Natural Relief for Gout

Gout: Now, Everyman’s Disease

Men are 4 times more likely

than women to have gout.

Number of gout cases has

increased 44% in the last 20 years!

Gout: Symptoms

• Sudden, intense pain that starts during the night

• Warmth, pain, swelling, and extreme tenderness in a

joint (usually a big toe)

• Pain increases rapidly and lasts 12 to 24 hours, eases

during the next few days

• May also have…

– Very red or purplish skin around the affected joint, which

may appear to be infected

– Limited movement in the affected joint

Gout

Gout: Conventional Treatment

• NSAIDs – Adverse effects: stomach ulcers, liver failure

• Colchicine – Adverse effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

• Corticosteroids – Adverse effects: bone thinning, immune suppression

• Urate lowering drugs – (Zyloprim, Aloprim) and febuxostat (Uloric) reduce

uric acid production

– Probenecid (Probalan) increases excretion of uric acid

– Adverse effects: rash, low blood counts, reduced liver function, kidney stones

Understanding Uric Acid

• Formed from the breakdown of purines

• Some uric acid is always naturally present in our body and has a purpose

– Antioxidant, prevents damage to blood vessel linings

• Two sources:

• Our bodies: purines are natural substances found in all body cells

– Provide part of the chemical structure of our genes

– As a normal part of cell life, dying cells are broken down releasing

purine, which is further broken down into uric acid, which is excreted

in urine

• Our diets: some foods contain high amounts of concentrated purines

– liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas, beer, and wine, bacon, trout, scallops

Normal Uric Acid Formation and Excretion

Purines

Uric

Acid

Kidney

Urine

The kidneys maintain

levels of uric acid.

Kidney problems are

one cause of excessive

uric acid buildup.

Conventional Risk Factors for

Uric Acid Buildup

• Diet

– Foods high in purines (organ meats)

– Alcohol

• Genetics

• Gender

– Men produce more uric acid and are less efficient at excreting it

• Obesity

• Untreated medical conditions

– High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease

• Certain medications

– Low dose aspirin, diuretics

What else is going on?

• Under excretion of uric acid

• Suboptimal hydration

• Nutritional choices

• pH imbalances

pH

• pH = measurement of the body’s acidity/alkalinity – Ideal is “acid tummy, basic body”

• pH is tightly regulated

• Intake of high levels of protein forms acids in the bloodstream – including uric acid

• Must be neutralized with alkaline minerals – Calcium pulled from bones (calcium neutralizes acid)

– Acid crystals deposited throughout the body

• Arteries (plaques) (heart disease)

• Synovial joints (gout)

• Heels and shoulders (bone spurs)

• Kidneys (kidney stones)

• Bones become weak and brittle (osteopenia/osteoporosis)

Prevention is the Solution

Step 1: Water

• Hydration is crucial

• 8-10 glasses of water daily

• Urine should be pale or clear in color

– Dark yellow urine means drink

more water

Number one cause of

kidney stones is not

drinking enough water!

Step 2: Improve ratio of alkaline to acid foods

• Most vegetables: cauliflower,

spinach, peas, green beans, pepper,

radish, sweet potato, eggplant,

carrot, cabbage

• Most fruits: apple, orange, peach,

pear, rhubarb, strawberry, tomato,

lemon

• Some proteins: almonds, tofu, whey

protein powder

• Liquids: green drinks, apple cider

vinegar, fruit juice, REAL LEMONADE

• NO relationship to TOTAL protein

intake

Eat These Alkaline Foods Minimize Acidic Foods

• Some vegetables: corn, lentils, some beans

• Many grains: white flour, wheat, oatmeal, cornstarch

• Excessive amounts: bacon, beef, clams, pork, lobster, shrimp, tuna, turkey, veal, sardines, cod, etc.

• Beer

• ABSOLUTELY AVOID:

– soft drinks

– corn oil and corn syrup

– SODIUM

Drinking a regular

(not diet) soda

daily increases

gout risk by 45%;

2 sodas daily

raises risk by

85%!

Step 3: Appropriate Supplements

Cherry Fruit Extract

• Increases excretion of uric acid

• Sweet cherry or tart cherry? SWEET

• Clinical research in women consuming sweet cherries – Plasma urate levels decreased 15%, and urinary urate excretion increased 73%

– Also showed reduction in inflammation markers: c-reactive protein and nitric

oxide

• Clinical research specifically on inflammation markers after consuming

sweet cherries – 25% decrease in c-reactive protein

– 18% decrease in inducible nitric oxide

• Consuming cherry extract was associated with a 40% reduced risk of

recurrent gout attacks

NOTE: Endothelial nitric oxide has heart protective

effects; inducible nitric oxide is associated with

inflammation and arthritic joint damage

Cherry Juice or Cherry Capsules?

• Calories: 140

• Carbohydrate: 33 grams

• Cost: $1.87 per serving

• Convenience: low (must

be refrigerated)

• Portable: no

8 oz Juice Encapsulated cherry extract

• Calories: 0

• Carbohydrates: 0

• Cost: 60¢ per serving

• Convenience: high (no

refrigeration necessary)

• Portable: yes

Unlike other drying techniques,

freeze drying cherry extract

preserves the key nutrients for

best benefits!

Curcumin

• Shown to inhibit crystal formation in experimental model

– Also helpful in preventing kidney stones, which can also form from

either uric acid or calcium oxalate crystals

• Has protective effects against experimentally induced kidney

inflammation

• A very powerful anti-inflammatory

– Reduces inflammation associated with gout or kidney stone formation

WITHOUT the adverse effects of NSAIDS (ibupropen, acetaminophen,

etc)

• Combine with boswellia, DLPA and nattokinase for superior

pain relief

Pharmacognosy Res. 2010 Nov-Dec; 2(6): 388–392

Biol Pharm Bull. 2011;34(2):226-32.

Turmeric and Curcumin are not the same!

• Turmeric is the rhizome of the plant

• Curcumin is the bioactive compound extracted from

turmeric

– Turmeric = Spice

– Curcumin = Medicine

• Curcumin is poorly absorbed

• Look for bioavailable, micronized curcumin with

turmeric essential oils for best results

Other natural interventions

• Minerals shown to inhibit crystal formation include: zinc, potassium, magnesium – Supplement with a good daily multiple, or a specific

mineral supplement (15mg zinc, 400 mg magnesium, 100 mg potassium)

• Vitamin B6 – 30 mg of B6 as pyridoxal-5-phosphate (the bioactive

form), with 100 mg of magnesium for fluid balance • Asparagus – Mild diuretic; Helps “flush” the urinary tract – 340 mg

Recap

• Prevention is Key to avoiding gout and kidney stones

• Step 1: plenty of water, stay hydrated

• Step 2: keep your body alkaline, avoid acid-forming

foods

• Step 3: reduce uric acid levels and inflammation with

freeze dried cherry extract and bioavailable curcumin

– 1500 mg cherry extract daily

– 750 – 1500 mg of bioavailable curcumin daily