Out With Gout

One of the people I've been working with recently sent me a picture text and a message telling me he wasn't going to make it to the gym for our scheduled consultation. Initially, he thought he had sprained his ankle. As it turns out, his doctor diagnosed him as having gout. Gout is an arthritic attack on a joint, caused by having too much uric acid around the joint and inflaming the area. It is a painful condition, and though the exact causes aren't absolutely certain due to the fact that people can have excess uric acid build-up in their bodies without acquiring gout, there are certainly flags to look for and preventative measures as well. First, gout tends to occur more in people with obesity (which is most likely in this case) and also stems from poor dietary choices. Therefore, taking control of your health by regular exercise and a healthy diet will be the key. Rapid weight loss may contribute, so be mindful if you are experiencing any complications by losing weight rapidly in an unhealthy manner, i.e. fad dieting, pills, etc. I would recommend avoiding processed meats such as deli ham, turkey, bacon, sausage, etc, as these have various processing chemicals and higher amounts of sodium. Substitute with lean chicken breast, fish, and moderate your animal protein intake. Contrary to popular belief, we don't need to eat meat, and certainly not every meal every day! Make sure you are eating plenty of fresh vegetables including green, leafy vegetables. Make more salads, and make your grains whole grains! Those are some general diet tips. If you have gout or are working to lose over 50 pounds, consult with your doctor as to the best course of action, and have him/her call me (or your trainer) to coordinate a healthy plan for you. Read more about gout by clicking on the title to this blog post, and please add comments of your experience(s) and knowledge to help us all out. Have a great day everyone, and thanks for reading!