How can you lower your uric acid level?

1. It is very often underestimated: The level of uric acid in your body. Yet this can have far-reaching consequences. Uric acid is known as a (co) cause of gout, kidney stones and the acidification of joints and muscles. First of all, we will look at what uric acid is and what consequences it can have for your health. Then we'll look at how you can lower your uric acid.

2. It is very often underestimated: The level of uric acid in your body. Yet this can have far-reaching consequences. Uric acid is known as a (co) cause of gout, kidney stones and the acidification of joints and muscles. First of all, we will look at what uric acid is and what consequences it can have for your health. Then we will look at how you can lower your uric acid.

What exactly is uric acid?

1. You have probably seen the designation â € ˜uric acidâ € ™, certainly on this site. But what exactly is this? Uric acid can be regarded as an acidic, toxic waste product that is produced in your body. Uric acid is a purine waste product. Purine, in turn, arises from two sources: One part arises during the breakdown of the body's own cells, and another part arises during the digestion process of food containing purine. [! 192747 => 1140 = 2!] The production of uric acid in your body is for the most part a hereditary factor, so we can change very little about it. But if you also have an increased production of uric acid because you eat a lot of purine-containing foods, problems can arise. The too high uric acid level can cause immediate problems, as well as a trigger for other conditions. Conditions apparently unrelated to purine and subsequent uric acid.

2. You have probably seen the designation â € ˜uric acidâ € ™ on this site. But what exactly is this? Uric acid can be regarded as an acidic, toxic waste product that is produced in your body. Uric acid is a purine waste product. Purine, in turn, arises from two sources: One part arises during the breakdown of the body's own cells, and another part arises during the digestion process of food containing purine. [! 192747 => 1140 = 2!] The production of uric acid in your body is for the most part a hereditary factor, so we can change very little about it. But if you also have an increased production of uric acid because you eat a lot of purine-containing foods, problems can arise. The too high uric acid level can cause immediate problems, as well as a trigger for other conditions. Conditions apparently unrelated to purine and subsequent uric acid.

1. There can also be too high a production of uric acid if you suffer from a condition in which a strong form of tissue breakdown is one of the symptoms. Consider, for example, blood cancer. Even after irradiation there is an increased production of uric acid. People who have malfunctioning kidneys also have problems with this. It is precisely the staples that have to remove and dispose of the uric acid to a large extent. Malfunctioning kidneys do not work efficiently enough, leaving uric acid in the blood.

2. There can also be too high a production of uric acid if you suffer from a condition in which a strong form of tissue breakdown is one of the symptoms. Consider, for example, blood cancer. An increased production of uric acid also occurs after irradiation. People who have malfunctioning kidneys also have problems with this. It is precisely the staples that have to remove and dispose of the uric acid to a large extent. Malfunctioning kidneys are not working efficiently enough, leaving uric acid in the blood.

1. In general, women have a somewhat lower level of uric acid in the blood than men. During menstruation, a lot of toxic and acidic waste products are immediately removed, including uric acid. After the menopause, when the monthly menstruation has stopped, the average level rises to the level of the man.

What is your body doing about this?

1. A too high level of uric acid is very harmful to the body, and even fatal in the long term. Your body will therefore do everything it can to prevent an increase. Of course this does not offer a license to close your eyes to it, after all, the body takes care of this itself! The possibilities the body has for this are very limited, but it still helps within the normal margins. Let's take a closer look at the body's natural processes:

Excretion via normal bowel movements

1. A very handy mechanism, and very effective. But this process serves as a last resort. Added to this is the fact that the excretion in the stool is only relatively small. So you cannot rely on this too much, because when this process starts you are actually already too late.

Urinary excretion

1. The normal way of excretion of uric acid is, among other things, by the filtering kidney function, whereby the uric acid is removed from the blood by the kidneys. Then it is further removed through the urine. In order to flush the kidneys properly, and thus prevent uric acid crystals from being deposited in the kidneys, it is important to drink a lot. The crystals can eventually cause kidney stones again.

