Uric Acid

[Iggy aka IG]

Hello my fellow PBers!  Question:  Have you, or someone you know, successfully dealt with high uric acid levels?  As of last week's physical, my DH has successfully knocked it down 2 points since last year, and we'd like to go for another 2.  The doc gave him a list of foods and beverages to avoid, but, well, Western Medicine isn't all it's cracked up to be, IMO.  TYIA. 

[kent]

Jun 24, 2015 10:07:13 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Hello my fellow PBers!  Question:  Have you, or someone you know, successfully dealt with high uric acid levels?  As of last week's physical, my DH has successfully knocked it down 2 points since last year, and we'd like to go for another 2.  The doc gave him a list of foods and beverages to avoid, but, well, Western Medicine isn't all it's cracked up to be, IMO.  TYIA. 

Iggy! You didn't state what his current level is but a low-purine diet is likely in the cards if he isn't already on one. High uric acid (7.0 and up) can lead to gout and, worse yet, kidney issues.

I experienced kidney stones many decades ago due to high uric acid levels and the last doctor I saw gave me a tip (this applies to both men and women). When you urinate, if the color is relatively clear, you are consuming enough liquid and should not experience further problems. He went on to say checking first thing in the morning is NOT indicative of a problem inasmuch as that urine is concentrated at that point - check during the day.  I have had zero issues since that point.

[Iggy aka IG]

Jun 24, 2015 11:07:32 GMT -5 kent said:

Jun 24, 2015 10:07:13 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Hello my fellow PBers!  Question:  Have you, or someone you know, successfully dealt with high uric acid levels?  As of last week's physical, my DH has successfully knocked it down 2 points since last year, and we'd like to go for another 2.  The doc gave him a list of foods and beverages to avoid, but, well, Western Medicine isn't all it's cracked up to be, IMO.  TYIA. 

Iggy! You didn't state what his current level is but a low-purine diet is likely in the cards if he isn't already on one. High uric acid (7.0 and up) can lead to gout and, worse yet, kidney issues.

I experienced kidney stones many decades ago due to high uric acid levels and the last doctor I saw gave me a tip (this applies to both men and women). When you urinate, if the color is relatively clear, you are consuming enough liquid and should not experience further problems. He went on to say checking first thing in the morning is NOT indicative of a problem inasmuch as that urine is concentrated at that point - check during the day.  I have had zero issues since that point.

Thanks, Kent!  He is at 7.0 now if I remember his test result last week.  And, yes, he has gout and takes a daily med for it.  He drinks over a gallon of water a day.  What did you do to resolve your issue?  Follow the low purine diet only?

[kent]

You're most welcome Iggy.  About all I did was cut way back on my red meat intake and drink more liquids.  I'm not a big "water" fan per se but do drink some along with cranberry juice, iced tea and about three cups of caffeinated coffee per day.  As far as his gout is concerned, if the meds are working, OK.  I had a friend that got gout attacks SO bad (he was about 40) he would end up taking off work for a couple of days because he couldn't walk.  I don't know how it came to pass but he tried Aleve one day and the pain reduction (according to him) was unbelievable.

Here's a link to the Mayo Clinic you might want to read (includes a sample diet)  I hope this is of some help.  Given he's a 7.0 now, I suspect he can lower that to a 5.5 or 6.0 relatively quickly if he focuses his efforts.

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gout-diet/art-20048524

ETA Almost forgot.  Almost everything I've read about gout diets says stay the heck away from beer.  Lucky me, I don't drink (anymore) and could never stand the taste of beer.

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you, kent.  I'll check out the article.  And, your post reminded me, in addition to the gallon+ of plain water he drinks, he also drinks a quart of unsweetened, homemade sun tea as well as flavored, sparkling waters throughout the day.    He is taking Aleve for a dirt bike injury (he brought in his 40th with a bang-ouch) and I'll ask him if it's helping with any other pain.

Funny you mention beer-he's been drinking more this past year than he ever has, but yet his levels are down.  Bodies are weird. 

What stinks about this is I'm a low carber, ie, I prep meals with a lot of beef and pork.  I'll research adjusting those proteins.

Thanks again for your time. 

[kent]

You're welcome Iggy. It sounds like he's getting plenty of liquid. I'm no doctor and certainly in no position to dispense medical advice BUT, I'd show him what Mayo says about beer intake. Bodies are indeed weird but it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't drink any beer he might see a reduction in both is gout-related pain issues AND his uric acid levels - worth a try, yes?

