Article by Lisa McDowell
Even though it's unclear on how someone can decrease their risk of pseudogout, as far as gout is concerned, the best way to reduce the risk is to control your diet and your weight. If you are overweight, it is imperative that you know there is a ideal method to utilise when it comes to shedding pounds for gout prevention.
There is no question that obesity is a major risk factor for gout. Studies on overweight men have shown that the more weight they gain, the higher their risk of developing the condition.
How does obesity contribute to gout risk? Think about it, people who are obese, or considerably overweight, usually lead a sedentary lifestyle, have a diet rich in fatty foods, alcohol and caffeinated beverages that are dehydrating.
Studies have concluded that men, who are overweight, are two times as likely to develop gout, while obese men are three times as likely. It was also discovered that when the overweight men lost only 10 pounds, they decreased their risk of gout by 40 percent!
Now that you know the role weight plays in gout risk, it's time to take a look at the right way of losing weight to prevent gout, and the wrong way.
The ideal weight loss methodFirst of all, when it comes to losing weight, it's not about "going on a diet", it's about making a lifestyle change by transforming what you eat and the amount you ingest. For instance, a healthy diet for the average individual should consist of the following:
* Fresh fruits and vegetables* Nuts* Whole grain products (brown rice whole grain cereal/breads/pasta)* Low fat dairy products* Fish* White meat (chicken and turkey with no skin)* Lots of water
When the above foods are consumed on a regular basis, they lower your intake of cholesterol, saturated fats, trans-fats and high sugared foods such as fried foods, chips, cookies, cake, white rice/pasta/bread, red meat and organ meat. Furthermore, healthy foods provide your body with fish oils, and calories from mono unsaturated fats and poly unsaturated fats. As a special bonus, healthy foods also help to suppress your appetite.
Avoid the low carb weight loss method
One of the most popular diets to be introduced to society over the past few years, as a method to lose weight fast, is the famous low carb diet. Low carb diets, such as the Atkins diet, are about dramatically reducing the daily intake of carbohydrates and replacing them with protein. Although the low carb diet certainly does achieve excellent weight loss results in a short period of time, whether or not it is a healthy choice for your body, is questionable.
Some low carb diets contain high amounts of animal protein, cholesterol and saturated fats, but lack fiber, nutrients and complex carbohydrates that are necessary for the body to maintain ideal health. This has lead many medical researchers to believe that low carb diets actually increase certain health risks such as gout.
Why? Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the body, which can occur from eating too many foods rich in purines - foods that essentially make up a low carb diet. In addition, it is believed that by eating less than 130 grams of carbs per day can cause a build up of ketones in the blood, which can also result in higher levels of uric acid.
Thus, adopting a healthy diet, in combination with regular exercise (IE, daily 20-minute brisk walk), is a great way to lose weight. Sure the results may not be as fast as a low carb diet, but at least you will stay healthy and prevent gout while you're at it.
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For more information about Gout diets take a look at Cure Gout Now.
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