Gout Pain? Here's Why You Should Try Tart Cherry Extract
Imagine this –
You are suffering from pain and inflammation in your feet, most notably in your big toe. This pain can be moderate to severe and come on suddenly, wracking you with hot, stinging sensations.
You are experiencing the symptoms of gout. This is called ‘podagra.’ In Greek, podagra means ‘foot trap.’ Now you know what this feels like – it feels as though your big toe has been caught in a steel trap.
How can you find relief? Let’s look at what gout is and how you can fight its symptoms naturally with tart cherry extract.
What Is Gout? The Short Answer: Gout Is A Form Of Arthritis.
Gout is excruciatingly painful and affects about 4% of the United State population. It’s an inflammatory condition that often affects the joints of the big toe, or the base of the big toe (metatarsophalangeal). During a gout ‘attack’, urate crystals within the joint cause damage and pain to the cartilage. Even with a deep medical community understanding of gout and very effective treatments available, many with gout continue to have painful recurrent attacks.
Gout is caused by hyperuricemia, a condition in which too much uric acid is present in the body. Uric acid is a heterocyclic compound, or a naturally-occurring waste product within the body that helps to break down purine nucleotides. Purines are organic chemical compounds found in plants and meats, and they are metabolized and filtered out of the body during the digestive process.
When too many purines are present in the body – most commonly due to the consumption of foods with high sugar content, seafood, and alcohol – the body is unable to metabolize and excrete these organic compounds fast enough. This results in an excess amount of uric acid in the body.
Most commonly, gout is experienced in men and middle-aged individuals. For some, they experience asymptomatic gout where there are high levels of uric acid present in the blood but no exterior symptoms. Those with painful gout attacks can experience pain and swelling that lasts for several days, leaving them with feelings of heat and even lumpy deposits in the joints. These lumps are called gouty tophi and have the appearance and consistency of toothpaste.
How To Prevent Gout Attacks
To prevent gout attacks, limit your consumption of sugars. Drink plenty of fluids, with water being your best choice. Do your best to control emotional and physical stress, as this can cause your flare-ups to be even more severe, and consult your personal physician to help control the pain and keep your condition from worsening.
Treatments for gout have advanced over the years, including the development of ‘allopurinol,’ a drug to prevent attacks. Speak with your orthopedic surgeon or personal physician about possible pharmaceuticals for gout. Many people with gout suffer from multiple conditions and medication interactions and side-effects should be considered. Thankfully, there is a natural remedy for the symptoms of gout available, as well.
How Tart Cherry Extract Provides Releif
For those suffering from gout, you may find relief with the power of tart cherries (prunus cerasus). In fact, studies suggest that about 25% of people with gout use these and want to avoid problems with pharmaceuticals. Tart cherries have been noted for their aid in alleviating symptoms of gout thanks to their rich antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory powers. These small fruits help to alleviate inflammation, a key element of a gout attack.
One study of 633 patients with gout demonstrated that cherry intake is associated with a lower risk of gout attacks. Scientists believe that part of the reason cherries might work is that they increase the excretion of urate and also limit the production of uric acid in the liver. The abundant urate crystals in those with gout stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cherry counteracts this problem and also protects the body and joints by providing good antioxidant coverage. This is an excellent non pharmacological option for the treatment of many of the problems associated with gout.
Tart cherries have many phytochemicals that help, but cyanidin is the most prevalent compound. These nutrient-rich cherries help to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body and may even help to offset the effect of gout on the bones and joints. The anthocyanins of cherries seem to interfere with the internal oxidation process of energy production in the body. They act as free radical scavengers and decrease the overall amounts of volatile and damaging free radicals. Tart cherries also contain anti-inflammatory anthocyanins that can help to reduce uric acid levels in the body.
Reach for a bowl of fresh Montmorency cherries, a glass of sugar-free tart cherry juice, or a tart cherry supplement to stay on top of your symptoms. Tart cherries are not just for good gout but also insomnia, muscle pain, and over-exertion, and they offer an excellent way to help the body recover. They also have great potential for the treatment of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. For those seeking longevity and vital aging, tart cherries are highly recommended.
Try Our New Tart Cherry Extract For Natural + Effective Relief
If you are living with gout, first make sure to have regular visits with your personal physician to help keep your attacks under control. Then, make sure to maintain a healthy diet and supplement with our natural Tart Cherry Extract to fight daily pain and inflammation.
Dr. Meredith Warner, the orthopedic surgeon behind Well Theory, developed this supplement after seeing the need for inflammation support in her patients. She regularly recommends the supplementation of tart cherries and even takes them herself – and she has now made these supplements easily available to you.
Order our Tart Cherry Extract Supplements today for inflammation control, joint support, and the defense you need against gout!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Meredith Warner is the creator of Well Theory and The Healing Sole. She is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Air Force Veteran.
She is on a mission to disrupt traditional medicine practices and promote betterment physically, spiritually and mentally to many more people. She advocates for wellness and functional health over big pharma so more people can age vibrantly with more function and less pain.
At Well Theory, Our surgeon-designed products are FDA Registered and formulated to help people:
- Manage the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain
- Recover vibrantly from orthopedic related surgeries
- Fill the gaps in our daily diets
- Manage pain associated with inflammation