Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hello Terry, “I have a relative that has had a lot of gout attacks, mainly to the ankles. As a result the person’s ankles are thicker due to all the crystals. Sometimes the person’s ankles ache. Also, is there any way to get rid of the build up around the ankle bone or is it too late because the crystals have hardened?” — Julie B., Denver, CO

A. Dear Julie, I am sorry to hear of your relative’s issues with gout. Very high uric acid levels – called hyperuricemia – are associated with gout. At normal levels, uric acid is dissolved in the blood stream. In gout-prone individuals, when uric acid levels get high enough they start to form crystals with needle like projections that get stuck in the joints. The body responds with inflammation, and the area becomes swollen and inflamed. Sometimes there are so many crystals collected in one place that they form tophi – irregular lumps that further impede joint movement. Tophi can be quite large and disfiguring. First and foremost, individuals with gout need to closely examine their diet. While it has been traditionally stated that people with gout should avoid red meat and saturated fats, I think it’s better to eat moderate amounts of healthy, grass fed, organic red meat (which behaves differently in the body than the mass market kind) and healthy fats, while avoiding grains. Click on this link for more information on my healthy diet plan. Staying hydrated is also key. A study showed that drinking 8 eight ounce glasses of water a day can cut down gout attacks by almost half. The authors speculate that staying well-hydrated dilutes the circulating uric acid in the blood stream which is what triggers gout in the first place. When it comes to natural options, freeze-dried sweet cherry extract is effective in helping reduce uric acid levels, which in turn helps reduce gout symptoms and flare-ups. Cherries are an extremely nutritious fruit, containing important nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin, beta carotene, vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium and magnesium. I learned of this remedy a long time ago, as I have lived in Wisconsin all of my life. In parts of Wisconsin, we grow large quantities of cherries. This has been a folk remedy around these parts for decades. What’s nice about the cherry fruit extract capsules is that you do not have to consume large quantities of cherries or cherry juice nor do you have to worry about extra sweeteners. You want to look for a product that contains a freeze-dried extract. Freeze-drying, rather than spray drying or drum drying, fully preserves the plant compounds needed by the body to reduce uric acid levels, instead of losing them during processing (by exposing the berries to heat). I would suggest 1,500-3,000 mg of a standardized, freeze-dried sweet cherry extract daily. Making some changes to daily food choices, adding clinically-studied dietary supplements, and drinking 8 glasses of water a day can all help dramatically to reduce gout symptoms. Keep in mind that this information is not meant to replace the oversight and advice of a doctor, so please encourage your relative to talk with his/her doctor about using this protocol for their condition.

Healthy regards!

Terry . . . Naturally