Gout is a complex form of arthritis, and although it’s shrouded in mystery and often overlooked by people who don’t suffer it, it can be excruciating and debilitating to those who do. It’s caused by a build-up of uric acid in the blood, which is the product of the breakdown of waste substances that sometimes dissolve in the blood and obtain processed by the kidneys.
For people who suffer gout attacks, their kidneys don’t get rid of the acid fast enough and it crystallizes and collects in the joint. Symptoms include sudden pain, tenderness, heat, and redness in joints. In many cases it’s at the base of the big toe, and the pain will be so unbearable that even a feather light touch are too much to bear.
Gout is chronic, and there are an honest number of people out there who don’t need to be on aspirin for the rest of their lives. By creating a mix of those ingredients and tapping into their natural healing properties, you can help relieve/prevent your symptoms, similar to how a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory would.
Ingredients: Pineapple, turmeric, ginger root, tart cherry juice.
Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which has been shown to be useful in reducing inflammation. The theory behind why it works lies in that it affects prostaglandin synthesis (basically, it interferes with the hormones that send the signal that something should swell up.) Bromelain is also an enzyme that digests proteins (hence why pineapple is so popular for tenderizing meat) and gout has been linked to diets high in protein, which can cause an excess of uric acid to build up in the blood.
Turmeric contains curcumin, which has seen great success with pain relief lately. Curcumin blocks the production of the protein that tells blood vessels to enlarge.
Ginger root contains gingerols, an active component that is related to capsaicin. Gingerols are structured much like capsaicin on a molecular level, which means it may help inhibit the signals sent to your brain that trigger pain. They also lessen the enzymes causing inflammation.
Cherries have been linked to lowering levels of uric acid in studies, and although the studies were not specifically done on gout, it is very possible that it would help prevent an attack if consumed regularly.
You will need:
- 1 pineapple
- 1-2 teaspoons of powdered turmeric
- 2-3 teaspoons of powdered ginger, or 1 inch off of a fresh ginger root
- 1 cup of tart cherry juice
- Honey (optional)
- Blender, food processor, or lots of elbow grease
- A glass container with a tightly fitting lid
- A strainer
Directions
Cut the skin and stem off of the pineapple. You can either chop up and use the stem and strain the drink, or you can opt not to use it. The reason why you might include it is because the stem has a high concentration of bromein, but using just the fruit is ok too. Slice the pineapple into chunks that are roughly the same size and toss them in your food processor or blender. Whirl them around until they are pretty evenly mashed up, pour in 1 cup of tart cherry juice, and then sprinkle in 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric and 2-3 teaspoons of ginger. Store in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to a week and a half. You can add honey to taste if you’d like, and also choose to use the greater or lesser amount of turmeric and ginger depending on how you like it.
