What is Gout?

Gout is a rheumatic disease and its symptoms can be extremely painful. Shard-like deposits of uric acid can build up in connective tissue such as in the joints between bones and cause inflammatory arthritis. The primary noticeable symptoms of gout are lumpy uric acid deposits around the joints and the edge of the ear.
About 75% of gout patients experience pain in the big toe. Joint pains in the foot such as in the ankles, heels and instep are also common symptoms of gout as are joint pains in the knees. Gout can also cause joint pain in the elbows, wrists and fingers. About 5% of all gout cases are arthritis related.
Sometimes, inflammatory symptoms of gout are not actual symptoms of gout, but of a false gout called chondrocalcinosis, or pseudo-gout. Calcium, not uric acid builds up in pseudo-gout. Calcium phosphate crystals are not as serious as uric acid crystal build up is to the body.
Uric acid deposits are serious symptoms of gout as the kidneys can be affected and kidney stones may result. Uric acid occurs in the body when purines are being broken down. Purines are found in many foods including liver, anchovies, dried legumes and gravy and are also part of human tissue. Normally, uric acid is dissolved in the bloodstream and is eliminated from the body in urine. If the uric acid is built up too much and not eliminated, hyperuricemia, or an excess of uric acid, results.
While hyperuricemia is one of the symptoms of gout, it is usually detectable only through medical testing. Hyperuricemia itself is not cause for alarm; it is only harmful when the excess uric acid builds up and forms into crystals in the body. It is the painful, lumpy build up of crystallized uric acid around joints that is one of the major serious symptoms of gout.
Besides the pain caused by the uric acid deposits, some other symptoms of gout are stiffness and redness around the joints. A feeling of heat in the joints is also one of the more common symptoms of gout. Stress can bring on the symptoms of gout as can alcohol, drugs and/or other illnesses. Gout attacks may occur months or years apart, but the attacks and symptoms of gout can become more intense and more frequent over time.
Between the attacks, gout sufferers may experience no symptoms of gout and this is called the "interval stage." Kidney damage is one of the internal symptoms of gout and often occurs in the gout sufferer after ten years or more of living with the disease. Chronic tohpaceous gout is an advanced stage of gout that can be very disabling. Source- wisegeek.com

Drink Water, Eat Tofu

Ingesting purines is not the only way to build up an unusually high concentration of uric acid, called hyperuricemia. Poor kidney function, since the kidneys filter out uric acid, works in conjunction with foods that cause gout. Thus, drinking plenty of water and eating tofu, olive oil, and nuts, actually seems to counteract weakened kidneys to eliminate uric acid from the bloodstream. A diet rich in complex carbohydrates, in the form of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains like bread and pasta, may ease the symptoms of gout. A doctor might combine these diet restrictions with anti-inflammatory medication and an overall weight loss plan.

Other foods that cause gout

Other foods that cause gout are dairy and vegetables, because they have lots of purines as well. High-fat dairy, like whole milk, ice cream, butter, and cheese, must be avoided in favor of low-fat dairy, or soy replacements. Spinach, mushrooms, cauliflower, peas, and asparagus have been shown to be rich in purines. In an unrelated food category, lentil beans and yeast increase one's chance of gout flaring up. For this reason, even beer and alcohol, because they are derived from yeast and grains, can increase the discomfort of gout.

Foods that cause Gout

Gout, a kind of rheumatoid arthritis, gets aggravated when sharp crystal shards of uric acid collect between joints and cause painful inflammation. The body breaks down foods containing purines into uric acid, usually a neutral but unnecessary chemical that is then filtered out of the bloodstream by our kidneys. Certain proteins, as well as beans and vegetables, contain such high levels of purines that these foods can cause gout.
In general, foods that cause gout are high in fat, which is why dietary recommendations for people with this kind of arthritis advise that less than 30% of their calories come from fat. Proteins with large concentrations of purines include meat and dairy products. Fish, like mackerel, sardines, oysters, mussels, and scallops, should be avoided, as well as red and white meat like poultry, pork, and beef. Sweetmeats, or organ meat, like kidney, heart, or liver, are especially bad for those suffering from gout. Even foods related to meat, like chicken or beef broth, caviar, and bouillon might produce high levels of uric acid.

Exercising with gout?

Listen To Your Body
Stop exercising and consult your health care provider if you experience chest discomfort or pain, dizziness, severe headache, or other unusual symptoms while you work out. If pain does not go away, get medical help right away. If you are feeling fatigued or sick, take time off from your routine to rest. You can ease back into your program when you start feeling better.

Awesome Tips for a succesful exercise program

1. Tips to a Safe and Successful Physical Activity Program
o Check with your health care provider. If you have a chronic health problem such as obesity, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure, ask your health care provider about what type and amount of physical activity is right for you.
o Start slowly. Incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine and gradually work up to the 30-minute goal to improve health and manage your weight.
2.
o Set goals. Set short-term and long-term goals and celebrate every success.
o Track progress. Keep an activity log to track your progress. Note when you worked out, what activity you did, how long you did the activity, and how you felt during your workout.
o Think variety. Choose a variety of physical activities to help you meet your goals, prevent boredom, and keep your mind and body challenged.
o Be comfortable. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that are appropriate to the activity.
3.
o Eat nutritious foods. Choose a variety of nutritious foods every day. Remember that your health and weight depend on both your eating plan and physical activity level.
o Get support. Encourage your family and friends to support you and join you in your activity. Form walking groups with coworkers, play with your children outside, or take a dance class with friends.

Who says you can't exercise if you have gout?

Mind and Body Exercises
In addition to aerobic activity and strength training, you may wish to include other forms of exercise in your physical activity program. Alternatives to traditional exercise provide variety and fun. They may also help reduce stress, increase muscular strength and flexibility, and increase energy levels. Examples of these exercises include:
o yoga
o Pilates
o tai chi
2. Keep Moving!
Move at your own pace while you enjoy some of these activities:
o Brisk walking
o Jogging
o Bicycling
o Swimming
o Aerobic exercise classes (step aerobics, kick boxing, high/low)
o Dancing (square dancing, salsa, African dance, swing)
o Playing sports (basketball, soccer)

Getting Strong with Gout

1. Certified Personal Trainers
If you are new to strength training, or physical activity in general, consider hiring a certified personal trainer who can plan an individualized program to help you work out safely and effectively.
A personal trainer who has a degree in exercise physiology or is certified through a national certification program such as the American College of Sports Medicine or National Strength and Conditioning Association may help you to reach your physical activity goals.
2. Get Strong!
To build strong muscles and bones with strengthening exercise. Try:
o Lifting weights
o Using resistance bands
o Using stability or medicine balls
o Doing push-ups and abdominal crunches