Arthritis Specials

May 26, 2009

Why Grapes Should Be a Part of Your Natural Gout Treatments Plan

by John Horner

Grapes are an excellent way for you to treat your gout naturally. They are very effective at helping to lessen the severity of your gout symptoms. When mixed together with other great remedies, they have a cumulative effect and can help you either reduce the frequency of or actually help you get rid of gout in the long run.

Grapes have several ways they contribute in treating gout. These include quercitin, water, potassium, vitamin C, and anthocyanins.

Grapes use quercitin to help treat gouty arthritis. Quercitin is a powerful flavonoid. Flavonoids help address the symptoms of this painful disease. They are able to do this because they contain anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is the main reason for gout pain.

This swelling starts when your uric acid levels get out of balance. The extra crystals enter your joints and cause damage and pain. Quercitin helps reduce this swelling.

Grapes are useful for helping gout due to their high water content. Getting adequate amount of water in your body helps your body to work more properly. This helps treat gout by enabling you to get rid of extra uric acid crystals which would otherwise settle in your joints causing you great pain.

Potassium is another way grapes help you naturally treat gout. Potassium helps your kidneys to excrete uric acid more easily. Grapes contain approximately 190mg of potassium a serving (100g). One serving will give you around 5% of your daily allowance so grapes alone will not give you enough potassium. Many other fruits such as cantaloupes and peaches contain potassium, so eating plenty of fruits will help you treat gout.

Grapes are able to assist in reducing or eliminating gout pain because they are filled with vitamin C. Grapes consist of approximately 20% of your daily needs for this potent vitamin. Vitamin C is very effective at fighting this arthritic condition.

Studies have shown vitamin C can reduce your uric acid levels by almost 10% when used long term. This is important because even though uric acid is a normal function of your body, most gout patients cannot keep this acid from getting out of balance. Excess uric acid is the biggest reason people get gout attacks. Vitamin C helps with reduce this problem.

Grapes contain anthocyanins. These flavonols are a great way to get rid of lowering your pain. Anthocyanins help lessen the inflammation that causes most of your gout pain. Color does make a difference. These flavonoids are found in the grape’s skin and the darker the skin, the greater the flavonoids. Any grape will help you, but you would be better in choosing a darker grape, especially if you are currently suffering from an acute gout attack.

Grapes are so important when you are trying to treat gout naturally. However, they are best used when combined with other fruits. Many fruits, such as cherries, contain a lot of these healthy properties that help you get rid of gout pain.

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