I am seeking advice about how to manage my gout

"I have a problem that needs sorting. Gout. Had it of and on for years now, however of late it has been pretty well there all the time. Don’t know if this is your field or not. I have tried conventional medicine (steroids, anti inflamitories and alluperinol)."Mathew
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Gary Moller comments:
Mathew is 45 yrs old, does a lot of exercise, drinks more than 7 beers per week. He has recently competed a course of prednisone and anti-inflammatory medication for his gout. He also has a dodgy calf muscle.

Mathew, the first thing you need to do is to become an expert about gout and an expert about your body.

While there may or may not be a family history of gout, there are still strong lifestyle factors that you can work on. You may find that you need to give your body a break - the opportunity to get on top of the problem. This means going on a health kick for several months. Once you are on top of the problem, you may find you can ease off; but you might be so enthralled with the increase in energy and sense of well-being that you decide to keep going with it!

Gout is symptomatic of bigger things going on within body and mind and merely medicating the gout symptoms is not the solution. It is time to tidy up your body, mind and lifestyle and to hunker down for the long term.

Here's what you need to do; but first discuss with your medical practitioner:

• Go on a diet that is low in purines and other substances/chemicals that are acid forming (refer the notes at the end of this article)
• Go alcohol free for at least three months
• Go on a heart healthy diet and take several heart healthy supplements (These are good for the kidneys which work hard to eliminate uric acid): Fish oil, vitamin E, lecithin, vitamin C and lysine.
• Reduce stress in your life, including moderating exercise - take a long, hard look at your life and make the hard decisions that may have been long ignored.
• Start by taking a long relaxing holiday in a warm tropical place like Samoa or the Cook Islands.

With regards to your dodgy calf muscle, come and see me sometime and I will help you to sort it out once and for all.

Notes about gout:

What is gout?
Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. This excess can be caused by an increase in production by the body, excessive cellular degeneration, under-elimination of uric acid by the kidneys and bowels, or by increased intake of foods containing purines which are metabolized to uric acid in the body.

With time, elevated levels of uric acid in the blood will lead to deposits in connective tissue around joints. Eventually, the uric acid may form needle-like crystals in the joints, leading to acute gout attacks.

The extreme pain is from the infection and not the crystals themselves. Uric acid may also collect under the skin as tophi or in the urinary tract as kidney stones.

High purine foods:
Sweetbreads, Anchovies, Sardines, Liver, Beef kidneys, Brains, Meat extracts (e.g Oxo, Bovril), Herring, Mackerel, Scallops, Game meats, Gravy
What foods/substances cause gout?
Alcohol, anchovies, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, consommé, herring, meat gravies, broth, bouillon, mussels, sardines, red meats, organ meats, processed meats (hot dogs, lunch meats, etc.), fried foods, roasted nuts, any food cooked in oil (heated oil destroys vitamin E), rich foods (cakes, sugar products, white flour products), dark greens vegetables, dried fruits, fish, caffeine, beans, lentils, eggs, oatmeal, peas, poultry, yeast products.

Acetaminophen, and low doses of aspirin which may be inadvertently prescribed to relieve the pain caused by gout, may exacerbate the problem by causing an increase in body acidity and stress on the kidneys and liver.
A person suffering gout, or with a history of gout, should avoid acid-forming foods.
Body PH should be slightly alkaline with the ideal being PH 7.4. This can be measured using a PH testing kit.

Extremely Acid Forming Foods - with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5
Artificial sweeteners, Carbonated soft drinks & fizzy drinks , Cigarettes , Flour (white wheat), Goat, Lamb, Pastries & cakes from white flour, Pork, Sugar, Beer, Brown sugar, Deer, Chocolate, Coffee , Custard with white sugar, Jams, Jellies, Liquor , Pasta, Rabbit, Semolina, Table salt refined & iodized, Tea black, Turkey, Breads White / Wheat, White rice, vinegar.

