Why Is Gout Becoming So Prevalent?

Did you know that more and more people around the world are being diagnosed with gout? Gout is an extremely painful type of arthritis and you probably know someone who has it. A recent study published in the journal Annuals of Rheumatic Diseases found that 1 in 40 people in the UK now have gout. The rates are very similar in the USA and other western nations.

Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in excessively high levels in the body. Sodium urate crystals deposit in the joints and can cause severe pain, swelling and redness. The joint in the big toe is most commonly affected, but gout can also occur in the heel, ankle, knee or other parts of the body.

Gout was once quite rare and it was referred to as a disease of overindulgence. The main risk factors for developing gout are being overweight, having type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and also having an unhealthy diet. Now that obesity and type 2 diabetes are so prevalent, it’s no wonder rates of gout have skyrocketed.

In past decades, the advice for patients suffering from gout was to avoid offal and oily fish such as herrings and sardines, because these foods are rich in purines (substances that break down into uric acid in the body). I can assure you, the gout epidemic we are seeing now is definitely not caused by an explosion in offal and oily fish consumption.

We now know that sugar, caffeine and alcohol inhibit the body from being able to excrete uric acid, and they are the biggest reasons why so many people are now suffering from the disease. People who eat more sugar or carbohydrate rich foods than their body can tolerate usually develop insulin resistance eventually. This can cause uric acid to build up in the body. Apart from gout attacks, kidney stones are another risk.

Getting blood insulin levels down is the most effective strategy for helping to prevent gout attacks. I recommend the following methods:

Try to stay away from sugar and high carbohydrate foods. It can be difficult but it’s worth it. Whenever you eat carbs, your blood sugar rises and your pancreas releases insulin. If you cut the carbs from your diet, in time your blood insulin level will fall and normal ovarian function can resume. Basing your diet on protein, natural fats and vegetables promotes satiety, making it easier to stay away from sugar. Glicemic Balance capsules help to stabilize your blood sugar, reducing the fluctuations that can cause intense cravings.
Leaky gut syndrome can be a powerful driver of inflammation in the body, and inflammation worsens insulin resistance. Overcoming this condition can be tough. Inflammatory foods like gluten, sugar, grains and legumes will probably need to be avoided. Sometimes high FODMAP foods are a problem. Bone broth is very beneficial because the glutamine it contains helps heal the gut lining. If you don’t like bone broth or don’t have the time to make it, using a glutamine supplement is also helpful. Collagen Food powder provides the nutrients your body needs in order to repair and strengthen the gut lining.
Insulin resistant people cannot handle common levels of carbohydrate in their diet. They over-secrete insulin in response to eating carbs and they are less likely to feel satisfied after a meal, therefore tend to over eat. That means carbohydrate needs to be restricted in the diet. It is best to get your carbohydrate from vegetables. There is an easy to follow low carbohydrate eating plan in the book “I can’t lose weight and I don’t know why” and “Diabetes Type 2 – you can reverse it”.
Type 2 diabetes is end stage insulin resistance. The condition became so significant that the pancreas no longer has the ability to control blood sugar. Berberine is an herbal extract with an amazing ability to improve insulin sensitivity. It makes blood sugar control easier for diabetics and improves the ability to lose weight from the torso.