When you get an high level of Uric acid accumulating in your joints you are likely to develop Gout. Specifically this accumulation of uric acid change to crystals, and the crystals act to impede and restrict movement in your connective tissue. When you reach this stage it becomes difficult to move fingers and toes.
The crystals form quickly, sometimes in a matter of a few hours, and they can grow fast. The growth will lead to an inflammation of the skin around the infected area, and the first symptoms most people notice with gout are swelling and redness of the skin, alongside the restricted movement. The crystals can enlarge to the point they cannot be contained by the skin and ooze through it's surface.
So, what causes this build up of Uric acid? Basically Uric acid is a purine, which is a substance that occurs naturally in our bodies and in a lot of our food. They are not a part of our diet that is vital. Purines are a type of nucleic acid and occur in certain foods as a nitrogenous compound. In over 50% of cases where peoples diet is high in purines an elevated risk of gout is expected.
Some people are born with an abnormally high level or Purines in their system, and this is most likely passed on from their mother. However in most cases gout can be attributed directly to a high purine diet. As the Purine levels that are consumed in food increases, so does the chances of developing gout. There may be some genetic predisposition to developing gout but it is more likely associated directly with natural genetic immunity levels.
It should be clear then that avoiding gout is a rather simple matter of avoiding the food groups which are most often associated with high purine levels. This avoid the uric acid build up in the joints and in doing so avoids gout. It is possible to completely avoid recurring cases of gout by taking control of the diet and removing all purine rich foods and replacing them with foods that will not increase the natural purine levels in the system.
It's also a very good idea to be aware of your acid/alkaline balance levels. Uric acid is one type of acid that when unbalanced can cause complications such as gout, there are many others that come with their own complications. So it's important to understand how alkaline balances out the acids within our system and what role each has.
Post a Comment