In a reaction to a TV episode on the show Royal Aches, I examine the claims that a high fat diet plan will always lead to the discomfort associated with gout and gout attacks. The conventional knowledge seems frequently comparable to popular, however incorrect cholesterol theorem that dietary cholesterol causes increased cholesterol in the blood. Is the popular theory right?
What is Gout?
Gout is a kind of arthritis that happens when unusually high levels of uric acid develop in the body, causing crystals to form in joints. The crystals trigger abrupt, extreme attacks of joint discomfort and swelling. Uric acid is a substance that is usually launched by the kidneys when the body breaks down waste items called purines. When the kidneys are no longer able to flush uric acid out of the body properly, it takes shape and collects around the joints.
Misunderstanding that Atkins is just acidic foods:
Alkaline Foods
Extremely Alkaline Forming Foods – pH 8.5 to 9.0:
Cantaloupe, Cayenne (Capsicum), Kelp, Melons, Watercress, Seaweed
Moderate Alkaline Forming Foods – pH 7.5 to 8.0
Alfalfa sprouts, Avocados, Berries, Carrots, Celery, Lettuce (leafy green), Peas (fresh sweet), Pumpkin (sweet), Spinach, Bell Pepper, Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce (pale green), Strawberry, Squash, Sweet corn (fresh), Sour Dairy
A Little Alkaline to Neutral Forming Foods – pH 7.0
Almonds, Artichokes (Jerusalem), Brussel Sprouts, Coconut (fresh), Cucumbers, Egg plant, Onions, Tomatoes (sweet), Mayo (house made), Millet, Olive oil,
" Red" meat and seafood on the Atkins diet
If you look at this table of high purine foods, you'll see that beef, lamb, pork, plus "white" meat chicken and turkey – all permitted on the Atkins diet plan – are low purine foods, they are medium purine. And that fruits and vegetables, a number of which are allowed, on the Ongoing Weight reduction phase of the Atkins diet plan, are normally medium or low purine. Furthermore, a large study found that purines-wealthy vegetables do not increase the risk of getting gout (7 ).
Gout the missing out on chapter from Good Calories, Bad Calories Gary Taubes
" The actual proof, however, has actually always been less-than-compelling: Just as low cholesterol diets have just an unimportant impact on serum cholesterol levels, for example, and low-salt diets have a medically irrelevant impact on high blood pressure, low-purine diet plans have a negligible effect on uric acid levels. A nearly vegetarian diet plan, for instance, is most likely to drop serum uric acid levels by 10 to 15% percent compared to a normal American diet, but that's rarely adequate to return high uric acid levels to normality, and there is little evidence that such diets dependably minimize the occurrence of gouty attacks in those affected.( 4) Thus, purine-free diets are no longer prescribed for the treatment of gout, as the gout specialist Irving Fox kept in mind in 1984, "since of their ineffectiveness" and their "minor influence" on uric acid levels.( 5) "
Soft drinks, fructose intake, and the risk of gout in guys: potential mate study
Hyon K Choi
BMJ 2008; 336
In a huge study of 46,393 male health professionals in Canada, a survey was performed and after that they were followed every 4 years for 12 years. 2 cans a day intake of HFCS-soda led to 85% greater risk to suffer gout.
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Thanks for the video! Very informative.
@lakegirl645 No problem. I have been meaning to this misconception for awhile now, and the Royal Pains episode was the proverbial straw. I am glad you liked it.
@WWBraveNewGirl These education videos are a bit more difficult to make and certainly more difficult to make interesting. I am glad you liked it, and it definitely makes help combating those claims easier and not limited to 500 characters or less.
@jadeisback That is one of the things I find funny about the criticism. They are criticizing a diet that is an effective treatment for the ailment they prescribe to it. Glad to hear your sister is doing so well with it.
@tazlmc That is a great validation of the lifestyle or way of eating. I appreciate the feedback from someone who lived it.
@redrose971 Like I mentioned there are some people genetically predisposed to gout, and no matter the diet will likely have to be cautions with certain foods. As for magic foods, I was fortunate to find the diet that enabled me to lose at all after years of failing. While it was 4.2 pounds per week, the fact the weight left at all was the “magic” or the blessing part.
