At a Glance
- Gout is a common form of arthritis which can be very painful.
- Gout is a result of a buildup of toxic uric acid in the body, leading to crystal deposits in joints and under the skin.
- Juicing can help prevent gout and improve the symptoms of gout by combining specific ingredients which provide hydration and help eliminate uric acid.
I’ll never forget the day I saw a colleague hobbling into work, hardly able to walk. He looked like he was in so much pain, and working with him all day, I could see how severely it was affecting him. When I asked him about the cause? Gout.
I’d heard of it before, and vaguely associated it with eating too much rich food, but I’d never seen the effects, which were really debilitating. This prompted me to look a little more closely at gout, and to do some research.
Around the same time, an elderly aunt also told me she had been diagnosed with gout. This really got me thinking about my own lifestyle, and making sure I didn’t become a gout sufferer.
At the time I was following a juicing program for weight loss, and wondered if juicing could help my aunt. After a bit of nutritional investigation, I came up with some juicing recipes for gout for my aunt to try – I’ve included them so you can check them out for yourself!
So let’s start at the beginning:
What Is Gout?
Gout is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It is extremely painful, and caused by a long term excessive amount of uric acid in the body. This can result in the formation of uric acid crystals, which are deposited as hard, sharp lumps in the joints and underneath the skin. The uric acid can also cause kidney stones.
Gout most commonly affects the toes and fingers, but can also affect all the other joints in your arms and legs. The common symptoms are:
- Pain
- Red, hot, swollen joints
- Stiffness and reduced movement
What Causes Gout?
Uric acid is produced in the body when purine – a protein for making DNA and many other important substances – is broken down.
Excessive uric acid is normally disposed of by the kidneys, but conditions can occur when the body produces too much uric acid, and the kidneys are unable to excrete enough uric acid to maintain a good balance. (source)
This can result from things like:
- Eating lots of food high in purine
- Consuming too much alcohol
- Taking some medications, especially long term
- Exposure to lead
- An enzyme defect which can inhibit purine breakdown
What If I Think I Have Gout?
If you experience any symptoms which might make you suspect gout, it’s important to seek medical advice. The signs of gout mention above are not exclusive to gout – they could be evidence of a different type of arthritis, or even another condition altogether. An accurate medical diagnosis is essential.
Once gout has been diagnosed, your doctor will advise you and may prescribe medication to help improve your symptoms. However, particularly because of the nature of gout, diet and nutrition can play a key role in helping you manage the condition.
Gout and Nutrition
A general awareness of diet and its effect on gout can make your life much less painful. There’s some great advice on the general management of gout here. Knowing which foods to avoid can also be a real bonus.
The following foods are all unhelpful when managing gout:
- Red meat
- Offal (organ meats)
- Seafood
- Alcohol
- Food and drinks high in sugar
It’s interesting to note that while animal sources of purine can increase the risk of gout by as much as five times, vegetables sources such as spinach, asparagus, peas, cauliflower and mushrooms contain some purine, they do not appear to increase the likelihood of gout. (source)
Juicing for Gout
Juicing can help gout by mixing together some great natural foods for pain relief, reducing inflammation and lowering the amount of uric acid in your body.
Another advantage of juicing is that it provides a concentrated dose of nutrients that are easy on the digestive system, and easy for the body to absorb and use quickly.
Research indicates flare-ups of gout are more likely when we consume large meals. Juicing can provide the body with its nutritional requirements in smaller doses, and so reduces the risk of gout. (source)
Juicing also provides a natural source of sweetness that can help curb cravings for foods that can make gout worse, like sugary donuts, cookies and candy.
Which Foods Can Help Gout?
Many fruits and vegetables have been given the green light for reducing symptoms and preventing attacks of gout.
Experts recommend balancing fruit intake with vegetables, as a high intake of fructose (the sugar in fruit) alone has been associated with a higher risk of gout.
Berries
In addition to a range of other beneficial nutrients, berries are generally high in vitamin C – a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory which can help ease joint pain and protect against cell damage from free radical chemicals. (source)
Some research has indicated a daily dose of 1500 mg of vitamin C can reduce the risk of gout by 45%. (source)
It’s no surprise that the Gout Food Guide recommends a daily dose of strawberry or blackberry juice to prevent attacks of gout and reduce symptoms.
Cranberries are acidic, which has led to some controversy about their effectiveness in gout, but many people have found them beneficial, especially when using the raw fruit as part of a juice cocktail.
