- The key to preventing gout is to keep your amount of uric acid at a minimal level in order to prevent attacks and cure them when they do occur. Expel uric acid by drinking water, which enables it to be excreted. Foods high in potassium reduce occurrences of gout, so eat apricots, figs, raisins, and currants. While bananas are known for their potassium levels, they actually have half as much as the amount usually listed. Black cherries are also well known to prevent and cure gout, and you can drink them in a juice form.
- It's just as important to avoid the foods that cause the formation of excess uric acid as it is to eat foods that reduce it. Often times, those people effected by gout indulge in excess alcohol, shellfish, and organ meat. These products have purine, an ingredient that metabolizes into uric acid, once it enters and is digested into the body.
- A charcoal paste can help to reduce the painful inflammation associated with gout. It works best when combined with ground flax seeds and enough water to become a paste. It's best to apply the paste to the swollen area and wrap a towel around it. This helps to draw the toxic buildup out of the skin. Use old clothing or rags to do this because the paste will stain.
