What Causes Gout?
Learn What Causes Gout & Feel Better Quickly!
Are you one of the many people who are wondering – what causes gout? You’re not alone! In this article we’ll discuss the cause of gout, as well as the causes of gout flareup, so you can look into treatments and remedies to help you feel better quickly.
What Causes Gout?
Here’s the short answer. In most all cases of gout, there is an excess of uric acid in the body. This condition is known as hyperuricemia.
Uric Acid: What is It & Where Does it Come From?
Uric acid is a crystal formation, which is a natural chemical byproduct of digestion. When we eat, the body needs to take certain nutrients from the food, which are used for energy and to sustain life. Other parts of food are broken down to be eliminated by the body.
One chemical compound that is found in many common foods, ae called purines. Purines are needed by the body, because they convert food into energy, help break down nitrates, and protect you from cancer.
When purines have done their job, they naturally break down into uric acid. This uric acid is then eliminated through the kidneys and the urinary tract. The only time that gout enters the picture, is when the body produces an excess of uric acid. This acid needs to be stored, and a safe place
for the body to put it is in the joints. This may be painful, but imagine if these tiny, crystalline structures were stored in your heart!
So What Causes an Excess of Uric Acid?
Lifestyle is the number one main reason for excess uric acid – and the number one cause of gout flarup.
Here’s a brief overview on lifestyle factors that contribute to gout:
Diet: What foods cause gout? A diet that is high in purines. Here are just a few. Fatty meats (such as goose), red meats, fish & shellfish, yeast, sweetbreads, soy, lentils and spinach. Too much consumption of these foods create the perfect setting for gout.
Obesity: If you are as little as 30 pounds above your ideal weight, you’re at risk for developing gout.
Alcohol: While alcohol doesn’t create excess uric acid, it does interfere with the normal breakdown of it. Beer is more of a contributor to gout than wine and some other types of alcohol, but beware that for some people, alcohol above the following levels are enough to cause gout.
What’s a safe amount to drink? For women it’s up to 1 drink per day, and for men it’s up to 2 drinks per day.
In addition to lifestyle, here are some other contributing factors that can cause gout. Please note that these co-factors generally are not enough to cause gout alone – without one of the lifestyle factors present.
Family history: One in four people with gout have a family member who has it, too.
Age: For men the age for developing gout is between 35 and 50; for women it’s more likely after 50. As our life span increases, the body sometimes gets tired of breaking down the purines, so when combined with a poor lifestyle, gout can set in.
Medications: Anti-inflammatory medicines (including asprin); Levodepa; Niacin; and Cyclosporine
Other medical conditions: Diabetes, hypertension, Narrowing of the Arteries, Hypertension, and High Cholesterol or high levels of fats in the bloodstream
What You Can Do to Treat Gout Symptoms Quickly
While the subject of gout can feel confusing and overwhelming, it’s important to remember that you do have control over your lifestyle. This is great news, in that a few simple changes could make all the difference in your condition!
Hopefully you now know what causes gout and are ready to do something about it. We recommend clicking on the banner to the left to download the Gout Remedy Report that reveals tips to treat your gout naturally. Good luck!
Are you one of the many people who are wondering – what causes gout? You’re not alone! In this article we’ll discuss the cause of gout, as well as the causes of gout flareup, so you can look into treatments and remedies to help you feel better quickly.
Here’s the short answer. In most all cases of gout, there is an excess of uric acid in the body. This condition is known as hyperuricemia.
Uric Acid: What is It & Where Does it Come From?
Uric acid is a crystal formation, which is a natural chemical byproduct of digestion. When we eat, the body needs to take certain nutrients from the food, which are used for energy and to sustain life. Other parts of food are broken down to be eliminated by the body.
One chemical compound that is found in many common foods, ae called purines. Purines are needed by the body, because they convert food into energy, help break down nitrates, and protect you from cancer.
When purines have done their job, they naturally break down into uric acid. This uric acid is then eliminated through the kidneys and the urinary tract. The only time that gout enters the picture, is when the body produces an excess of uric acid. This acid needs to be stored, and a safe place
for the body to put it is in the joints. This may be painful, but imagine if these tiny, crystalline structures were stored in your heart!
So What Causes an Excess of Uric Acid?
Lifestyle is the number one main reason for excess uric acid – and the number one cause of gout flarup.
Here’s a brief overview on lifestyle factors that contribute to gout:
Diet: What foods cause gout? A diet that is high in purines. Here are just a few. Fatty meats (such as goose), red meats, fish & shellfish, yeast, sweetbreads, soy, lentils and spinach. Too much consumption of these foods create the perfect setting for gout.
Obesity: If you are as little as 30 pounds above your ideal weight, you’re at risk for developing gout.
Alcohol: While alcohol doesn’t create excess uric acid, it does interfere with the normal breakdown of it. Beer is more of a contributor to gout than wine and some other types of alcohol, but beware that for some people, alcohol above the following levels are enough to cause gout.
What’s a safe amount to drink? For women it’s up to 1 drink per day, and for men it’s up to 2 drinks per day.
In addition to lifestyle, here are some other contributing factors that can cause gout. Please note that these co-factors generally are not enough to cause gout alone – without one of the lifestyle factors present.
Family history: One in four people with gout have a family member who has it, too.
Age: For men the age for developing gout is between 35 and 50; for women it’s more likely after 50. As our life span increases, the body sometimes gets tired of breaking down the purines, so when combined with a poor lifestyle, gout can set in.
Medications: Anti-inflammatory medicines (including asprin); Levodepa; Niacin; and Cyclosporine
Other medical conditions: Diabetes, hypertension, Narrowing of the Arteries, Hypertension, and High Cholesterol or high levels of fats in the bloodstream
What You Can Do to Treat Gout Symptoms Quickly
While the subject of gout can feel confusing and overwhelming, it’s important to remember that you do have control over your lifestyle. This is great news, in that a few simple changes could make all the difference in your condition!
Hopefully you now know what causes gout and are ready to do something about it. We recommend clicking on the banner to the left to download the Gout Remedy Report that reveals tips to treat your gout naturally. Good luck!
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