Nutritional therapy plays a vital role in supplementing other therapies like massage, hydrotherapy and diet therapy to cure Gout. Nutritional therapy for Gout is a natural way of cure, based on the food supplements which act as medicine. Some of the nutrients present in herbs, fruits and vegetables are beneficial in achieving and maintaining optimum health. Nutritional therapy for Gout helps in reducing and lowering the uric acid levels as well as in the reduction of inflammation and pain. It also is beneficial in the prevention of Gout in the early stages.
A qualified nutritionist can advise you on whether you need a long term or short term therapy. If nutrition therapy is not taken in a proper manner, it can have an adverse effect on the treatment and aggravate the problem.
Dosage plays an important role as well as checking for allergic nutrients, as a wrong dosage or combination of nutrients could result in adverse or improper results. The nutritional therapy which would work for Gout treatment is as follows:
Folic Acid
Folic acid, which could be taken in the form of folate, is a water soluble Vitamin B and is most commonly found in green leafy vegetables, legumes, beans, lentils, spinach and sunflower seeds. Folic acid is best taken in the form of a supplement. This vitamin reduces the uric acid deposition in the Gouty joints. An over dosage of folic acid could cause some adverse effects in nursing women, patients who suffers from seizures, or people suffering from kidney or liver diseases. Recommended daily allowance for Gout patients is 10- 40 mg per day.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is another water soluble vitamin which acts as a very essential anti-oxidant. This vitamin is largely found in citrus fruits, amla, broccoli and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin C facilitates the elimination of uric acid from the Gout affected joints and also lowers the uric acid levels in the blood. Caution should be taken against over dosage as it could even lead to aggravation of Gout, so always ensure that the correct amount of Vitamin C is taken in. Recommended daily allowance for Gout patients is approximately 500 mg per day.
Bromelain
It is a protelytic enzyme present in pineapple. Bromelain is an anti inflammatory agent and is used in treating the Gout inflamed joints. An over dosage of this enzyme has to be avoided in pregnant women and also people suffering from hypertension, kidney and liver diseases. Also care to be taken when this therapy is combined with other therapies as it could cause some side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Recommended daily allowance for Gout patients is 400 – 500 mg per day, especially during attacks.
Quercetin
This is a bioflavonoid that is present in onions and acts as an anti-oxidant. This enzyme interferes in the uric acid metabolism to restrain the production of Xanthine Oxidase which is the main agent that aggravates the Gout inflammation in the affected joints. This bioflavonoid is known to have anti-inflammatory effects. Care to be taken that the optimum amount of this enzyme to be taken. The side effects of this enzyme are not yet known. Recommended daily allowance for Gout patients is 150-250 mg for three to four times daily.
Aspartic Acid
An aminsuccinic acid which is a non-essential amino acid that is involved in the metabolic process of urea and purines and is hugely beneficial in the treatment of Gout. This nutrient facilitates the proper metabolic process of urea and purines. Recommended daily allowance for Gout patients is 1.5 -2.0 g daily.
Calcium
Calcium is very essential mineral, which helps to fight the food cravings and to maintain weight. A few Calcium rich consumables are – celery, soy milk, oranges, berries, spinach, broccoli, parsley, beans etc, which would be proving to be helpful in treatment of Gout in weight loss, kidney stones, and immune functions and also regulates the various metabolic processes. Recommended daily allowance for Gout patients is approximately 1500 mg daily.
