The holidays are a time of celebration – family dinners, office parties, and other social gatherings. There are often lots of great-tasting holiday goodies and beverages to eat and drink. However, if you suffer from gout, overindulgence of these holiday treats can cause your symptoms to flare, leading to pain and a not-so-jolly holiday season.
What is Gout?
Gout is caused by high levels of uric acid (a waste product of the body) in the blood that builds up over time. Uric acid results from the breakdown of purines found naturally in the body and in different types of food. When the body overproduces uric acid, or is unable to excrete uric acid, painful deposits of needle-like crystals form in the joints, leading to inflammation.
Typically gout only affects one joint. In 90% of people, the first episode of gout appears in the base of the big toe. However, gout can also occur in the ankle, elbow, shoulder or wrist. Initial attacks last about 4 days, but later bouts can last a week or more. Chronic gout can affect more than one joint.
Symptoms of gout include:
• Sudden, severe joint pain – often described as throbbing, crushing or excruciating.
• Swelling, redness, and/or warmth around the joint.
• Sensitivity to touch, even from a light bedsheet.
• Possible fever.
• Possible kidney stone symptoms.
Managing Gout during the Holidays
The best way to manage gout is to avoid foods that can lead to the overproduction of uric acid in the body. These include:
• Alcohol, including beer
• Seafood, including anchovies, herring, trout, ocean perch and shell fish
• Organ meats, including liver, kidneys and sweetbreads
• Red meat, game meat and processed meats
• Coffee, tea, and cola drinks
Other foods that should be eaten in moderation include:
• Mushrooms, asparagus, cabbage, dried beans, artichokes and peas
• Peanuts, soy and soy products, including tofu and soy sauce
• Brown rice, whole wheat, malt and whole grain cereal
By making healthy food choices this holiday season, you can keep your gout pain away and enjoy the holiday festivities.
Managing Foot Pain with ezWalker® Performance Insoles
While custom orthotics, like ezWalker® Performance Insoles, can’t help you manage your gout better, they can relieve foot pain caused by painful foot conditions. The ezWalker® Insole evenly redistributes your weight on your feet and support your arches, so you walk more efficiently. It is the only custom orthotic sold on the Internet that uses a biomechanical non-weight-bearing casting method this is unique to our store. Your foot is placed into impression foam in a strategic manner using our 7-step process, which will control the hind foot and allow proper function of the 1st metatarsal joint – creating a better step with each step you take. The ezWalker® has been proven to improve foot health in as little as 6 months to a year.
The ezWalker® insole comes with a 90-day, money-back guarantee. So you’ve got nothing to lose, but your foot pain. Try it today!
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.
Note: If you follow these guidelines and your pain persists, you may have a more serious condition. See your physician for a more complete diagnosis and treatment.
