KONTAN.CO.ID – Jakarta. Learn how to get rid of uric acid in the legs. How to get rid of uric acid in the legs is only an alternative to support the treatment that has been given by the doctor.
Gout is a type of arthritis that develops when blood uric acid levels are abnormally high. Uric acid forms crystals in the joints, often in the feet and big toes, which causes severe and painful swelling.
Some people need medication to treat gout, but dietary and lifestyle changes can also help get rid of uric acid in the legs. Lowering uric acid can reduce the risk of gout and may even prevent subsequent attacks in people with this condition.
Here are some natural ways to get rid of uric acid in the feet besides using drugs, as reported by Medical News Today.
1. Limit purine-rich foods
The first way to get rid of gout in the legs is to limit purine-rich foods. Purines are compounds found naturally in some foods. When the body breaks down purines, it produces uric acid.
The metabolism of purine-rich foods can cause gout by causing the body to produce too much uric acid. Some foods that are high in purines are actually healthy, so the goal is to reduce your intake of purines rather than avoiding them altogether.
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Foods with high purine content that can cause gout include: wild game, such as deer (venison) trout, tuna, haddock, sardines, anchovies, mussels, and herring. Excessive alcohol, including beer and liquor, high-fat foods, such as bacon, dairy products, and red meat (including veal) organ meats, for example, liver and sweetbreads sugary foods and drinks Moderate purine foods include: deli meats most other meats, including ham and beef, poultry, oysters, shrimp , crabs and lobsters.
2. Consume more low-purine foods
The second way to get rid of gout in the legs is to multiply low-purine foods. By switching from foods with a high purine content to foods with a lower purine content, some people may be able to continue to lower their uric acid levels or at least avoid a further increase.
Some low-purine foods that are good for lowering uric acid include: low-fat and fat-free dairy products, peanut butter and most nuts, most fruits and vegetables, coffee, whole grain rice, bread, and potatoes.
Dietary changes alone will not eliminate uric acid, but they can help prevent gout. It’s also important to note that not everyone who gets gout eats foods high in purines.
Other factors, such as genetic susceptibility, also play a role. African Americans are more susceptible than white people to gout. Postmenopausal women and people with obesity also have a higher risk.
3. Avoid drugs that increase uric acid levels
The third way to get rid of gout in the legs is to avoid drugs that increase uric acid levels. Certain medications can increase uric acid levels. These drugs include: diuretic drugs, such as furosemide (Lasix) and hydrochlorothiazide drugs that suppress the immune system, especially before or after organ transplantation low-dose aspirin.
However, drugs that increase uric acid levels may offer essential health benefits. Thus, one should talk to a doctor before changing any medication.
4. Maintain an ideal weight
The fourth way to get rid of gout in the legs is to maintain an ideal body weight. Achieving an ideal body weight can help reduce the risk of gout attacks. Obesity increases the risk of gout, especially in younger people.
Being overweight also increases a person’s risk of developing metabolic syndrome. In addition, being overweight is also associated with a higher risk of elevated blood uric acid levels. A strict diet that can lose weight quickly can increase uric acid levels.
Therefore, people should focus on making sustainable long-term changes to manage their weight, such as being more active, eating a balanced diet, and choosing nutrient-dense foods.
5. Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks
The fifth way to get rid of gout in the legs is to avoid drinking alcohol and containing sugar. Consumption of alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda and sugary juices is correlated with an increased risk of gout.
Alcohol and sugary drinks also add unnecessary calories to food thus potentially causing weight gain and metabolic problems.
6. Drink coffee
The sixth way to get rid of gout asthma in the legs is to drink coffee. Some research shows that people who drink coffee are less likely to develop gout.
For example, in 2010, an analysis of data from female participants in the Nurses’ Health Study found that the risk of gout decreased with increasing coffee consumption. Women who consumed 1 to 3 cups of coffee per day had a 22 percent reduced risk of gout compared to those who didn’t drink coffee.
A number of studies have also linked coffee consumption to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. A 2014 systematic review and meta-analysis found that people who consumed 3-5 cups of coffee per day had the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease. Because people with gout have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, drinking coffee can help improve their overall health.
7. Try a vitamin C supplement
The seventh way to get rid of gout in the legs is the consumption of vitamin C supplements. Taking vitamin C supplements can reduce the risk of gout. A 2011 meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials found that vitamin C significantly reduces blood uric acid levels.
Lowering uric acid levels can reduce the risk of gout attacks. However, studies have not conclusively proven that vitamin C treats or prevents gout – it’s just that vitamin C lowers uric acid levels.
8. Eat cherries
The eighth way to get rid of gout in the legs is to eat cherries. Early research suggests that cherries may reduce the risk of gout attacks, especially in people with a previous history of the disease.
A 2012 study of 633 people with gout found that eating cherries for 2 days lowered the risk of a gout attack by 35 percent compared to people who didn’t eat cherries.
This effect persisted even when the investigators controlled for risk factors, such as age, gender, alcohol consumption, and use of diuretics or anti-uric acid drugs. Among people who also took allopurinol, an anti-uric acid drug, the combination drug and cherries lowered the risk of another attack by 75 percent.
That’s a variety of ways to get rid of uric acid in the legs. Remember, how to get rid of uric acid in the legs is only a complement. You must continue to take gout treatment as recommended by your doctor.
This article has been published on Kompas.com with the title “8 Ways to Lower Uric Acid Levels Naturally Without Drugs“,
Author : Galih Pangestu Jati
Editor: Galih Pangestu Jati
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