Are Cherries good for Gout?

Cherries and Gout

Can cherries treat gout?

 

If you were recently diagnosed with gout, don’t worry, you are not alone. Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis disease. The prevalence of gout among US adults in 2015-2016 was estimated to be 3.9%, with a higher tendency among males than females.

 

What is gout?

Gout is an inflammatory disease that arises due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in your joints, especially the big toe, ankle, and knees. It surfaces as painful flare-up episodes followed by a period of remission. The flare-up episode includes pain, redness, and swelling of the joint.

Uric acid is the by-product your body produces when metabolizing purines. Purines are present in meats and plants. High purines concentration food to be avoided include:

-          Meat, liver, heart, and kidney

-          Seafood, particularly anchovies and herring

-          Alcohol and specifically beer. Not only that alcohol elevates uric acid level, but it also inhibits the body’s ability to eliminate it.

Gout is a sneaky disease only caught during flare-ups by investigating the uric acid level. Other than that, all the symptoms are non-specific and similar to other inflammatory conditions.

You can never know when the flare-up may occur, but following your doctor’s instructions may reduce the risk. The treatment usually involves anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle changes.

Following a healthy lifestyle during remission is a prime factor in reducing flare-ups. Lifestyle changes may include: practicing exercises, losing weight, and following a low-purine diet.

Mother nature never failed us to offer remedies for various diseases. In this case, nature gifted gout patients with cherry.

 

Cherry and gout:

Cherry is rich in vitamins A, C, E, and anthocyanin. It contains the highest level of anthocyanin among other fruits giving the cherry its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

This small-sized red fruit holds considerable benefits for gout patients. Chery can reduce the uric acid level, which reduces the attack intensity and prevents flare-ups.

Two types of cherries are available sweet and tart/sour. Aside from the raw fruit, multiple commercial cherry products are available as cherry juice, concentrate, and extract.

Several studies described the relationship between cherries and gout. A research conducted in 2012 concluded that four months or more consumption of cherry juice concentrate significantly reduced acute gout flare-ups.

Another study found that only two days of cherries intake reduced the risk of a gout attack by 35% compared to no cherry intake. Also, when combined with allopurinol use, the risk of gout attacks was decreased by 75%.

Despite the promising results showing the effect of cherries intake on gout, there is still no guideline about the recommended amount of cherries intake. In general, reasonable consumption is the best to avoid undesirable side effects. Eating too many cherries may cause diarrhea. 3 servings of half cup of fresh cherries seem to be enough, with no additional benefits gained when consuming more.

Natural remedies may be more attractive and seem safer. Although cherries appear to have promising effects on reducing gout attacks and preventing flare-ups, it is not a treatment. It cannot replace the treatment regimen prescribed by your physician. Always consult your doctor before adding new options to your daily regimen.