Gout Foods to Avoid

Gouty arthritis is a common affliction that many people struggle with today. It is a condition mainly caused by a diet which is filled with food items that have high purine content. Listed below are gout foods to avoid, assuring slim chances of developing the condition.

Foods items which are known to be very rich in purines include yeast, sweetbreads, herring, mussels, smelt and sardines. There are also vegetables that fall into this category. Asparagus, cauliflower and mushrooms are some vegetable sources that have been known to precipitate gout. Those at risk for developing the condition should minimize the consumption of these foodstuffs. Likewise, food sources which are moderately rich in purines include veal, turkey, mutton, grouse, bacon, pheasant, scallops anchovies, kidneys, goose, trout, liver and salmon. These may also have the potential to worsen existing gouty conditions.

When considering gout foods to avoid, caffeine and alcohol should also be taken in moderation. Caffeine present in coffee promotes faster breakdown of proteins and promotes purine deposition. Hence, more caffeine in the system aggravates the condition. Similarly, alcohol increases the production of uric acid and hinders optimal excretion by the renal system. This increases the circulating levels of uric acid.

Experts also believe that acidic foods may also contribute to the development of the disorder. The excretion of Uric acid accelerates if the urine achieves a basic or alkaline condition. Conversely, the urine reaches an acidic state in the presence of more acids. The normal pH of neutral Urine is 7.0. If it reduces to 6.0, the excretion rate of uric acid is significantly lowered. There are various foods that can fall under this category. As they are of a wide variety and extremely common in the average diet, it is better to consume these in moderation as opposed to completely avoiding these food items. Some of the more common items include: Carbonated soft drinks & fizzy drinks, White Pasta, Chicken, Pork, Beef, Brown sugar, Chocolate, White Sugar, Wheat bread, White rice and Processed White vinegar.

Is Juicing Good for You?

So many things have been said about juicing. Some people say juicing has a lot of benefits for the body. However, there is also a group of people who say that juicing is not all that good, that it also has harmful effects to the body. So, which of the two groups is telling the truth? Well, both groups are correct in some aspects. Juicing can both be a good and a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. The answer is a bit more complicated than most people think.

Juicing can give you a lot of health benefits. A lot of people are aware that medical experts highly recommend eating fresh fruits and vegetables. The fact is, not all fresh fruits and vegetables are palatable. Some just have a taste which is just too strong for some people. With juicing, you will be able to have a wide range of vegetables and fruits included in your diet. You can add ingredients like lemons, limes and cranberries to make them more palatable and more flavorful.

Fruits and vegetables contain high levels of ingredients which help fight disease. They also have high levels of antioxidants. They can help make you look younger and help flush out the toxins from your body. Vegetable fruit juices are especially helpful for people who are trying to lose weight. All these things should be enough to convince you buy juicer now.

However, when you juice, you lose fiber from the fruits and vegetables. Fiber is needed because it aids digestion. Fiber is a great help to your digestive health which you cannot get from any other source. Fruit juices tend to be high in calories so people trying to lose weight are better off drinking vegetable juices.  People who consume a lot of fruit juices will have a rapid rise in blood sugar.

Health Foods: Simple Ways to Eat more Fruits and Vegetables

Everyone is told to eat fruits and vegetables, beginning at a young age.  The up to date dietary guidelines recommend Americans to get at least  five cups of fruits and veggies today.  Many people are surprised by this because an astonishing amount of them don’t even get half of that.  Because of today’s fast and processed foods, they usually take priority over health foods in some households.  It can be hard to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet if you’ve never done it before.  There are plenty of ways you can “sneak” them into your diet and after getting used to it, you won’t ever crave processed foods again!

Fruits and vegetables are essential for our bodies to function.  They provide us with fiber, keeping our digestive tract healthy and preventing digestive illnesses.  They are anti-oxidant rich and will possibly prevent cancer and other chronic diseases such as heart disease.  Fruits and veggies are filled with vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to function.  If you eat them regularly along with other healthy foods, you are likely to maintain your weight throughout your lifetime.  All of these are great reasons to learn to incorporate them into your diet.

At breakfast, you can add fruit to your regular piece of toast, or eat it separately.  Add berries to your oatmeal or cereal.  Chopping vegetables and adding them to scrambled eggs is a great way to get an early morning energy burst.  Make a fresh smoothie with your own ingredients such as: fresh fruit, skim milk or yogurt.  You can even add vegetables to the mix by blending them along with the fruit.  Limit juice but if you must have it, make sure it’s 100% instead of sugary.

Incorporate a handful of fruits and veggies to what you eat for lunch.  If you’re a sandwich eater, load it with fresh vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, sprouts, onions or peppers.  If you crave unhealthy, crunchy snack foods this is a great way to get rid of that habit.  Salads are already a healthy, veggie filled lunch food (if you eat it without croutons and tons of fattening dressing) but you can make it even healthier by adding fresh fruits.  Fresh fruits that go well with salad include: grapes, apples, oranges or pears.

Make ½ of your plate full of fruits and veggies at dinner.  Add them to recipes by chopping or slicing them.  Experiment with different ways of cooking vegetables like steaming, roasting or stir-frying.  Add side salads to your dinners.  Eat veggie pizza instead of plain cheese pizza.  Mashed potatoes, rice and other dishes taste great with vegetables mixed in.  Instead of eating dessert after dinner, make it a priority to eat a piece of fruit.

Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, water and several nutrients.  Because of their make-up, they keep us full for a longer time.  You will become accustomed to eating healthy and will eventually not crave unhealthy food as often.  If you substitute fruit for sugary snacks, it is likely that your sugar cravings will subside.  Try the ideas listed above to integrate fruits and vegetables into your diet and decide which ones you like best.  If you enjoy the healthy food you eat, you will stick to it.

Brianna Elliott is a third year dietetics student.  She had grown a passion for nutrition in her years of studying.  She loves fruits and vegetables and thinks the amount of people who don’t get enough of them is devastating because of the good they do for your body.  Brianna also writes blog for PSCLife.com – a health & nutrition e-commerce store which carries Tyme Zyme enzyme supplement and Nutamax’s Cosamin ASU for sore joints and achey muscles.

Start eating healthy. Small Steps

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Eating healthy means changing your lifestyle. It means changing habits that are ingrained in your subconscious. It is not an easy thing to do, but it can be done. The secret here is to take small baby steps at first, until you are confident enough.

The first step for me was to stop eating sugar and sugar containing products. I replaced it with honey. Now I eat a lot of honey, I am trying to reduce it as well, but honey is much, much healthier than sugar. I just decided to stop eating sugar one day, and now 180 days later I still live by that decision. For me it is easier this way, for others it is easier if they reduce the amount gradually. First trying to eat less of it, and gradually they will keep reducing the quantity until they stop eating it all together.

After I was done with sugar I put my eyes on white bread and white pasta. I replaced it with whole wheat brown bread and pasta. At first I could tell the difference, but now I don’t even remember what white bread tastes like.

After that I decided to add a workout program in my schedule. I always wanted to know how to lose belly fat. From my experience this is the easiest and healthiest way to do it. To gradually improve your eating habits and having an active lifestyle. You don’t need some extreme workout program, or a gym subscription. A few stretching moves in the morning will help you more than you can imagine. You will lose belly fat and you will live a more healthier lifestyle.

Having more energy and being more happy are two nice bonus rewards. You will also have more confidence in yourself because you will know that you can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it. Start improving your life today. Take one tiny step!

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