Extremely Alkaline Forming Foods - pH 8.5 to 9.0:
Lemons, Watermelon , Agar Agar , Cantaloupe, Cayenne (Capsicum), Dried dates & figs, Kelp, Karengo, Kudzu root, Limes, Mango, Melons, Papaya, Parsley, Seedless grapes (sweet), Watercress, Seaweed

Moderate Alkaline Forming Foods - pH 7.5 to 8.0
Apples (sweet), Apricots, Alfalfa sprouts Arrowroot, Avocados, Bananas (ripe), Berries, Carrots, Celery, Currants, Dates & figs (fresh), Garlic , Gooseberry, Grapes (less sweet), Grapefruit, Guavas, Herbs (leafy green), Lettuce (leafy green), Nectarine, Peaches (sweet), Pears (less sweet), Peas (fresh sweet), Persimmon, Pumpkin (sweet), Sea salt , Spinach, Apples (sour), Bamboo shoots, Beans (fresh green), Beets, Bell Pepper, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carob , Daikon, Ginger (fresh), Grapes (sour), Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce (pale green), Oranges, Parsnip, Peaches (less sweet), Peas (less sweet), Potatoes & skin, Pumpkin (less sweet), Raspberry, Sapote, Strawberry, Squash , Sweet corn (fresh), Tamari , Turnip, Sour Dairy

Slightly Alkaline to Neutral Forming Foods - pH 7.0
Almonds , Artichokes (Jerusalem), Barley-Malt (sweetener-Bronner), Brown Rice Syrup, Brussel Sprouts, Cherries, Coconut (fresh), Cucumbers, Egg plant, Honey (raw), Leeks, Miso, Okra, Olives ripe , Onions, Pickles (home made with brown rice vinegar), Radish, Sea salt , Spices , Taro, Tomatoes (sweet), Vinegar (sweet brown rice), Water Chestnut, Amaranth, Artichoke (globe), Chestnuts (dry roasted), Egg yolks (soft cooked), Goat's milk and whey (raw) , Horseradish, Mayonnaise (home made), Millet, Olive oil, Quinoa, Rhubarb, Sesame seeds (whole) , Sprouted grains , Tempeh, Tofu, Tomatoes (less sweet)

Slightly Acid to Neutral Forming Foods - pH 7.0
Barley malt syrup, Barley, Bran, Cashews, Cereals (unrefined with honey-fruit-maple syrup), Cornmeal, Fructose, Honey (pasteurized), Lentils, Macadamias, Maple syrup (unprocessed),Low Fat Milk (homogenized) and most processed dairy products, Molasses organic , Nutmeg, Mustard, Pistachios, Popcorn (plain not microwaved), Rice or wheat crackers (unrefined), Rye (grain), Seeds (pumpkin & sunflower), Walnuts, Blueberries, Brazil nuts, Butter (salted), Cheeses (mild & crumbly) , Crackers (unrefined rye), Dry coconut, Egg whites, Goats milk (homogenized), Pecans, Plums , Prunes , Butter (fresh unsalted), Cream (fresh & raw), Milk (raw cow's) , Whey (cow's)

ACID FORMING FOODS FATS & OILS
Avocado Oil, Canola Oil, Corn Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Flax Oil, Lard, Olive Oil, Safflower Oil, Sesame Oil, Sunflower Oil
Fruits
Cranberries
Grains
Rice Cakes, Wheat Cakes, Amaranth, Barley, Buckwheat, Oats (rolled), Quinoa, Rice, Rye, Spelt, Kamut, Wheat, Hemp Seed Flour
Nuts and Butters
Cashews, Brazil Nuts, Peanuts, Processed Peanut Butter, Pecans, Tahini
Animal proteins
Beef, Carp, Clams, Fish, Lamb, Lobster, Mussels, Oyster, Pork, Rabbit, Salmon, Shrimp, Scallops, Tuna, Turkey, Venison
pasta (white)
Noodles, Macaroni, Spaghetti Distilled Vinegar, Wheat Germ
Beans and legumes
Black Beans, Chick Peas, Green Peas, Kidney Beans, Lentils, Lima Beans, Pinto Beans, Red Beans, Soy Beans, Soy Milk, White Beans, Rice Milk, Almond Milk
Drugs and chemicals
Aspartame, Chemicals, Drugs (Medicinal), Drugs (Psychedelic), Pesticides, Herbicides
Alcohol
Beer, Spirits, Hard Liquor, Wine
Activities
Overwork, Excessive exercise, Anger, Fear, Jealousy, Stress

