subject: 3 Simple Increased Uric Acid Excretion Tips To Prevent Gout [print this page] Gout sufferers have high uric acid because insufficient is being excreted from the body. This condition is called 'hyperuricemia' which eventually leads to gout. Here you'll discover 3 simple tips on how you can increase uric acid excretion in order to help prevent those excruciating gout attacks...
Under normal conditions your kidneys flush excess uric acid from your body via your urine with a little excreted via stools.
However, where your kidneys aren't working to their full potential and / or your body is just producing too much acid for your kidneys to handle, then not enough is being excreted leading to higher-than-normal levels of uric acid in the bloodstream.
These high levels - a condition called hyperuricemia - can lead to the formation of microscopic crystals of urate forming in your joints and surrounding tissue causing the agonizing symptoms we know as gout.
So if you suffer from gout, you are generally more likely to have high acid levels that need to be reduced. And once they have been reduced to much healthier levels they need to be maintained there for the long-term.
The long-term is very important because recurring gout can lead to some serious health problems over time. These are issues such as permanently damaged joints and kidney problems such as stones. So a gout sufferer really needs to work hard to lower their high acid levels and maintain them there.
One of the ways to do that is through increased uric acid excretion, i.e. by helping your kidneys to process and expel as much of it as possible.
Here are 3 simple but effective ways of increasing your uric acid excretion:-
1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C has been shown to help in the urinary excretion process and reduce overall acid levels. Although its better to do this through a diet that is rich in vitamin C, studies have shown that good quality supplements can also be effective. Note: Talk to your physician / doctor before taking any supplements to ensure they are right for your particular case.
2. Water
Drinking at least 2.5 litres of water per day is a great help to your kidneys in excreting uric acid. Water has the added benefit of helping to prevent crystals forming because it's harder for them to form in a well-hydrated body. And it also helps in expelling crystals that have already formed. It's better if you drink the water regularly and evenly throughout the day.
3. Limit or Eliminate Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol can actually inhibit the amount of uric acid excreted. This is why it is one of the most potent triggers for gout attacks. Remember that we want to increase uric acid excretion not inhibit it. That means eliminating alcohol altogether or, at the very least, limiting its consumption to a max of 2 units per day for men and 1 unit for women. Over 65's should limit their consumption to 1 unit per day.
So there you have it, 3 simple tips for increased uric acid excretion...
