If you ask a doctor, they will tell you that the foods that you eat are very closely aligned to a gout attack.  In fact, they are so closely aligned that it is suggested that you keep a log of all the foods that you eat so that when a gout attack happens, you can pretty much know what foods are triggering your gout.  This hub will discuss what foods you should eat when you have gout.

Understanding what role food plays in gout, you have to understand that uric acid buildup is the primary cause.  And uric acid is nothing more than a by-product that is created by enzymes that break down food.  Different enzymes break down different food sources.  There are protein enzymes that are responsible for breaking down protein and this happens all the way across the board.

In treating gout naturally, you just need to know what foods are triggering the enzyme and remove it from your diet.  Additionally, you can add foods that are good when you have gout.  Certain foods will actually inhibit uric acid levels from rising above where they need to be.

Finally, understand that uric acid in and of itself is not a bad thing.  In fact, uric acid is just as important as vitamin C to your body.  The only time it becomes a problem is when you eat certain foods that trigger a gout attack.

Since you are probably reading this as a gout attack is happening, we will start with the foods you should be eating right now. This is important because if you can eat the right foods, then you should be able to get over the attack quickly and be able to get back on your feet.

When an attack of gout strikes you, you should consider the following:

• Eat ONLY fruits and vegetables that are raw. Fruits and vegetables are known for their high amounts of antioxidants. Also, they are the most easy to digest and don't put a strain on you digestive system making it easier for the kidneys and liver to get the excessive uric acid levels filtered down. Additionally, foods like blueberries, cherries and strawberries have been documented to help neutralize uric acids.
• Eat foods that can help reduce serum uric acid- Alfalfa is a good sourse that have properties to help reduce uric acid as is chlorella and celery juice.  Garlic, the wonder drug, is another very powerful food that will help to inhibit uric acid buildup as well as other sulfur producing foods.
• Eat foods that will decrease inflammation-Flaxseeds, nuts and some coldwater fish have powerful omega 3's that are documented to help reduce inflammation in the body.
• Drink plenty of water- Water is probably the most important thing that you can drink when you have gout. Water will help your digestive system process the uric acid quicker thus relieving some of the symptoms associated with gout.  Natural fruit and vegetable juices can do the same thing as well as they are mostly comprised of water and aren't hard on the digestive system