B vitamins are very helpful in reducing inflammation and swelling in general, and are part of the necessary components that help to properly process and eliminate uric acid.

There are a wide variety of metabolic functions that B vitamins are essential in carrying out, including strong digestion, brain and nervous system function, healthy immunity, red blood cell formation and more.

In direct relationship to gout, excessive sugars and a high carbohydrate diet of processed foods can cause serious depletion of B vitamins. Also prescription drugs, street drugs, and alcohol, can cause deficiencies that lead to poor kidney function and therefore compromise the body’s ability to maintain pH balance and sufficient elimination of uric acid.

The B vitamins include:

  • B1 or thiamine
  • B2 or riboflavin
  • B3 or niacin
  • B5 or pantothenic acid
  • B6 or pyridoxine
  • B7 or biotin
  • B9 or folic acid
  • B12 or cobalamin
  • Choline
  • Inositol
  • PABA (para aminobenzoic acid)
  • Lipoic acid

The important thing to remember is that B vitamins are water soluble and are easily used and eliminated from the body, so they have to be replenished every day.

☆ Garden of Life B Complex

Some good sources of B vitamins from food include quinoa, brown rice, whole raw milk, butter, swiss chard and other leafy greens, fresh berries, peaches, bananas, walnuts, grass-fed beef, wild caught fish, eggs, and liver.