This is what I learnt about GOUT.

(Not my leg).

From the internet.

The scenario is common: the patient goes to sleep then around early dawn, he is awakened by severe pain in the big toe followed by fever and chills. This is almost always the symptom of a gouty attack!!!! This condition affects the age group 30 to 50 years old and is the most common cause of joint pain among men.

Hyperuricemia or an excess of uric acid in the blood is the culprit for gout and is very common among diabetic patients. Likewise, in general population, gouty arthritis due to high uric acid commonly manifests as pain in the joints especially the big toe. Unfortunately people always mistake any form of joint pains in the body as due to uric acid and therefore wants to avoid food associated with gout. To be sure therefore if your joint pains are due to this disease, a simple blood test called uric acid can easily be determined in any lab.

NO NO if You Have GOUT or High Uric Acid:

• The NUMBER ONE on my list is ALCOHOL!!!!
• Anchovies
• Gravies
• Herring, Sardines
• Mussels or Tahong
• Internal Organs like liver, kidney
• Dinuguan, Chicharon Bulaklak
• Mackerel
• Patis and Soya Products
• Bacon and scallops

Use in Moderation:

• Crabs, Oysters, Shrimps, and eel
• Poultry and Meat including soup and broth
• Oatmeal
• Certain Veggies like asparagus, spinach, mushroom and cauliflower
• Legumes like beans or lentils

Once given a diagnosis, it is prudent that one takes care of it since the condition can recur and if not treated well may lead to other complications like kidney stones! Yikes!

Taking simple steps starting with our diet can go a long way in improving our health….

Eat To Live and Not Live To Eat!

To my fellow senior citizens and comrades out there:

Here me…..loud and clear!!! Look at the food being serve and think twice before consuming them. Go moderation. Control the food that has high uric acid content. The foods prepared nowadays come along with several chemical additives to make it even tastier and if we are tempted the percussion is ours to bear. The last thing that we want is condoning to the wheel chair and life would never be the same anymore. It’s far better to sacrifice the temptation rather than observing the world goes by on wheel chair.

I have now opened my eyes wider since the mild stroke in 2003 and the recent pain on my left toes when I woke up one fine morning. Now I am monitoring my BP and Diet.