What is gout?

Gout is a painful form of arthritis. When your body has extra uric acid, sharp crystals may form in the big toe or other joints, causing episodes of swelling and pain called gout attacks. it's due to a crystal called uric acid.

The good news is that gout is treatable with medications and changes in diet and lifestyle.

Gout can affect anyone. Men are three times more likely than women to experience gout as they have higher levels of uric acid. Women reach higher uric acid levels after menopause, therefore it generally occurs after menopause in women.

Risk factors for gout

Obesity, or a lot of extra weight.

Congestive heart failure.

Diabetes.

Family history of gout.

Hypertension (high blood pressure).

Kidney disease.

You are also more likely to develop gout if you:

• Consume a diet high in animal proteins
• Consume a significant amount of alcohol
• Are on water pills (diuretics).

Symptoms of gout

Sudden severe pain in a joint – usually your big toe, but it can be in other joints in your feet, hands, wrists, elbows or knees or a hot, swollen, with red skin over the affected joint.

An attack of gout usually lasts 5 to 7 days, then gets better. It may not cause lasting damage to joints if you get treatment immediately.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment in the cases of:

• the pain getting worse
• you also have a very high temperature (you feel hot and shivery)
• you also feel sick or cannot eat

These symptoms could mean you have an infection inside your joint and need urgent medical help.

Can I prevent gout?

You can take certain lifestyle alterations to help prevent gout:

• Drink plenty of water to help your kidneys function better and avoid dehydration.
• Exercise regularly to stay at a healthy weight. Extra weight increases uric acid in your body and puts more stress on joints.
• Do your best to limit the purines in your body, since these chemicals can trigger uric acid buildup. Foods and drinks containing high purine levels include:

Where possible limit or avoid:

• Alcohol.
• Red meat and organ meats (liver, for example).
• Shellfish.
• Drinks and foods high in fructose (fruit sugar), like sweet fizzy drinks and processed foods.
• Protein from animal sources. All protein from animal flesh can potentially lead to elevated uric acid levels. That said protein is very important to have in the diet, however, excess amounts could be problematic in that this can cause high uric acid levels. Certain foods are naturally high in purines, which your body breaks down into uric acid.

Most people can tolerate high-purine foods. But if your body has trouble releasing excess uric acid, you may want to avoid certain foods and drinks, such as:

Gout and alcohol

Alcohol, like red meat and seafood, is high in purines. When your body breaks down purines, the process releases uric acid.

More uric acid increases your risk of having gout. Alcohol can also reduce the rate at which your body removes uric acid.

Not everyone who drinks will develop gout, however, high consumption of alcohol (more than 12 drinks per week) can increase the risk, especially in men. Beer is most likely to influence the risk.

Certain medications can lead to elevated uric acid levels. These medications include:

• Diuretics, also known as “water pills.”
• Immunosuppressants, or drugs used to slow the immune system (common in organ transplants, for example).

Having high urate levels and gout for a long time can lead to other health problems, including: 

• narrowing of the arteries - which can lead to an increased risk of stroke, heart attacks or other heart problems
• osteoarthritis, which occurs when the urate crystals and hard tophi cause joint damage
• an increased risk of developing kidney disease or worsening of the condition if you already have it
• kidney stones 
• an increased risk of some cancers, especially prostate cancer
• mental health problems, including depression  
• underactive thyroid 
• erectile dysfunction.

Gout essential oils

Essential oils are plant-based substances used in aromatherapy. Some oils are thought to have anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and antibacterial effects.

Some of the essential oils used to treat gout include:

• lemongrass oil
• celery seed oil
• yarrow oil extract - Moa Green Balm (50ml)
• olive leaf extract
• Chinese cinnamon

Don't put essential oils directly on your skin. It's important to dilute them first with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. For example, for a 3 percent dilution, mix 20 drops of the essential oil with 6 teaspoons of the carrier oil. Don't put essential oils in your mouth, since they're not safe to ingest.

Gout and supplements

Although there is no magic pill for gout, certain supplements have been shown to fight inflammation, decrease uric acid levels and boost the immune system. Adding supplements to your overall care plan may help ease the symptoms of your gout. It’s also important to discuss with your doctor any supplements that you might want to try in case they could interact with any other medications you’re already taking.

Vitamin C: Research shows that vitamin C can be useful in the prevention of gout[i].

Bromelain extract: Bromelain is an extract from the pineapple plant that’s believed to have anti-inflammatory properties[ii].

Fish oil supplements: Omega 3 is known to reduce inflammation, which may also be helpful for people with gout because they reduce inflammation, a key hallmark of this condition. It may also be a good idea to get omega3 from supplements rather than seafood or fish, due to the animal protein raising uric acid levels.

Ginger: Ginger is often praised for its anti-inflammatory effects[iii].

Milk thistle: Research suggests that it might also be useful in lowering uric acid levels[iv]

Turmeric: A study concluded that a preparation containing turmeric nanoparticles could hold promise in reducing uric acid levels in people with gout[v].

Our top picks for gout:

Celery Seed (60 caps)

Tart Cherry, Nettle & Turmeric Super-Blend Powder (50g)

Urtica Drops-Stinging Nettle (50ml)

Eskimo Extra (50 caps)

White Willow 400mg - Organic