Gout

Gout is a disease that results from an overload of uric acid in the body. This overload of uric acid leads to the formation of tiny crystals of urate that deposit in tissues of the body, especially the joints. When crystals form in the joints it causes recurring attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis). Chronic gout can also lead to deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints and may cause joint destruction, decreased kidney function, and kidney stones.

Gout has the unique distinction of being one of the most frequently recorded medical illnesses throughout history. It is often related to an inherited abnormality in the body’s ability to process uric acid. Uric acid is a breakdown product of purines that are part of many foods we eat. An abnormality in handling uric acid can cause attacks of painful arthritis (gout attack), kidney stones, and blockage of the kidney-filtering tubules with uric acid crystals, leading to kidney failure. On the other hand, some people may only develop elevated blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) without having arthritis or kidney problems. The term gout refers the disease that is caused by an overload of uric acid in the body, resulting in painful arthritic attacks and deposits of lumps of uric acid crystals in body tissues.

Gouty arthritis is typically an extremely painful attack with a rapid onset of joint inflammation. The joint inflammation is precipitated by deposits of uric acid crystals in the joint fluid (synovial fluid) and joint lining (synovial lining). Intense joint inflammation occurs as white blood cells engulf the uric acid crystals and chemical messengers of inflammation are released, causing pain, heat, and redness of the joint tissues.

Therefore, the ”trick” in curing gout is to remove uric acid.

Drinking lots of ionized alkaline water every day is an important part of a natural remedy for gout..

Will any water do? Yes, but some kinds are better than others are. Hard water is better than soft water because it contains more minerals. So too does mineral water. Minerals help maintain the body pH at 7.0 or greater. What is pH? This is a measurement of the acid/alkaline balance of the body. A pH of 7.0 or higher means a more alkaline body; below 7.0 and its more acidic.

Foods do have a pH value which means that some foods make the body more alkaline and some more acidic.

Why is a higher pH desirable for gout sufferers? Because at a higher pH (i.e. the body is more alkaline) more uric acid is likely to be excreted too. This is the second reason why gout sufferers need to drink lots of alkaline water.