Water should be highly considered whether you are trying to stop an active gout attack or trying to prevent a future one. Your body is made up of approximately two-thirds water. When you are not getting enough water, your body functions inefficiently. This includes your kidneys not working properly. Your kidneys are vital in treating this painful arthritic condition. They help eliminate excess uric acid, also known as monosodium urate. Uric acid is the result of your body processing purines. Water helps flush the excess of this acid out of your system.

Another reason you should drink plenty of water is because it helps you lose weight. Since gout patients tend to be overweight, water is key to your diet. Drink at least 6-8 glasses a day and if you are having an active attack try drinking 10 glasses a day. Avoiding drinks that can dehydrate you such as soda are critical. Drinking a soda a day doubles your chances of getting a gout attack if you are prone to this disease. Stick with water.

Fruits are outstanding resources in treating gout. This is the case for several reasons. These would include being great resources for vitamin C, potassium, fiber, anthocyanins, bromelain, quercitin, folic acid, and water. The great thing about all these aspects of fruit are that they not only have properties that help decrease painful swelling and help reverse joint damage, but many of these properties also help prevent or reduce the incidence and severity bringing pain relief for gout. Let's take a look at just a few of these benefits.

Vitamin C

Arthritis and Rheumatism (2005;52:1843–7) is a study concerning gout and vitamin C. This study discovered that when a person had an intake of vitamin C of 500mg per day that after a six week period the average person's uric acid levels dropped by up to fifty percent. That is simply amazing! That is as good if not better than prescription medication designed to accomplish the same task.

Fiber

Fiber gets rid of gout in a secondary fashion. It is unable to eliminate this painful disease in and of itself. Most people who suffer from gout tend to be overweight or even obese. Because of this, fiber is essential for a gout patient due to it's ability to help a patient lose weight. By losing weight you actually decrease your risk of gout, although there is a small percentage of gout patients who get gout that are not overweight.

Quercitin

Quercitin is found mostly in cherries. It is a great addition to any gout therapy. Quercitin is beneficial because it helps reduce swelling. Most gout pain comes from inflammation. If the swelling is not treated, over time this swelling can turn into disabling deposits called tophaceous gout.

Folic Acid

Folic acid should be part of your natural gout remedies. Folic acid, found mostly in pineapples will not get rid of gout pain or stop a gout attack, however it still is important. One of the problems with the uric acid crystals when they settle in your joints is that they cause joint damage. Folic acid aids in fixing this by combining with folates that are in many fruits and forming vitamin B9. B9 then works on fixing joint and cartilage damage.

Preventing Gout Pain

Herbal Gout Remedies

Symptoms of Gout

Gout Treatments Information

Cherries and Gout Pain