Moderate Acid - pH 6.0 to 6.5
Cigarette tobacco, Cream of Wheat (unrefined), Fish, Fruit juices with sugar, Maple syrup (processed), Molasses (sulphured), Pickles (commercial), Breads (refined) of corn, oats, rice and rye, Cereals (refined), corn flakes, Shellfish, Wheat germ, Whole Wheat foods , Wine , Yogurt (sweetened) Bananas (green), Buckwheat, Cheeses (sharp), Corn & rice breads, Egg whole (cooked hard), Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Oats, Pasta (whole grain), Pastry (wholegrain & honey), Peanuts, Potatoes (with no skins), Popcorn (with salt & butter), Rice (basmati), Rice (brown), Soy sauce (commercial), Tapioca, Wheat bread (sprouted organic)

Extremely Acid Forming Foods - pH 5.0 to 5.5
Artificial sweeteners, Beef, Carbonated soft drinks & fizzy drinks , Cigarettes (tailor made), Drugs, Flour (white wheat), Goat, Lamb, Pastries & cakes from white flour, Pork, Sugar (white) , Beer , Brown sugar , Chicken, Deer, Chocolate, Coffee , Custard with white sugar, Jams, Jellies, Liquor , Pasta (white), Rabbit, Semolina, Table salt refined & iodized, Tea black, Turkey, Wheat bread, White rice, White vinegar (processed).

Are you becoming acidic? The signs

Are you becoming acidic?
The idea is this: the more symptoms, the more acidic you may be, and the more urgent it is for you to begin an alkalizing programme.
Test your PH and find out for sure with Medicine Tree PH Testing Strips from my online store.
Beginning Symptoms

1. Acne
2. Agitation
3. Muscular pain
4. Cold hands and feet
5. Dizziness
6. Low energy
7. Joint pains that travel
8. Food allergies
9. Chemical sensitivities to odor, gas heat
10. Hyperactivity
11. Panic attacks
12. Pre-menstrual and menstrual cramping
13. Pre-menstrual anxiety and depression
14. Lack of sex drive
15. Bloating
16. Heartburn
17. Diarrhea
18. Constipation
19. Hot urine
20. Strong smelling urine
21. Mild headaches
22. Rapid panting breath
23. Rapid heartbeat
24. Irregular heartbeat
25. White coated tongue
26. Hard to get up in morning
27. Excess head mucous (stuffiness)
28. Metallic taste in mouth

Intermediate Symptoms

1. Cold sores (Herpes I & II)
2. Depression
3. Loss of memory
4. Loss of concentration
5. Migraine headaches
6. Insomnia
7. Disturbance in smell, taste, vision, hearing
8. Asthma
9. Bronchitis
10. Hay fever
11. Ear aches
12. Hives
13. Swelling
14. Viral infections (colds, flu)
15. Bacterial infections (staph, strep)
16. Fungal infections (Candia albicans, athlete's foot, vaginal)
17. Impotence
18. Urethritis
19. Cystitis
20. Urinary infection
21. Gastritis
22. Colitis
23. Excessive falling hair
24. Psoriasis
25. Endometriosis
26. Stuttering
27. Numbness and tingling
28. Sinusitis

Advanced Symptoms

1. Crohn's disease
2. Schizophrenia
3. Learning disabled
4. Hodgkin's Disease
5. Systemic Lupus Erythematosis
6. Multiple Sclerosis
7. Sarcoidosis
8. Rheumatoid arthritis
9. Myasthenia gravis
10. Scleroderma
11. Leukemia
12. Tuberculosis
13. All other forms of cancer

Source: Alkalize or Die, Dr. Theodore A. Baroody, 2001.

Body PH (acidity) and health

Degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, kidney and gall stones, and even tooth decay are associated with excess acidity in the body.

