The body makes uric acid by breaking down organic compounds called purine. These are either made by the body itself or we ingest them when we consume certain kinds of fish, liver, beef, and peas. Ideally, uric acid will enter the kidney and your body will get rid of it through your urine. But if you are producing an excess amount or your body can’t pass it out, uric acid can be harmful.
When uric acid doesn’t dissolve in the blood, it tends to accumulate in your joint. This is why people contract gout which is a type of arthritis. The acid crystallizes in the joints and the crystals can cause a lot of pain, swelling, and inflammation. It begins with asymptomatic hyperuricemia. There are no signs of gout at this time but it is the period in which the crystals are being formed.
The next stage is acute gout or an attack of gout. If you consume too much food or alcohol containing uric acid, you’ll experience intense pain over the next half a day. Usually it sorts itself out in a while, but there’s a high chance of gout recurring. In the time in between the attacks, there’ll always be some amount of inflammation wrecking havoc on your joints. In the worst case scenario, people develop chronic gout but this can be prevented if it is treated properly in the early stages.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so here are a few tips on how to manage your uric acid levels. Cucumbers serve to make a very good natural remedy because they’re alkaline in nature. Drinking the juice of cucumbers can cool your body down and help you pass out the uric acid that has accumulated. For those already suffering from gout, using a combination of cucumber, ginger, and celery ensures that your body flushes out some of the toxic substances causing the problem.
RECIPE FOR A CURE
Ingredients:
- One Cucumber
- Two Stalks Of Celery
- A Lemon Slice
- A Small Slice Of Ginger
Steps:
Clean and slice your vegetables before putting them all together. Make sure you consume this mixture a couple of times everyday if you wish to get the best results.
There are also several dietary changes you can make to prevent the buildup of uric acid in the body. Apples, for example, are full of malic acid which can neutralize uric acid. Drinking a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in water a couple of times a day also brings down the level of uric acid in the blood. Berries which contain anti-inflammatory substances like strawberries and blueberries and other vegetables like carrots and beetroots should be a regular part of your diet too.
And, of course, the simplest way to deal with this is by drinking lots of water. Much of the toxic substances in the body can be flushed out just by ensuring that you drink at least two liters of water every day. Take care!