Gout has become a major problem in this country. It seems to affect men more often than women. Gout is a form of arthritis. The severe swelling and joint pain of gout are caused by excessive levels of uric acid (nitrogen wastes formed from protein metabolism) in the blood. This uric acid crystallizes around the joints and cause pain, swelling and inflammation. In chronic cases the big toe of each foot can become deformed. And, people with gout often develop other ailments like kidney disease, kidney stones, and osteoporosis.

What this condition means is that you have an underlying deficiency of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, strontium, and vitamin E. These deficiencies must be dealt with if you are to resolve the problem. If you suffer from gout it also means you have a low blood pH. That is, you have excess acid in your body, typically uric acid as mentioned earlier.

Traditionally, it was believed that if you reduced the consumption of alcohol, and foods high in purines(red meat, organ meats, anchovies, sweet breads) you could prevent the problem. However, researchers at Harvard University have discovered that one of the biggest contributors to gout is soft drinks. This study at Harvard revealed that men who drank more than 2 cans of carbonated beverages a day increased their risk of gout by 85% compared to men who only drank 1 can of soda pop per day.

It turns out that the chief culprit in carbonated beverages is high fructose corn syrup(HFCS). HFCS is a very dangerous substance. It has been implicated as a cause of obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and macular degeneration (degeneration of the eyes). Our bodies just don't know how to handle this unnatural sweetener. Your best bet is to stay away from it.

Things You Can Do To Combat Gout

1. Supplement early and often. You should supplement with the following vitamins and minerals:

•Folic acid 20 to 50 milligrams per day.
•Calcium citrate 400 milligrams per day.
•Magnesium citrate 800 mg per day. Note that magnesium is more important than calcium in your diet because magnesium controls how calcium is utilized in the body. Over-consumption of calcium can lead to a depletion of magnesium in your body. You may want to try Forte Magnesium chloride.
•Vitamin D 400 milligrams per day.
•Strontium Citrate 680 milligrams per day.
•Vitamin E as “d-alpha-tocopherol” or “dl-alpha-tocopherol” 400 milligrams per day.
•Niacinamide. This is a B vitamin not to be confused with niacin. I repeat, you want to buy NIACINAMIDE, not niacin. Niacin is also a B vitamin but it causes flushing; so stay away from it for now. Niacinamide, on the other hand, is great for stress and provides energy. Take 2000 to 3000 milligrams per day. I normally take 3,000 mg per day of this vitamin.

2. Raise your body's pH by eating more alkaline foods and juicing vegetables. Lemons and watermelon are two of the most alkaline foods around. Squeeze a half of lemon in every glass of water you drink. Try to drink at least 48 ounces of filtered water a day. YAH-willing, I will post an article on juicing this week.

3. Avoid purines, soda pop, white flour, refined sugar, HFCS. As mentioned earlier these foods increase the acidity of your body dramatically. Remember that meats and soda pop are high in phosphorous. Phosphorous lowers calcium levels in our bodies.

4. Get omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are good for your heart, help you lose weight, and reduce the inflammation associated with gout. The best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids are chia seeds and flaxseed oil. Take 2 tablespoons of chia seeds a day (you can try the black or white seeds; they are the same). If you decide to try flaxseeds, consume 3 tablespoons of the ground up seeds (the seeds must be ground up before they can be eaten).

5. Exercise. Aerobic exercise and exercising with free weights can strengthen bones and make you feel better.

6. Take baths in magnesium sulphate—epsom salts. Or, use magnesium oil in daily skin and muscle massages.

Food Sources of Calcium