[Deleted]

I had gout so bad I could not put any weight on my foot.  The last attack was so bad my foot was swollen for 3 days.  My doctor put me on Allopurinol and I have not had an attack since.  And my uric acid level is now down around 4.
(Beer used to cause me problems also; thank God for wine.)

[weltschmerz]

Jun 24, 2015 11:48:01 GMT -5 kent said:

You're most welcome Iggy.  About all I did was cut way back on my red meat intake and drink more liquids.  I'm not a big "water" fan per se but do drink some along with cranberry juice, iced tea and about three cups of caffeinated coffee per day.  As far as his gout is concerned, if the meds are working, OK.  I had a friend that got gout attacks SO bad (he was about 40) he would end up taking off work for a couple of days because he couldn't walk.  I don't know how it came to pass but he tried Aleve one day and the pain reduction (according to him) was unbelievable.

Here's a link to the Mayo Clinic you might want to read (includes a sample diet)  I hope this is of some help.  Given he's a 7.0 now, I suspect he can lower that to a 5.5 or 6.0 relatively quickly if he focuses his efforts.

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gout-diet/art-20048524

ETA Almost forgot.  Almost everything I've read about gout diets says stay the heck away from beer.  Lucky me, I don't drink (anymore) and could never stand the taste of beer.

Coffee doesn't count, as it's a diuretic and makes you lose water.

[ArchietheDragon]

Jun 24, 2015 12:59:47 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Jun 24, 2015 11:48:01 GMT -5 kent said:

You're most welcome Iggy.  About all I did was cut way back on my red meat intake and drink more liquids.  I'm not a big "water" fan per se but do drink some along with cranberry juice, iced tea and about three cups of caffeinated coffee per day.  As far as his gout is concerned, if the meds are working, OK.  I had a friend that got gout attacks SO bad (he was about 40) he would end up taking off work for a couple of days because he couldn't walk.  I don't know how it came to pass but he tried Aleve one day and the pain reduction (according to him) was unbelievable.

Here's a link to the Mayo Clinic you might want to read (includes a sample diet)  I hope this is of some help.  Given he's a 7.0 now, I suspect he can lower that to a 5.5 or 6.0 relatively quickly if he focuses his efforts.

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gout-diet/art-20048524

ETA Almost forgot.  Almost everything I've read about gout diets says stay the heck away from beer.  Lucky me, I don't drink (anymore) and could never stand the taste of beer.

Coffee doesn't count, as it's a diuretic and makes you lose water.

I always wondered about this.   What about all of the water that makes up the coffee?   Is it really a net lose of water to your body?

[weltschmerz]

I'm not sure if it's a net loss, but in nursing nutrition classes, we were taught it's a diuretic and makes you pee more, therefore removing fluid from your system.

I never really researched it further, as I don't drink coffee.

[Iggy aka IG]

Jun 24, 2015 12:59:47 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Jun 24, 2015 11:48:01 GMT -5 kent said:

You're most welcome Iggy.  About all I did was cut way back on my red meat intake and drink more liquids.  I'm not a big "water" fan per se but do drink some along with cranberry juice, iced tea and about three cups of caffeinated coffee per day.  As far as his gout is concerned, if the meds are working, OK.  I had a friend that got gout attacks SO bad (he was about 40) he would end up taking off work for a couple of days because he couldn't walk.  I don't know how it came to pass but he tried Aleve one day and the pain reduction (according to him) was unbelievable.

Here's a link to the Mayo Clinic you might want to read (includes a sample diet)  I hope this is of some help.  Given he's a 7.0 now, I suspect he can lower that to a 5.5 or 6.0 relatively quickly if he focuses his efforts.

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gout-diet/art-20048524

ETA Almost forgot.  Almost everything I've read about gout diets says stay the heck away from beer.  Lucky me, I don't drink (anymore) and could never stand the taste of beer.

Coffee doesn't count, as it's a diuretic and makes you lose water.

I've heard this, too, Welts.  Interestingly, the article (or perhaps one I read this AM) indicates caffeine is good for reducing UA levels.  Interesting.

[Iggy aka IG]

Jun 24, 2015 12:52:31 GMT -5 hkguy said:

I had gout so bad I could not put any weight on my foot.  The last attack was so bad my foot was swollen for 3 days.  My doctor put me on Allopurinol and I have not had an attack since.  And my uric acid level is now down around 4.
(Beer used to cause me problems also; thank God for wine.)

Good job, hkguy, and AMEN re: wine!  and whiskey. 

