What is Gout?: Top Natural Strategies for Preventing Gout Attacks

If you have gout, you’re likely familiar with the debilitating pain and swelling that accompanies flare-ups. These flare-ups can strike with little to no warning and can last for days to weeks. Thankfully, some simple lifestyle and dietary modifications can help reduce the frequency and duration of painful gout flare-ups. Keep reading to learn more about the causes and risk factors of gout, as well as some strategies for preventing future gout attacks.

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis that causes pain and swelling of one or more joints. (12)

What is gout?

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes pain, redness, and swelling in your joints, particularly in your big toes. Gout flares are intermittent and can last for one to two weeks before resolving. They occur when high levels of urate (uric acid) build up in the blood, a condition known as hyperuricemia, prompting the body to form needle-shaped crystals in the affected joint or joints. (12)

High levels of uric acid build up when the body makes too much uric acid or is unable to efficiently eliminate uric acid though the urination. Although high levels of serum uric acid is indicative of gout, many individuals may have high serum uric acid without ever developing the condition. (12)

In addition to the joints, gout may also affect bursae, the cushion-like sacs between bones and soft tissues, and tendon sheaths, the membranes that surround tendons. The high uric acid levels associated with gout may also contribute to kidney stones and may lead to kidney damage. (12)

Gout symptoms

Gout flare-ups most often present with pain, swelling, and redness of the affected joint(s). Signs and symptoms of gout include:

• Itchiness
• Redness
• Sensitivity to pressure
• Severe, sharp pain
• Swelling
• Tenderness (5)

What causes gout?

Gout is typically caused by a buildup of uric acid levels in your bloodstream. Uric acid is a waste product of substances known as purines, which are components of nucleic acid, an essential building block of the body. (9) Certain modifiable and non-modifiable factors may leave you more susceptible to developing gout. Risk factors for gout include:

• Alcohol consumption
• Chronic kidney disease
• Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup (found in soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages)
• Family history of gout
• High blood pressure
• High urate levels
• High-purine diet
• Increasing age
• Metabolic syndrome
• Obesity or being overweight
• Sex (men are more likely to develop gout) (12)

Furthermore, some medications may increase your risk of developing gout, including:

• Diuretics (blood pressure medication)
• Low-dose aspirin
• Niacin, when taken in large amounts
• Cyclosporine (immunosuppressant used by individuals who have certain autoimmune diseases or have received organ transplants) (12)

Did you know? Gout is more common in men than women and is the most common form of inflammatory joint disease among men aged 40 years and older. (1)

4 stages of gout

Gout is a disease that has several stages of progressive severity. The types of gout are outlined below.

1. Asymptomatic hyperuricemia

Asymptomatic hyperuricemia occurs in individuals who have abnormally high serum uric acid levels without outward symptoms of gout such as gouty arthritis or kidney stones. Having asymptomatic hyperuricemia can predispose you to gout and kidney stones. As a precautionary measure, your practitioner may recommend modifications to your diet or lifestyle to address any underlying causes of your hyperuricemia. (1)

2. Acute gout

Acute gout is a sudden onset of pain, redness, swelling, and limited range of motion of the joint. Approximately 90% of first attacks of acute gout occur in a single joint, and over 50% of cases occur in the first joint of the big toe, a condition known as podagra. Although less common, the initial joint affected by acute gout may involve the instep (top of the foot), ankle, knee, wrist, and fingers. (1)

Did you know? Many individuals with gout go months or even years without a flare-up; however, when gout is left unmanaged, attacks may last longer and occur more frequently. (4)

3. Intercritical gout

Intercritical gout describes the symptoms-free stage following recovery from acute gout. It’s common for practitioners to assess the secondary causes of hyperuricemia and recommend diet and lifestyle modifications during this stage. Your practitioner may also reassess any medications (e.g., diuretics) you’re taking that may worsen your symptoms.

