Alkaline Water and Gout
What Is Gout?
Gout is a kind of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in the blood and causes joint inflammation.[i] You can learn more about the causes of gout here.
Having a Gout Attack?
If you’re having a gout attack, it is best to avoid foods high in purines. Purines are a natural substance found in almost all foods, but certain ones have higher levels of purines. The body breaks down purines into uric acid,[ii] so it’s a good idea to avoid these foods if you suffer from gout. Here are some examples of foods high in purines:
- Scallops
- Herring
- Beer
- Red meat
- Turkey
- Sugary drinks
- Asparagus
- Liver
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Mackerel
- Spinach
Can Alkaline Water Help With Gout?
When you drink ionized alkaline water, your body is not only absorbing the water for better hydration, but it is also absorbing the minerals in the water, such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Due to the smaller molecular size of the ionized water, these minerals are easily absorbed by your cells. Ionized alkaline water is also full of antioxidants that fight free radicals, the other bad guys in the body. Staying well-hydrated helps the kidneys excrete uric acid more efficiently, so drinking alkaline water can be a very effective addition to your diet. Therefore, people who suffer from gout should increase their fluid intake and avoid dehydration.
Additionally, the water’s alkalinity helps neutralize uric acid and allows it to be eliminated from the body. Uric acid is not very water-soluble, but the potassium in ionized alkaline water helps to make it more water-soluble.
Keeping your body in a more alkaline state may also help prevent the buildup of uric acid in the first place.
Has alkaline water helped you with gout?
We would love to hear about it! Leave us a comment about your success story!