An anti-inflammatory diet is a good diet for fighting gout. Inflammation contributes to gout in two ways:
#1) The painful swelling, heat, and redness of a gout attack result from inflammation localized in the affected joint. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet will go a long way toward reducing gout pain.
#2) Many consider gout to be an auto-immune disorder, which creates systemic (whole body) inflammation. Eating anti-inflammatory foods can help prevent auto-immune reactions and the recurrence of gout.
Foods to Avoid on an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
~ Processed foods — Anything that comes in a box, bottle, can … or from a restaurant.
~ Trans Fats — These include margarine, hydrogenated vegetable oils, and heated oils.
~ Alcohol — Beer, hard liquor, and even wine should be avoided.
~ GMO foods — Recent studies have documented an inflammatory response to eating GMO foods.
~ Gluten — Found in grains like wheat, oats, barley, rye, and spelt.
~ Sugar — All forms of sugar are problematic, but especially fructose and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
~ Food preservatives — Nitrites and nitrates, often found in sandwich meats, are particularly bad.
~ Omega-6 oils — These are abundant in corn-fed beef, processed foods, and vegetable oils (except olive and flax).
. . .
MY tophi went away!!!! It was there for a month, then it started leaking, i pressured it , rubbed it , and the clear gel came out then a little blood, now it’s gone, my finger looks normal (except for the inflammation it has). In January I changed my diet; no meat, very little chicken, lots of veggies, tofu, fish, and lots of alkaline water, lemons, and of course walking 3 or 4 times a day about 2 miles each time, keeping busy yard work, washing my car, being positive. I took combination of gout, joint,kidney, liver, multi-vitamins, read a lot about gout in your blogs and website, all over, and prayed. My gout is gone, I just have arthritis on my fingers, sometimes my feet hurt when I walk. Oh, also no BEER, except for a little now and then. I’m continuing everything I have done above, I’m not changing back to my old ways of eating and ‘couch potato’ ways. Thanks to you for inspiration too!!! I know people with gout are far worse than I was and it was scary seeing those pics of their feet.
~ Ruben
PS: I never went to the Dr. or took any kind of meds. ALSO I bought a ‘grounding mat’; read about it, it works.
. . .
Foods to Enjoy on an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
- Healthy fats — Examples are butter, olive and flax oils, and coconut cream. Your body needs these fats to form the prostaglandins that will stop the painful inflammation of a gout attack.
- Fresh fruits and veggies — Their antioxidants reduce inflammation.
- Fruits high in flavonoids and anthocyanins — Good choices are cherries and berries, which act as COX-2 inhibitors.
- Foods high in epicatechins — One of the best is raw dark chocolate.
- Foods to keep the digestive tract healthy — Fiber, yogurt, and probiotics help prevent inflammation that starts in the gut.
- Organic foods — Fruits and veggies grown organically, together with meats from animals grazed on organic pastures.
- Water — Filtered, alkaline, ionized water helps to reduce inflammation because of the antioxidants present and its high pH.
- Omega-3 oils — Examples include fish oil, flax oil, borage oil, and primrose oil. Omega-3 fatty acids are needed to form anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.
☆ Bottom Line: Gout is largely about inflammation, so eating an anti-inflammatory diet will help!