Often, you must have noticed that you experience intense joint pain or a lingering discomfort that may last for a few weeks. Due to sudden inflammation and redness in the joints, you suffer from limited mobility. Well, all these indicate a high level of uric acid in your blood.
It is through a uric acid blood test that you can confirm your uric acid blood test levels. Since the detection of uric acid is entirely based on the readings of the blood test, make sure to undergo it from a reputed and experienced clinic or lab.
Now, many of you make question whether you can control your uric acid levels by natural means. Two things play a vital role in the making or breaking of any health issue:
- Your diet
- Your lifestyle
Yes, you can keep the uric acid levels in check by bringing in some dietary and lifestyle changes. In this blog, you will get a detailed idea about the natural treatments that can reduce your uric acid levels and keep them in control. Go now through the blog for more details.
How does uric acid form?
You must be wondering how uric acid is formed in your body. Let’s check the details.
The uric acid formed in your body is actually a waste product released after the digestion of food. It contains purines that are found in high concentrations in foods like red meat, beer, sardines, and organic meat. Here, the kidney performs two functions:
- It filters out the uric acid from your body
- It makes the uric acid pass through the urine
The development of high uric acid in your blood occurs under two distinct conditions:
- When the purine intake in your diet is too high.
- When your body fails to eliminate uric acid at the normal pace.
A person with uric acid belonging to the normal level ranges below 6.8mg/dL. When this level exceeds, it is a condition of hyperuricemia. This results in gout and leads to excess accumulation of urate crystals, causing a lot of pain and inflammation in the joints. Due to hyperuricemia, both your urine and blood can become acidic too.
Natural ways to control uric acid
Some of the natural ways to control uric acid and keep a check on it are as follows:
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Restrict foods rich in purine
The only source that increases uric acid levels in your blood is purine. If you can limit purine, half the battle is won. Generally, after consuming foods rich in purine, they release uric acid into your bloodstream, thereby enhancing its levels. The food you should avoid to reduce uric acid includes:
- Red meat
- Fish
- Poultry
- Shellfish
- Organic meats
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Stay away from sugar
Generally, people make the mistake of blaming a protein-rich diet as responsible for increasing their uric acid levels in the blood. However, it is not just a protein-rich diet, but sugar that plays a vital role in bringing a hike in your uric acid levels. Every sugary food has fructose in it. When you consume sugar in the form of any food, your body releases purines by breaking down fructose. This increases uric acid levels.
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Drink an adequate amount of water
The uric acid and your kidneys share a very unique bond. One is complementary to the other. Since uric acid is a waste product of your body, the kidneys take up the responsibility of eliminating it through urine. Drinking enough water can let your kidneys flush out uric acid as much as possible through urine.
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Do not consume alcohol
Drinking alcohol occasionally dehydrates your body which ultimately results in a massive rise in uric acid levels. Of all the intoxicants, beer contains a high percentage of purine. Besides, alcohol accelerates the secretion of uric acid.
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Drink coffee mindfully
According to scientific research, consuming coffee mindfully can help to reduce uric acid levels. To be more precise, coffee helps in two ways:
- Firstly, it increases the speed of uric acid excretion.
- Secondly, coffee has a tendency to compete with the body’s enzymes and break down the purines, thereby reducing the uric acid production rate in your body.
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Control your bodyweight
The extra pounds of your body can impact your health in two subtle ways:
- It increases the production of uric acid in your blood
- It reduces the rate of uric acid excretion via urine
The best method to reduce uric acid levels here is to shed some pounds. Make sure to book an appointment with a nutritionist, discuss your health issues and follow a weight loss management program.
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Regulate blood sugar
People with hyperuricemia suffer from diabetes and related other complications. Due to impaired glucose metabolism, the uric acid levels in your body experience a sudden hike. A 20% rise in sugar can result in an increase of uric acid by 1 mg. Here, a brilliant antidote is to keep your blood sugar levels in check.
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Eat a lot of fiber
Including a sufficient amount of fiber in your diet can lower the uric acid level. In addition, it also helps to keep the insulin and blood sugar levels in a balanced form. Some of the foods rich in fiber include:
- Quinoa
- Brown rice
- Nuts
- Chickpeas
- Broccoli
- Pears
- Apples
- Lentils
- Spinach
Every adult should aim to consume at least 22 grams of fiber in their diet.
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Increase vitamin C intake
According to some scientific research, Vitamin C intake can reduce uric acid levels. Make sure to consume Vitamin C of 75 to 120 mg every day. Some of the foods rich in vitamin C include:
- Oranges
- Kiwis
- Grapefruits
- Strawberries
- Broccoli
- Tomatoes
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Consume more cherries
You will be surprised to know that the red and cute little cherries can reduce your uric acid levels. They have great properties like:
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anthocyanin compound
Conclusion
Therefore, with the help of a proper diet, healthy lifestyle, and exercise, you can bring a considerable improvement in your uric acid levels. If you are noticing some symptoms of high uric acid, Go Now to a doctor. Remember, your health is the most important asset that you can invest in. So, taking care of it today can ensure you a better life tomorrow.
