Uric acid accumulation in the body leads to a number of undesirable afflictions in humans and higher primates. Learn how to get rid of uric acid in the body from the following story.
Uric acid is a naturally occurring compound in the body, which is created as a result of the metabolic breakdown of purine nucleotides and is the final product of purine oxidation. Purines are chemical compounds present in the cells of our body.
They can also be obtained from certain purine-rich foods, such as organ and game meat, certain fish (sardines, mackerel, and anchovies), shellfish, turkey, goose, legumes, and certain vegetables (mushrooms, cauliflower, asparagus, and spinach).
Uric acid is a very strong reducing agent, and it imparts a significant amount of the antioxidant capacity that the blood plasma possesses.
However, an excessive accumulation of uric acid in the body leads to a number of undesirable ailments and physical discomforts and primary amongst them is gout.
Besides gout, the other ailments include cardiovascular diseases due to excessive serum accumulation, insulin resistance brought about by high serum uric acid levels leading to diabetes, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, uric acid stones, and metabolic syndrome.
Getting Rid of Uric Acid Naturally
By bringing about a few changes in the diet and lifestyle, one can keep the levels of uric acid within normal limits. Mentioned below are some of them:
Avoid Purine-rich Foods
If you've been diagnosed with high blood uric acid levels, the first thing to do is to eliminate all edible components having a high purine content. Such foods include organ and game meat; poultry (specifically goose and turkey); sardines; anchovies; mackerel and all shellfish; green vegetables, like asparagus, cauliflower, and spinach; mushrooms; and legumes.
Include Cherries and Blueberries in your Daily Diet
Eating at least 30 - 40 cherries every day is known to significantly flush out the excess uric acids from the body. Blueberries contain generous amounts of anthocyanins, which act as natural non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These components lead to a reduction in joint pain and inflammation, which are the chief indicants of gout.
Drink Lots of Water
One of the chief reasons behind excess accumulation of uric acid is not drinking sufficient amounts of water. The more water you drink, the better your kidneys function to expel the excess uric acid compounds.
Vitamin C May be Effective
According to a couple of recent studies, vitamin C may be effective in reducing the levels of uric acid in the body.
Stay off Diuretics
Be it in the form of food, beverages, or medication, diuretics have a tendency of heightening the uric acid concentration in the blood. This triggers various undesirable symptoms, such as joint pain and inflammation, peeling of skin around the afflicted joint, kidney stone formation, etc.
Stay off Sweets
Dishes containing fructose and sucrose are known to intensify the symptoms of gout and other high uric acid-induced conditions.
Stay Away from Sea Salt
Sea salt also increases the uric acid concentration in the body.
Also, research has shown that iron initiates the activity of xanthine oxidase, an enzyme which participates in the catabolism of purine. On the other hand, copper is known to deactivate this enzyme.
Therefore, by slightly lowering the iron intake and increasing the copper content, the metabolism of purine can be manipulated in such a way that less uric acid is produced in a given time. This will enable the kidneys to flush it out conveniently till the next batch arrives.
A high dose of aspirin is also believed to be effective in reducing the concentration of uric acid in blood plasma. Thus, make the appropriate dietary adjustments and take the required medicinal steps and see the results for yourself!
Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.