[mmhmm]

Another thing that's good for reducing uric acid levels is organic (unpasteurized) apple cider vinegar. A teaspoonful in 8 ounces of water three times a day. Also, the juice of one lemon in a glass of warm water first thing in the morning before eating. Those are a couple of natural remedies.

[Iggy aka IG]

Jun 24, 2015 16:30:32 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Another thing that's good for reducing uric acid levels is organic (unpasteurized) apple cider vinegar. A teaspoonful in 8 ounces of water three times a day. Also, the juice of one lemon in a glass of warm water first thing in the morning before eating. Those are a couple of natural remedies.

Thank you so much, mmhmm.  I'll run these by DH.  I also read berries, an apple a day, pinto beans, certain veggies and 500mg Vit C help.  I updated my grocery list accordingly. 

[mmhmm]

You're welcome, Iggy! Yes, cherries and dark berries are great, and they even taste good. Tomatoes, green veggies, eggs, nut butters, and nuts are good. Bread is fine but avoid whole grain. That's about all I can remember off the top of my head. Oh, and keep meats and seafoods to a minimum and, if he's overweight, get that weight off!

[mroped]

When I was about 21, I had some kidney problems and had to see a doctor.
Doctors back home at the time didn't have mess enough to pass arround so they relied mostly on figuring out how to help one using traditional methods and diets.
Aparantly I had kidney stones that I devloped due to diet in the military and possibly doe to extended drinking of unfiltered water, sleeping wet on cold ground and a few other factors.

She told me that I should consume big quantities of fluids, no coffee and eat watermelon as much as possible. Beer was also on the list of "to use" 
A few months later the pains were completely gone and never had any problem since.

[kent]

Jun 24, 2015 12:59:47 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Jun 24, 2015 11:48:01 GMT -5 kent said:

You're most welcome Iggy.  About all I did was cut way back on my red meat intake and drink more liquids.  I'm not a big "water" fan per se but do drink some along with cranberry juice, iced tea and about three cups of caffeinated coffee per day.  As far as his gout is concerned, if the meds are working, OK.  I had a friend that got gout attacks SO bad (he was about 40) he would end up taking off work for a couple of days because he couldn't walk.  I don't know how it came to pass but he tried Aleve one day and the pain reduction (according to him) was unbelievable.

Here's a link to the Mayo Clinic you might want to read (includes a sample diet)  I hope this is of some help.  Given he's a 7.0 now, I suspect he can lower that to a 5.5 or 6.0 relatively quickly if he focuses his efforts.

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gout-diet/art-20048524

ETA Almost forgot.  Almost everything I've read about gout diets says stay the heck away from beer.  Lucky me, I don't drink (anymore) and could never stand the taste of beer.

Coffee doesn't count, as it's a diuretic and makes you lose water.

Perhaps if you had actually read the Mayo Clinic link you wouldn't have bothered to "pick" at the coffee comment - it was NOT stated that coffee was a substitute - honest to God

From the link:

Coffee. Some research suggests that moderate coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk of gout, particularly with regular caffeinated coffee.

[mmhmm]

 A cup or two of coffee a day isn't all that bad. You just can't slug coffee down like a lot of folks tend to do. For the record, carbonated beverages are low in purines so are okay.

[Tennesseer]

Jun 24, 2015 11:07:32 GMT -5 kent said:

Jun 24, 2015 10:07:13 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Hello my fellow PBers!  Question:  Have you, or someone you know, successfully dealt with high uric acid levels?  As of last week's physical, my DH has successfully knocked it down 2 points since last year, and we'd like to go for another 2.  The doc gave him a list of foods and beverages to avoid, but, well, Western Medicine isn't all it's cracked up to be, IMO.  TYIA. 

Iggy! You didn't state what his current level is but a low-purine diet is likely in the cards if he isn't already on one. High uric acid (7.0 and up) can lead to gout and, worse yet, kidney issues.

I experienced kidney stones many decades ago due to high uric acid levels and the last doctor I saw gave me a tip (this applies to both men and women). When you urinate, if the color is relatively clear, you are consuming enough liquid and should not experience further problems. He went on to say checking first thing in the morning is NOT indicative of a problem inasmuch as that urine is concentrated at that point - check during the day.  I have had zero issues since that point.

Good advice, Kent.

One thing I would mention about the clear urine in the middle of the day. I only eat twice a day-lunch and dinner. With lunch I take my vitamins. One of the vitamins is orange colored. When I urinate say an hour after I have eaten lunch and taken my vitamins, my urine has taken on an orange color. So if you are taking vitamins or other colored pills, they may discolor your urine.

