What are the symptoms of gout? Swelling, inflammation, redness, pain, throbbing and more pain. I have not had gout myself but they tell me the pain is really horrible. It is caused by a build up of uric acid from the diet. Uric acid can affect any joint in the body but its renowned for effecting the big toe. Uric acid is not processed properly by the kidneys, instead it builds up in the soft tissue, forming sharp crystals that are like needles.

Some people are more prone than others but your diet plays an enormous role. Being over weight, drinking, eating plenty of rich meat, and foods that contain purines, along with acid forming foods and dehydration. If you are over weight (not all suffers are) do not choose a ‘high protein low carb diet’. These diets have given some people gout and for others it has made the condition much worse. How can it bring on gout or make it worse? These diets trigger ketosis, this process leads to the production of by-products, lactic acid and acetone. These chemicals compete with uric acid for expulsion from the body.

Avoid or limit your intake of – red meat, liver, kidneys, wild game, including duck, and goose. The dark fish like herrings and sardines. Then any product that contains yeast like bread. Plus asparagus, spinach and mushrooms. Last but not least real ale, port and red wine.

Even if you don’t drink red wine or eat organs, wild game, or purine rich food, you could still be eating too many acid forming foods and not enough alkaline forming foods.

A quick general rule proteins are acid forming ie beef, pork, poultry, cheese, eggs etc Then grains like wheat and rye are acid forming. Sugar is very acid forming. Alcohol is acid forming and causes dehydration, make sure you drink enough water to help the kidneys flush out compounds. Eating a lot of protein as with a high protein diet, can cause damage to the kidneys and is extremely dehydrating.

Though you don’t have to become a vegetarian, eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables to counter-balance, they are generally alkaline forming, exceptions to this rule are oranges and tomatoes, plus the purine rich asparagus, spinach and mushrooms. Last but not least real ale, port and red wine. .

Least acid forming grains like millet, brown rice and quinoa.