Dispose of by means of sodium carbonate

1. Sodium carbonate is always present in your blood. This is necessary to keep the balance between acid and base in balance. The moment the blood becomes seriously acidic, this can have far-reaching consequences and is therefore very closely monitored by this natural mechanism. If the blood becomes too acidic, the sodium carbonate will bind it and transform it into a neutral molecule. This can then be disposed of safely without endangering the body in the meantime.

The possible consequences

1. These are beautiful, natural processes, but it is very common that the uric acid is too high. The consequences will be unpleasant at first, but can develop into life-threatening situations.

1. If the body itself is not (anymore) able to remove the uric acid, it will have to go somewhere. Letting it in the blood is not an option as it will inevitably result in death. The body will then convert the uric acid into crystals that can be deposited in the body in a solid form. The crystals are released, as it were, and will find a place by themselves. Uric acid crystals in the joints will inevitably lead to Gout, and the uric acid crystals in the kidneys will enter with magnesium and / or calcium, causing kidney stones. All very painful conditions.

3 methods to lower your uric acid

1. Ok, from the above it has now become very clear that the level of uric acid in your blood is very important. And too high a level is even deadly! We can achieve this in three ways:

1) Medical treatment

1. In most cases, when diagnosed by a doctor, Allopurinol is prescribed. This medication will prevent uric acid production by slowing down an enzyme called Xanthine oxidase. The drug has a number of unpleasant side effects that make it preferable to use it in many cases. There are roughly five possible side effects:

1. Allopurinol cannot be taken by patients with reduced liver function. In addition, it has recently become known that Allopurinol has a bad effect on the kidneys. Doctors therefore do not prescribe the drug to people with liver and / or kidney problems.

2) The most natural method: Your nutrition!

1. If you don't like drugs, or don't like the side effects, you can try it naturally. This means that you have to drastically adjust your diet, especially the food that contains a lot of purine. But let's list the different parts:

A purine-restricted diet

1. All the things you eat that contain purine will increase uric acid levels. The fact is that purine-containing foods are converted into uric acid during the digestion process. We can roughly divide all food into three levels:

Drink enough water!

1. And when I speak here about water, I am really talking about water! Sugared and carbonated drinks, including the “light” versions of these, inevitably result in higher uric acid levels. In addition to the fact that drinking water gives a feeling of satiety, this also ensures that the kidneys are sufficiently purified to remove any uric acid present through the urine. For the best results, I advise you to drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day. Not only good for your uric acid, but also good for your general health!

1. A more recent development in this field is the drinking of basic water. A healthy way that ensures that your body takes in water, and at the same time lowers the acidity.

Vitamin C

1. Vitamin C is able to lower uric acid levels without unpleasant side effects. This emerged from a study in which two groups were defined: A group that took Vitamin C and a group that took a placebo. The Vitamin C group had a very marked reduction in uric acid after the test period. This result has already been achieved with a limited intake of 500 mg. vitamin C per day.

Cherry juice

1. It is now known among endurance athletes: Marathon runners in particular benefited from a study by cherry juice as a remedy for acidifying the muscles. It is important to take the unsweetened version or to take an extract in the form of a capsule.

3) Food supplements

1. Of course there are also numerous supplements on the market claiming to achieve the same effect. But keep in mind that a dietary supplement is not a panacea and certainly not an excuse to just keep on living and eating as usual. A pill every day and a nice meal with purine-containing spinach with a juicy piece of organ meat and legumes as a vegetable (all with a high purine content) is of course no solution. A dietary supplement is always a supplement to a sensible, healthy and varied diet.

Conclusion

1. It may be clear that my personal preference is to regulate with the help of nutrition. But keep in mind that 'home doctoring' also means that you have to 'listen' to your body. The moment you think that something is not going well, call the doctor immediately. In general, it is preferable to follow a low-purine diet in collaboration with the treating physician or a dietician. This way you can be sure that you are doing the right thing.

1. Gout? Do you suffer from gout attacks and do you want to do something about it! .