Cherries and Gout

Before coming to the beneficial effects of cherries in the treatment of gout, let's have a brief insight into this medical condition. It has been found that about 1 % of the Western population is affected by this complex form of arthritis, at some point in their life. Gout affects men more than women and is characterized by sudden and severe attacks of pain. The patient would notice redness and tenderness in his joints. The joint at the base of the big toe is often the area which is mostly affected. Women become prone to this condition after their menopause. People who have high levels of uric acid in their body harbor the risk of developing gout. The excess of this acid builds up to form sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissues. This causes inflammation, swelling and pain. Intense joint pain, lingering discomfort and inflammation and redness are the prominent symptoms of gout.

How Do Cherries Help in the Treatment of Gout

The vitamin C content in cherries makes it a favorable remedy for treating gout. Vitamin C reduces elevated levels of uric acid and thus, curbs the condition to progress any further. It helps reduce the gout pain and also aids in preventing any future gout attacks.

Cherries are also beneficial because of their content of anthocyanins (natural flavonoids). These flavonoids bear anti-inflammatory properties and so, help in alleviating the pain that arises due to gout. According to a study, when 25 mg of anthocyanins is consumed, it helps the body to stop the enzymes which are responsible for swelling in the tissues. It is known that darker varieties of cherries contain about 80 to 300 mg of anthocyanins, per serving.

Potassium helps the body to get rid of the excess amount of uric acid. It also aids in keeping fluid balance and maintaining proper kidney function. The hard buildup of urate crystals are turned into a liquid form by the potassium, so that, the kidneys can eliminate them during urination. And cherries are a rich source of potassium thus, help manage gout symptoms.

Apart from including cherries in the diet, there are other self-care measures that may help manage gout and its symptoms. Some of these are as follows.

Applying ice compresses to the aching area helps reduce the pain. Soaking the feet in Epsom salt also alleviates the pain. Apart from consuming cherries, you can also consume strawberries and citrus fruits, tomatoes, green peppers and greens. All these foods are rich in Vitamin C and thus, reduce inflammation. Exercises also help in relieving or preventing the pain of the gout and other joint problems. Drinking plenty of water (8 - 10 glasses) daily helps in getting rid of toxins from the body and in diluting uric acid levels.