Uric acid in the joints: where does it come from and what foods increase its level

osteopath, neurologist, physiotherapist, chiropractor

“Attacks of excruciating shooting pain in the joints, stiffness and increasing burning pain with movement, swelling and redness of the affected areas of the skin… People suffering from these problems know firsthand how important it is to monitor the health of the joints. However, how and why do such unpleasant sensations appear?”

The disease that attacks the joints in this way is called gout. It feels literally as if a sturdy snare has abruptly slammed down on the leg. All to blame for the accumulation of uric acid in the body – when the substance is not excreted naturally and stagnates, crystals form, clogging the joints.

Uric acid in the joints

Uric acid is one of the breakdown products of purines – substances contained in certain foods, such as seafood, offal, peanuts, baked goods, meat.

With frequent consumption of the above products in the body produces a lot of uric acid, which the kidneys are no longer able to remove, and it simply settles in the joints, “clogging” them.

Why are the joints under attack?

Joints are considered a kind of “weak spot” for uric acid, as they easily accumulate fluid, which as a fertile soil helps to form crystals. As soon as they are formed (and not in small amounts), immediately begin to get stuck in the mobile joints of the bones of the skeleton, causing inflammation: the joints are heated and red, there comes a strong burning pain that does not allow a person to walk normally or move limbs.

What to do if the joints are inflamed?

First of all, it is necessary to understand that everyone has different reactions to certain processes. For example, some people have an excess of purines in the consumed products do not have any negative consequences, while others even because of a small excess of this substance develops an attack of gout.

How to “clean” the joints from excess uric acid and prevent the development of gout?

Step 1: Pay attention to your diet and be prepared to exclude certain products from it.

As mentioned above, certain foods can affect the level of uric acid in the body.

To stop the formation of crystals and restore the normal state of the joints, you need to give up the following products:

• fatty meat, sausage, tongue, liver, heart;
• seafood: mussels, fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs;
• legumes: peas, lentils, beans;
• yeast and baked goods;
• peanuts;
• chocolate and cocoa;
• alcohol.

Important: it is worth limiting the consumption of food and drinks containing fructose. Among them: carbonated and fruit juices, sweets, honey, red pepper, mushrooms.

Step 2: Eat more “protective” foods

To help the body eliminate excess uric acid, you should provide it with the right vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. This is why it is recommended to look at vegetables, greens, berries, citrus fruits and dairy products.

Step 3: Drink enough water

It will be easier for your kidneys to get rid of uric acid if you consume a daily allowance of water. By maintaining water balance, you will “flush” the body and remove all the excess from it.

Step 4: Try to move more

Physical activity is necessary for normal blood circulation and health in general. Regular exercise helps not only to strengthen, but also to “clean” the joints from unnecessary fluid. Naturally, everything should be in moderation and without overload.

Determine for yourself the optimal activity that will bring you pleasure. This way you won’t have to force yourself to do something and stress unnecessarily.

• Walking is the easiest and most affordable way to keep your joints toned. Add walking to your daily routine by trying different locations and distances.
• Bicycling is a great activity that distributes the load evenly on the body and has the bonus of increasing overall endurance.
• Swimming – minimal stress on the joints. The water softens all impacts, allowing you to move smoothly and relaxing the spine and muscles.
• Stretching – gets rid of joint and back pain and prevents fluid from building up in the tissues. It is enough to perform simple actions that stretch the muscles. For example, bending to your feet from a standing position, rolling from foot to foot, lifting your legs to your arms stretched forward.

Step 5: Watch your weight

Many people do not see anything wrong with being overweight, but it increases the load on the joints and contributes to the accumulation of uric acid. Therefore, it is extremely important to always monitor this indicator, and in the presence of obesity to think about changes in diet and lifestyle.

Gout is a serious disease that spares no one. However, even it can be managed if you take your health seriously and take care of it.