Walking is by far the best form of physical exercise for gout prevention, providing minimal risk of strain or injury to the feet, which have often been compromised by gout.
Even if you are currently suffering from a gout attack in one or both of your feet, your immediate gout treatment plan can include lying on your back and moving your limbs to imitate the action of walking, so that you still derive many of its benefits.
Walk Away From Gout
Gout attacks are largely caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood, and overall levels of acidity throughout the body contribute to elevated uric acid levels. Walking helps lower body tissue acidity levels by:
- Encouraging higher levels of oxygen in the blood and lower levels of uric acid.
- Helping with weight loss, which greatly reduces the risk of gout attacks.
- Reducing stress, which minimizes the acid-promoting hormones cortisol and epinephrine.
Walking as Meditation
The connection between stress and gout is undeniable. Many people’s lives are filled with stress, depression, anxiety, and related emotions. Walking can be used as a form of meditation to gain control over these debilitating mental/emotional patterns.
Do not underestimate the power of the mind — and the power of mediation.
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MY tophi when 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, keeping busy yard work, washing my car, being positive, I took a 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, and sometimes my feet hurt when I walk. Oh also, no BEER, but I still have some 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 doctor and took any kind of meds. ALSO I bought a ‘grounding mat’ – read about it, it works.
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How Much Walking is Needed?
To reap the full reward of walking for exercise, you have choices:
- You can walk briskly 10 times per day for 3 minutes each time.
- You can walk briskly once per day for 30 minutes, or twice per day for 15 minutes.
- You can walk briskly for one hour every other day.
The meditative benefits of walking are maximized if you can walk in a natural setting — in the woods, near a creek, or in a city park.
Walking for Exercise
Walking can be a leisurely stroll, with more of a mental than physical benefit, or it can be a full-blown, huffing and puffing workout. In order to make walking a weight-loss exercise, some techniques need to be mastered, which you can learn from a DVD at home.
☆ Bottom Line: Physical exercise is essential if you are going to win the war on gout, and walking is top of the list as the best form of exercise for gout!