- The surprising reason my builder let me down
- My gout prejudice shamefully revealed
- Try these natural strategies to avoid and alleviate excessive uric acid building up in your bloodstream…
I’m not much of a handyman.
Behind every large picture hung on our wall are about three failed attempts to put in a screw.
My few DIY projects, like the shelves I put up in the garage, could be described as “charmingly rustic” or maybe just “BAD”.
When it comes to building things… well, forget it.
So, when our garden wall started caving in recently, I got straight on the phone to my trusty builder, Ron.
He’s helped us out with maintenance jobs in our creaky, ageing house for well over a decade, to the point where I’d never consider calling anyone else.
And here’s the surprising thing about Ron.
He’s under 5 foot 5, and very slim for a middle-aged man.
Not the usual profile of a builder, right?
So I was a bit taken aback when he told me he couldn’t come and help us this week because he had been in hospital… with gout.
It was so bad, an ambulance had to come and get him, and he’s currently bedridden because of it.
And here’s why I was taken aback.
My prejudiced mind assumed that gout was something that only much heavier people got – people with high blood pressure or diabetes.
When I think of ‘gout’ I imagine portly 18th-century landowners gorging on piles of foie gras and venison, washed down with tankards of ale.
Silly really!
Ron seemed too slim and fit to have gout, running a business in which, he was always out and about, doing physical work.
I guess they’ll try and get to the bottom of the cause by running tests on him.
But in the meantime, I thought I’d give you a rundown of some ways to avoid or alleviate this horribly painful condition.
A quick guide to gout prevention
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by an excess of uric acid in the bloodstream.
The uric acid can form needle-like crystals in a joint (often the base of your big toe) and cause sudden, severe episodes of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, and swelling.
There are several strategies you can try to prevent, or help manage, these symptoms:
First, some dietary options…
- Reduce Purine-Rich Foods: High-purine foods contribute to high levels of uric acid. Avoid or limit foods like red meat, organ meat, and certain types of seafood, such as shellfish and tuna.
- Limit Alcohol and High-Fructose Drinks: Both alcohol, especially beer, and drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup can increase uric acid levels.
- Increase Intake of Vitamin C-Rich Foods: Consuming more Vitamin C can help lower uric acid levels. Foods like oranges, red peppers, strawberries, and kiwi are high in this vitamin.
- Eat More Cherries: Cherries may help prevent gout attacks by lowering uric acid levels and reducing inflammation.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, can help flush uric acid from your body.
You can also try these herbal remedies:
- Nettle Tea: This herbal tea is believed to help reduce inflammation and pain.
- Celery Seed: This has been traditionally used for managing arthritis and gout. It’s believed to help the kidneys flush out uric acid.
- Turmeric: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, it may help reduce swelling and pain associated with gout.
While Ron’s experience shows that slim, short people can get really bad attacks of gout, it’s also worth remembering that carrying excess weight can put stress on your joints and increase uric acid levels.
So, if you need a motivation to cut down on the refined carbs, sugary treats and processed foodstuffs, this could be it!
Regular, moderate exercise will help with your circulation but avoid intense workouts that can cause joint injury.
If you spend a lot of time sat at a desk, try to move around every so often to keep your joints flexible, as long periods of inactivity can increase gout pain.
For instance, I’ve recently bought a desk-top platform that extends upwards and downwards, so I can use it as a standing desk for an hour, then lower it to sit down for an hour.
Alternating between the two has helped me avoid sitting for too long and has reduced a lot of aches and pains in my back and legs.
Finally, high stress levels can contribute to a gout flare, so try regular walking, meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises.
A combination of all the above strategies should alleviate the worst of it.
But do let me know if you have any tips or strategies that have worked for you.
As for Ron, I wish him the speediest recovery, for his own sake as much as for mine – because if I try and fix this wall myself who knows what disasters might happen?!