Treatment Options

Helping Yourself

Some things you can do to decrease the amount of uric acid in your body and help prevent gout attacks include:

• Avoid alcohol. Heavy drinking, especially binge drinking of beer can cause excessive production of uric acid in the body.

• Avoid overeating. Diets high in protein, especially meats, yeast products, oatmeal, spinach, cauliflower, and lentils can increase uric acid in the body.

• Lose excess weight. Careful, supervised weight-loss can help decrease the amount of uric acid in the body. On the other hand, avoid crash dieting and other quick weight changes, since these can increase the amount of uric acid in the body.

• Drink 6 pints of fluid a day to stay hydrated. Natural spring water has been recommended. Drinking plenty of fluids can help remove the uric acid crystals from the body, decreasing the chances of gout attack.

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.