Cherries
Cherry juice definitely deserves a special mention in relation to gout. In one study, people suffering from gout reported almost 20% less episodes of gout compared to people who didn’t drink cherry juice. (source)
Cucumber
Cucumbers are a great source of hydration and are highly alkaline. These properties can help dilute and neutralize acids in the blood, which decreases formation of uric acid crystals. They are also a great source of antioxidant vitamins C and K and a wide range of different minerals.
Karela
The bitter gourd, bitter melon or karela is a strange looking fruit. Although it has a bitter taste, it contains huge amounts of vitamin C, folate and many other nutrients beneficial in managing gout. In fact, it has been used in countries like India for centuries as a treatment for the condition. (source)
Green and Leafy Vegetables
Vegetable such as kale, collard greens, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips (root and greens), romaine lettuce, watercress and arugula contain very low levels of sugars which help balance fruit sugars when juicing for gout.
They contain a huge variety of beneficial nutrients, including iron, B vitamins, calcium, antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamins C and K, which all help to support healthy kidney function.
Pineapple
Not only is pineapple a great source of vitamin C, it is also the only fruit to contain bromelain – an enzyme known for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.
Research indicates bromelain is as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen when it comes to reducing inflammation. Bromelain has also been shown to promote blood circulation and blocks the substances in the body that cause swelling and pain.
All of these properties of bromelain make it ideal for reducing the symptoms of gout. (source)
Sweet Potatoes
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, sweet potatoes are the healthiest vegetable you can eat. In terms of gout, they are a great source of antioxidants and have natural anti-inflammatory properties to help calm joint flare ups. (source)
They also contain important plant compounds called anthocyanins which have been shown to significantly reduce uric acid concentrations, as well as electrolytes which help balance fluids in the body and improve kidney function. (source)
Sweet Red Peppers
These are a great source of vitamin C, antioxidants and other plant compounds like flavonoids. These may reduce inflammation and free radical activity, balance fluids and electrolytes and improve kidney function – all helpful effects when managing gout.
Precautions When Juicing for Gout
Gout is a medical condition often managed with the help of medication. If you want to embark on a juicing program to relieve your symptoms, it’s best to do so in consultation with your doctor, especially if you’re taking medication.
Another important point is to continue taking your regular medications. While juicing for gout may reduce your need for medication over time, this should be done under medical advice only.
If gout is affecting the joints of your hands, it can be difficult to prepare fresh produce, especially harder vegetables. There are lots of different companies, like this one, who make specialized kitchen utensils and other equipment which can make life much easier for arthritis sufferers.
Juicing Recipes for Gout
These recipes are specifically aimed at reducing the symptoms of gout, as well as preventing the onset of gout in the first place. Feel free to use your own ideas to group anti-gout ingredients together to create alternative recipes. It’s important to have lots of variety!
#1 Cucumber Cooler
This juice is great for hydration, contains lots of antioxidants and supports kidney function.
- 1 cup kale
- 1 inch piece root ginger
- 1 cup sweet potato
- 6 sticks celery
- ½ lemon
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 medium apple
- Juice the kale, ginger and sweet potato
- Juice the celery and lemon
- Juice the cucumber and apple
- Pour and serve
#2 Pineapple Pain Reliever
This juice contains bromelain, a natural painkiller, as well as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to calm inflammation, hydrate and soothe joints.
- 1 inch root ginger
- ½ medium pineapple
- 1 lime
- 1 medium cucumber
- 2 medium apple
- Juice the ginger, pineapple and lime
- Juice the cucumber and apple
- Add ice and serve immediately
#3 Karela Cleanser
Karela helps to cleanse and flush out toxins and improves circulation. Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory, and helps to balance the taste.
- ¼ -½ cup chopped karela
- 2 inch piece root ginger
- 1 cup mango
- 2 sticks celery
- 1 medium carrot
- 1 medium apple
- Juice the karela, ginger and mango
- Juice the celery, carrot and apple
- Serve immediately
#4 Sweet Treat
Many gout sufferers have found combining sweet potato with pineapple helpful in reducing the symptoms of gout.
- ½ medium pineapple
- ½ lemon
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 medium sweet potato
- Juice pineapple and lemon
- Juice the cucumber and the sweet potato
- Pour over ice and serve
#5 Sweet Cherry Berries
This sweet and tasty juice is packed to the brim full of vitamin C antioxidant, natural anti-inflammatories and nutrients to help balance fluids and electrolytes.
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- ½ cup cranberries
- 1 cup cherries, pitted
- 1 large sweet potato
- 1 medium apple
- Juice all the berries and cherries
- Juice the sweet potato and the apple
- Serve and enjoy
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