Fortunately, the treatment can be as simple as a change of diet. Men account for six out of seven gout sufferers and many can probably trace their problems to the food they eat. A person who suffers joint pain after indulging in rich foods over holidays may have gout, although not everyone is quick to make the connection between painful joints and eating fatty foods or drinking alcohol. The joint between the big toe and the foot is most commonly affected but any joint in the arms or legs can be inflamed. Joint pain caused by gout results when needlelike crystals of uric acid form in the joints and other parts of the body.
Foods containing compounds called purines increase the production of uric acid in the body.
Some plants also increase uric acid, so vegetarians can be stricken with gout, too. A feature from The Times of London explains that in addition to meats and alcohol, yeast products, oatmeal, spinach, cauliflower and even lentils can all increase the risk of a gout attack. The article also describes other foods and preventive steps to reduce the risk of a flare-up. For people who have had periodic joint pain in the past, the Annals of Internal Medicine describes a method for diagnosing whether gout is the problem in between flare-ups. Get Your Medifocus Medguide Research Your Illness Visit our Medcenter and get your Medifocus Guide , trustworthy medical information specifically about your health condition.