It’s a great time of year to give thanks and spend time with friends and family, but the joys of the holiday season can become agonies if you are at risk for gout attacks.
Gout is a complex form of arthritis. It is characterized by acute attacks that can come on suddenly and cause excruciating pain. It commonly affects the joint at the base of the big toe and also causes redness and inflammation. Our patients often experience flare-ups in the middle of the night and feel as though their toe is on fire.
Attacks like these occur due to a build-up of a waste product in the body called uric acid. Sometimes the kidneys do not function as they should to eliminate this acid and certain foods can also make a person prone to an attack. Foods high in purines in particular contribute to uric acid levels, and the holiday season is a prime time to overindulge in these types of foods.
To help you out this season, we’ll list some of the worse culprits here. Print out this list and keep it handy to help avoid being woken up in the night with a burning toe.
- Organ meats
- Anchovies
- Red meat
- Turkey
- Seafood
- Foods high in saturated fat
- Sugary drinks
- Beer
- Asparagus, Spinach
- Peas, beans, and other legumes
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Oats
If a gout flare-up occurs, or you would like more information on how to manage other arthritis complications, please contact Alpine Foot Specialists. Call (847) 540-9949.