Acidity in the body can result from several factors coming together to overwhelm the body's natural mechanisms to maintain a slightly alkaline environment of about PH 7.4. These include physical and emotional stress, poor circulation through muscles, limbs and organs, various medications and a poor diet.

So, if you are in a stressful job, unhappy at home, competing hard in sport and eating a diet that is high in acid producing foods you may be setting yourself up for ill health or injury.

The body has a mechanism which maintains a constant pH 7.4 in the blood, this works by depositing and withdrawing acid and alkaline minerals from other locations including the bones, soft tissues, body fluids and saliva. Therefore, the pH of these other tissues can fluctuate greatly. The pH of saliva offers us a window through which we can see the overall pH balance in our bodies.

Some minerals are highly acidic in nature, forming acids like hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid and sulphuric acid. Others are alkaline, forming base solutions such as calcium, magnesium and sodium hydroxide. These counter the acid forming minerals.

The ideal PH for the human body is in the 7.5-7.1 range.

The range from 6.5 (weakly acidic) to 4.5 (strongly acidic) represents states from mildly deficient to strongly deficient, respectively. Most children are pH 7.5. Over half of adults are pH 6.5 or lower, reflecting the gradual rundown that happens with a stressful life, inadequate diet and the accumulating effects of injury and illness. Cancer patients may have a very low pH of 4.5. Cancer cells thrive in a acid environment.

While I would never go so far as to suggest that an acid environment causes disease, it certainly is associated with ill health, including sore muscles, sore bones, stress and generally feeling tired and unwell. It becomes a "chicken or the egg" question. But who cares? Who cares when the solutions to an acid body are so simple and a person invariably feels damn good when body PH is restored to about 7.5.

A low PH is very common in sports people who are over-trained, eat poorly and who have tight and tense muscles.

The first step is to get your body PH tested. I can do this for you if you are in Wellington using a simple saliva PH Litmus test. Once we know what we are dealing with, we can then set about correcting matters. This usually consists of:

• Eliminating or reducing acid foods from the diet
• Eating more alkaline foods in the diet
• Taking an alkaline supplement from the Floradix range of tonics
• Rest
• Massage

The massage is a fascinating one. Tense muscles store acidic metabolic wastes that slowly leak into the rest of the body, poisoning it. If I test body PH before massaging a stressed and toxic body, PH is generally lower than 7.4. Immediately following a massage, the PH can drop several more points, indicating that the body has been flooded with acidic metabolic toxins. This helps explain why a person may feel a little ill for a couple of days after a massage. It also explains why they end up feeling great if they stick to the plan and do several massage sessions on the trot. They feel great because their body has been steadily squeegied of metabolic toxins.

Foods that are acid and alkaline:

• Strongly Acid foods include: meat, fish, soft drinks
• Mildly Acid: grains, legumes, nuts
• Mildly Alkaline: fruits, vegetables, berries, dairy
• Strongly Alkaline: green leafy vegetables, cabbage, brocolli, spinach, sprouts and cucumber

About PH
"Some problems that can indicate acidosis include: bladder and kidney conditions, immune deficiency, diabetes, weak brittle bones and lactic acid build up. PH is behind the body's electrical system, intracellular activity and the way our bodies utilise enzymes, and minerals, and vitamins. That is why pH is one of the first things to be looked at if you are experiencing an imbalance in your body. Decades ago Dr. Otto Warburg, the only physician to ever win two Nobel prizes, proved that cancer can not exist in an alkaline/high pH environment.

We can eat more alkalinic foods which include brocoli, carrots, dried figs, celery, grains and many fruits. On the other hand, the active ingredient in the soft drink Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8 and it will dissolve a nail in about four days. The phosphates in soft drinks bind to calcium and we can't absorb it. The typical Western diet is largely composed of acidic or acidifying elements (proteins, cereals, sugars). Alkaline foods such as vegetables are eaten in much smaller quantities; their alkaline content is insufficient to neutralize surplus acids.

Stimulants like tobacco, coffee, tea, and alcohol are also extremely acidifying. When we get angry or stressed we are also making the body ph more acidic. Our ph changes not just from the foods we eat, but due to our emotional states". Source: Your Body's ph And It's Relation To Your Health