Gout is a disease caused by uric acid accumulating in the joints, leading to inflammation, particularly severe pain in the toe joints, and negatively impacting quality of life.
Frequent gout occurrence in young men is attributed to increased uric acid due to high-protein diets and reduced excretion due to impaired kidney function.
Lemon consumption helps regulate blood uric acid levels, promotes calcium secretion to aid in uric acid dissolution, and assists in liver detoxification, making it effective for gout prevention and management.
I will explain the causes, symptoms, and foods that are good for gout. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of people in their 20s and 30s who are diagnosed with gout at a young age. When you get gout, your quality of life significantly decreases. So, how can you avoid getting gout? I'll tell you right now.
Gout
Gout is a disease that occurs more frequently in men than women, caused by uric acid accumulating in the joints and causing inflammation. Since uric acid crystals are pointy in shape, they often cause severe pain. The most common site of inflammation is the lower body, often affecting the toe joints. As those who have experienced it know, the toe can swell and hurt so badly that walking becomes difficult. This makes it hard to engage in favorite activities like sports or travel, leading to a significant decrease in quality of life.
Uric Acid
Uric acid, the cause of gout, is the final metabolic product that arises when purine, a component of nucleic acid released from cells at the end of their lifespan, is broken down in the liver. Therefore, healthy individuals also produce uric acid, but it usually doesn't cause major problems because it is excreted outside the body through the kidneys. However, if the excretion rate slows down or if too much uric acid is produced, the uric acid level in the blood becomes higher than normal, a condition called hyperuricemia. If this condition persists, acute gouty arthritis may suddenly occur, causing a sharp pain in the joints.
Causes of Gout
Those with a history of gout or currently suffering from it should be cautious of foods high in purine. Two primary examples are alcohol and meat. This is why gout was historically considered a disease of the wealthy and nobility. The frequent occurrence of gout among young men recently can be attributed to dietary habits associated with health and fitness, such as consuming large quantities of chicken breast, like 1 kg at a time, to build muscle. While protein intake is beneficial for muscle growth, if the body's ability to process the waste products, such as uric acid, generated during metabolism is not sufficient, problems can arise. Gout that develops with age is often not primarily caused by consuming purine-rich foods, but rather due to a decline in kidney function or metabolic problems that slow down the excretion of uric acid. Regardless of the cause, when gout occurs, there's a long list of foods to avoid, including alcohol, meat, meat broth, anchovies, mackerel, and squid.
Foods to Eat
There are also foods that are unconditionally beneficial. If I had to pick just one, it would be lemon. In Korea, lemon is usually only seen on the table when eating raw fish, but in Western countries where meat is a staple, you'll see lemon consumed in various ways.
Research has shown that regular consumption of lemons has a significant impact on regulating blood uric acid levels. The primary mechanism behind this effect is that lemons promote the secretion of calcium carbonate in the body. Among various minerals, calcium binds with uric acid, dissolving it in the bloodstream. This reduces blood uric acid levels and shifts the blood from acidic to alkaline. This effect is due to the combined action of various components within lemons. Key among them are vitamin C, abundant in lemons, and citric acid (also known as citrate). It also has the effect of preventing the crystallization of calcium, thus preventing urinary stones, making it beneficial not only for gout but also for those suffering from kidney stones. Furthermore, the vitamin C in lemons supports the production of glutathione, an enzyme that neutralizes toxins in the liver. So, consuming lemons not only lowers uric acid levels but also prevents stone formation and promotes the production of enzymes that break down toxins in the liver, effectively flushing out accumulated toxins from the body.
In Conclusion
With so many beneficial effects of lemons, it seems they can be effective in preventing and treating gout. If you are concerned about gout, I recommend that you make sure to include lemons in your diet.