One thing to consider – which I believe to have been my experience – is that gout attacks in those who are prone to them are often precipitated by rapid weight loss. If somebody already diagnosed with gout loses a lot of weight quickly on a low-carb diet, a gout attack is quite possible. In the long run, however, it would be a better idea to continue losing the weight (i.e., by staying on the diet).
@bowulf YUP! I have Lupus and used Adkins Induction diet to control the inflammation. My SED rate went from 88 to 38. My ANA has gone away. The weight loss is just a bonus for me. FYI, it took me over a week for my body to get used to very low carbs. Lots of headaches, etc. After that, I have felt pretty good.
“If you eliminate the high purine foods and follow the standard recommendation to limit the medium purine foods you really have little left if you want to follow an Atkins diet. The only other foods you have are dairy foods which are low purine foods.”
Here is the entire comment in context. I am not sure how one is supposed to interpret this in any other way as not understanding what Atkins is.
Thank you for the very kind comments. Re: alkaline vs. acidity, I have heard that argument postulated often by vegans about how bad my diet is or how acidic my system is, but when I say the pH of my system is 7.0 or 6.9, I don’t hear back. For the most part, I just fall back to this is how we’ve eaten for many years, and our bodies just work naturally this way.
Thanks so much on this, I know when I went to my doctor because of the pain in my big toe, I couldn’t walk on it and it was swollen, he had me tested to see if I had gout ( I didn’t, found out I have Rheumatoid Arthritis). Before the test results came back he told me to stop eating a lot of meat especially organ meats. That was funny to me because at the time I was a vegetarian. lol
I am glad you found your answer. It’s all about finding out what you can do for a lifetime.
I did hardcore Atkins, lost 28 lbs so far, just got gout.
I am confused you said you did have veggies, but then before you said you didn’t eat any carbs. Veggies do have carbs. Either way I am glad you figured out what worked for you. I do get leery though when people say they modified the diet or made it more hardcore. The diet works as described, so I always encourage people to not think they need to amp it up or do uber-Atkins.
Remember to drink at least 64oz of water, and those should help any gout symptoms due to the weight loss.
I follow a low carb diet and I have gout attacks occasionally. I have only had a few gout attacks in the past 2 years that I have been eating fewer carbs, but it was worse before.
That’s always great to hear. I am glad it is doing well for you.
Male 45. I suffered from gout since I was 18 years old. It runs in the family. In my 40s, the allopurinol stopped working and I was put on Uloric. I had as many as seven or eight severe attacks per year. I can only imagine the damage I’ve done to my organs taking anti-inflammatories. Four months ago, I went on a low carb ample saturated fat diet and went off gout medications. Gout free and no need for a $280 a month medication in four months. Oddly enough all of the random headaches and joint, , muscle and all other pains have gone away. I am amazed by my physical and emotional well-being ever since. It would appear low-carb eating will be a life style.
Here is an update: it has now been eight months since I have taken Uloric for gout. In the last four months I have had one bad gout episode. The good news is that I was able to knock it out in less than 24 hours with the anti-inflammatory. In less then 24 hours I was completely free of it. Historically my gout attacks could last for weeks and days. From my point of view, the best way to control the frequency and severity of Gout episodes is definitely a low-carb regimen. Additionally, I am more active, I have more energy, my waist has shrunk by 7 inches, I have lost 30 pounds and have gained an incredible amount of muscle mass. To top it off, I feel fabulous.
I was first diagnosed with Gout about 5 years ago. I am now 49 years old and take Indomethacin for dealing with the symptoms. My father had it and so did 2 of my brothers did also. The typical “Gout Diet” I’ve been on have only had minimal impact on my outbreaks. I’m considering using a ketogenic or low carb approach to see if it alleviates or at least minimizes in a significant way the outbreaks I suffer from.
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This is certainly a start…I lost weight on a low carb keto diet…45lbs….but gout was taking its toll on me..I am wondering the impact diet sodas had on me…searching for a way to keto….without gout pain..