It’s cherries.Ĭherries: They’re Not Just for Pie AnymoreĮvery summer people in my home state of Wisconsin flock to Door County, where the local cherry crop means roadside stands sell all things cherry-even cherry beer and wine. There has to be a better way to combat gout. There is no cure for gout, and standard medical treatment, like heavy-duty NSAIDs (such as Celebrex), corticosteroids, or uric acid-lowering drugs, can cause significant side effects. Sadly, once you’ve had one gout attack, it’s likely you’ll have more, and people with chronic gout may have attacks, sometimes called flares, as often as every month. But today, we are blessed-and cursed-with an overabundance of dietary choices that contribute to the increasing number of people who suffer from gout. They call it “The Rich Man’s Disease” because, historically, only wealthy people could afford to eat the rich foods associated with gout attacks. These deposits often accumulate in joints, including the joint of the big toe, ankles, heels, wrists, and fingers. When your body can’t rid itself of uric acid, it builds up and forms sharp crystal deposits. Uric acid is a chemical your body creates when it breaks down purines, a substance found naturally in the body and concentrated in some foods, like red meat, beans, and alcohol. Some have resorted to sleeping with a box around their foot because they can’t stand to have even a bed sheet touch their toe. Many who suffer from gout tell me that the pain is excruciating, making it hard to walk or even dress themselves. The uric acid crystallizes in the joint- often the big toe-and causes severe pain and inflammation. Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood. The pain is intense for a day or two and then slowly subsides after a week or more. It’s red and swollen and even feels warm to the touch.

You feel like someone has your toe in a vice grip. It usually starts something like this: It’s the middle of the night, and you’re woken from a sound sleep by a throbbing pain in your big toe.

Tart cherry extract dosage for gout