to a 35 percent reduced the incidence of gout episodes. When cherry consumption was paired with allopurinol, a drug used for gout and kidney stones, the incidence of gout episodes was reduced by up to 75 percent. According to a 2011 research, consuming eight ounces of 100 percent tart cherry juice daily for four weeks may considerably reduce uric acid levels in the blood.
The Arthritis Foundation suggests daily consumption of a handful of sour cherries or a glass of tart cherry juice to avoid gout flare-ups.