If you’re a patient, do not make changes to your medication or supplement regimen unless advised by a healthcare practitioner. (1)

4. Chronic tophaceous gout

Chronic tophaceous gout, which occurs when gout is poorly managed or left untreated, is the most debilitating and painful type of gout. At this stage, the joints and kidneys may be permanently damaged. The time between the initial gout attack and chronic tophaceous gout can vary, with the average being 11.6 years. (1)

How to prevent gout and how to improve symptoms

Following a healthy diet, minimizing purines, staying active, and drinking plenty of water are among the most effective strategies for preventing gout attacks. (16)(17)

1. Minimize purines from your diet

Foods high in purines are known to raise serum uric acid levels, which can cause a gout attack. ​​Specifically, studies have shown that animal sources of purines, such as red meats, are most likely to trigger a gout attack. (18) Dietary sources of purines include:

• Alcoholic beverages (e.g., beer, wine, liquor)
• Fish and seafood
• Meat
• Meat extracts and gravies
• Organ meats (18)

Purines are also found in some plant-based foods, such as asparagus, beans, legumes, mushrooms, oats, and spinach; however, these foods have lower amounts of purines and are less likely to cause a gout flare-up. (18)

2. Follow a Mediterranean diet

Following a healthy diet, similar to the Mediterranean diet, may help prevent or mitigate symptoms of gout. The Mediterranean diet is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants thanks to its abundance of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes. (16) This health promoting dietary pattern is also naturally low in purines, which can help reduce serum uric acid by up to 15%, according to some studies. (16)

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of gout attacks. (16)

3. Consume foods and beverages that may help decrease uric acid levels

Some foods and beverages are known to reduce uric acid serum levels, which may help manage symptoms of gout. Foods for gout include:

• Celery (3)
• Cherries (10)
• Coffee
• Green tea extract (8)
• Low-fat dairy products (15)
• Nuts and seeds (7)

Did you know? According to a study of 633 individuals with recurrent gout attacks, those who ate a ½ cup serving (approximately ten to 12 cherries) for two days had a 35% reduced risk of a subsequent gout flare-up compared to those who did not consume cherries. (19)

4. Reduce alcohol

Research demonstrates that there is a significant dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and occurrence of gout attacks, meaning that the more alcohol you consume, the greater your risk of experiencing recurrent gout flare-ups. One study noted that your risk of having recurrent gout attacks is 1.36 times higher when consuming one to two alcoholic beverages, and 1.5 times higher when consuming two to four alcoholic beverages compared to no alcohol consumption in a 24-hour period. (14)

5. Stay hydrated

Dehydration has been shown to increase serum uric acid levels, thus triggering symptoms of gout. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day and increasing your water intake particularly during and after exercise or excessive perspiration. (10) One study noted that consumption of 1250 mL to 2000 mL (42 to 67 fl oz) of water per day can help decrease recurrent gout attacks. (13)

6. Exercise regularly

Being physically active has been shown to reduce the risk of developing gout. In one study involving male runners, the risk of gout was 16 times higher for men with a body mass index (BMI) above 27.5 kg/m2 (overweight) than a BMI of under 20 kg/m2 (healthy). (17) Another study published in 2020 concluded that individuals with gout who engage in regular moderate physical activity have significantly fewer gout flare-ups per year as well as reduced C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (a marker of inflammation) and lower pain scores compared to individuals who are not physically active. (6)

During symptom-free periods, engage in various forms of low to moderate exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, and weight lifting. (6)

Elevating the affected area and applying ice may improve symptoms of a gout flare-up. (2)

7. Rest your joints

When a gout flare-up hits, it’s best to rest the affected joints. Keep the affected areas elevated using a pillow or footstool to help reduce pressure and alleviate pain. (2) Applying a cold pack to the affected joints can also help reduce pain associated with gout. (11)

8. Consider vitamin C supplementation

Research demonstrates that supplemental vitamin C is associated with reduced occurrences of hyperuricemia. It’s believed that vitamin C reduces the amount of serum uric acid by improving excretion of uric acid and increasing glomerular filtration rate, the rate at which the kidneys remove waste and excess fluid from the blood. (10)

The bottom line

Gout is a painful inflammatory condition affecting one or more joints, particularly in the big toes. Prevent gout attacks before they start by eating a healthy diet, minimizing high-purine foods such as meat and seafood, drinking plenty of water each day, and staying active. If you’re a patient with gout, speak to your integrative healthcare practitioner for guidance and a tailored treatment plan.