Maybe take your vitamins at night.

[mmhmm]

I know you said DH has seen a doctor but I wanted to be sure to remind you to have him check with his doc before making any major lifestyle changes not already recommended. I can't possibly know what his labs indicate and know nothing at all of his history or current medical situation. Always, always, always check with your doctor before changing things much. It's the best and safest way.

[Opti]

Jun 24, 2015 22:28:11 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I know you said DH has seen a doctor but I wanted to be sure to remind you to have him check with his doc before making any major lifestyle changes not already recommended. I can't possibly know what his labs indicate and know nothing at all of his history or current medical situation. Always, always, always check with your doctor before changing things much. It's the best and safest way.

Or change things gradually, one at a time, so you can track the effects of each. Doctors aren't omniscient.

My allergist, which I had to stop seeing, was great at just changing one thing at a time so she knew what was for sure working and what for sure was not.

I was less sick back then in part because she knew my history, sinus & allergy issues, plus the fact she never made me feel guilty for coming in.  Often it was, 'I wonder when you were coming in' as people with similar problems/issues seem to come in to the doctor about the same time. FWIW. Your mileage will vary, personally I'd check on the Tea before the beer. That much tea, 1/2 gallon, is going to be impactful. Forget what the dentist said about tea to me, but might be worth checking out...

[Jaguar]

Funny I just read this on Facebook, so I don't know if it will work. It's a cucumber, celery and ginger drink.

complete-health-and-happiness.com/remove-uric-acid-crystalization-joints-gout-joint-pain/

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you so much, everyone!  I told Mr. Iggy, aka Bear, last night I have been researching what he CAN eat, rather than just what he shouldn't, LOL.  I mentioned the 500mg Vit C, and he started taking them as of last night.  He already is very good at eating apples and berries almost daily.  He's tried the apple cider vinegar, and in fact, still has some in his cupboard.  I mentioned fresh lemon juice and he semi-rolled his eyes.  I said, I know, I know, but just try it.  There's one in the kitchen right now.  We'll see.    As far as the weight, we BOTH need to lose some LBs, so that's next on my radar.

I'll stock up on fresh produce tonight, including cherries, which happen to be on sale. 

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Good luck Iggy. Does Mike's Hard Lemonade count?

[mmhmm]

Jun 25, 2015 12:15:06 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Good luck Iggy. Does Mike's Hard Lemonade count?

I'm afraid not, ken. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Jun 25, 2015 12:15:06 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Good luck Iggy. Does Mike's Hard Lemonade count?

[Deleted]

Someone may have already suggested the following beverage to relieve the symptoms of uric acid in the body- Dark cherry juice.


I have an aunt who suffers with gout, and could not walk because of the pain stemming from gout in her feet. She is all but completely healed from that particular symptom of high levels of uric acid. She will not eat shelled seafoods of any kind. Not sure what else she avoids. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you for the reminder, @heart2heart!  DH was buying it from the health food store for quite some time, but it's been awhile.  I'll ask him why he stopped and if he'll consider restarting it. 

[Deleted]

Hi Iggy.. Had a lot of things going on in my life lately, and didn't realize anyone responded to my post.

You're welcome. Something else I might add.. Drinking water from the tap is loaded with chlorine, and chlorine is known for irritating our joints/bones. So if you suffer with any type inflammation including arthritic- Eliminating known chlorine sources from your diet is wise. Distilled water is inexpensive, and can be used for everyday drinking.

If you are interested to learn more- Google chlorine and its disadvantages to the body. 

I wish you well. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Jul 2, 2015 17:47:59 GMT -5 @heart2heart said:

Hi Iggy.. Had a lot of things going on in my life lately, and didn't realize anyone responded to my post.

You're welcome. Something else I might add.. Drinking water from the tap is loaded with chlorine, and chlorine is known for irritating our joints/bones. So if you suffer with any type inflammation including arthritic- Eliminating known chlorine sources from your diet is wise. Distilled water is inexpensive, and can be used for everyday drinking.

If you are interested to learn more- Google chlorine and its disadvantages to the body. 

I wish you well. 

Hi @heart2heart!  Thank you for your suggestion.  DH buys 6 or so gallons of bottled water at a time and drinks one a day.  He also uses it to make his sun tea.  We have a filter on our fridge, and never drink straight from the tap.

He's been taking a daily vitamin C now, and we stocked up on things he *can* eat.  We'll see.