Lemon with gout: with water, garlic, tea

Urate-reducing therapy (ULT): allopurinol, febuxostat, probenecid, or peglotricase is the key to successful long-term treatment of gout. The recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) for the treatment of gout support the use of diet along with pharmacological interventions [1], [2]. Thus, optimal treatment of gout may require a combination of pharmacological interventions, diet modification, and possibly the use of nutritional supplements. [3]

Gout is the most common type of chronic inflammatory arthritis in adults, a disease that is accompanied by impaired purine metabolism. [4]When this occurs, an excess of uric acid, which can not be completely filtered by the kidneys and its salts are deposited in the joints.

In the field of treating gout, there are many gaps in treatment and knowledge. Key treatment gaps include low ULT treatment rates and low ULT adherence [5], as well as a lack of control and achievement of urate serum levels <6 mg / dL, which is an important therapeutic goal. A recent online survey of gout revealed that 50% of patients with gout, reported on the use of dietary supplements or natural remedies, most often cherry extract or juice, as well as vitamins, celery seed, turmeric, lemon juice and so on. Etc.. [6]. 

In the treatment of gout, one of the most important points is diet. Dietary changes recommended for treating gout include an increase in low-fat and vitamin C dairy products, as well as a decrease in total protein, alcohol, and high-fructose drinks [7], [8].  

Can I have a lemon for gout?

The gout diet has a veggie character with some special features. [9]To reduce the amount of purines in food is limited to protein and fats. During the period of remission, lean meat and fish can be eaten up to three times a week, and during exacerbation of gout, they are excluded from the diet. You also can not eat smoked meat, canned food, pickled pickled vegetables, offal, legumes. These products are rich in purine basics, which in gout and cause great damage to the joints. [10],  [11]It is forbidden to drink alcohol. [12]Of great importance is the process of cooking. Meat and fish in limited quantities during remission can only be boiled. You can not eat meat and fish broths, since the purines remain there after cooking. It is necessary to reduce salt intake. [13], [14]

The foods that you need to eat with gout are rye bread and cereals, potato and vegetable soups, milk, sour cream, cottage cheese. Vegetables and fruits should be eaten in large quantities. It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids. Preference is given to weak tea with lemon, morsam, rosehip decoction.

Products of plant origin should be the preferred source of protein for patients with gout,  [15]given that plant products (especially nuts and legumes) are excellent sources of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and studies have shown that they are useful against the risk of weight gain, [16]coronary disease heart [17] , [18] sudden cardiac death [19], and type 2 diabetes.[20]

Very often it is now possible to meet in the recommendations of patients with gout such an alternative treatment, like the well-known lemon.

Several studies have identified lemon as an important health-promoting fruit, rich in phenolic compounds, as well as vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, essential oils, and carotenoids. [21] Lemon juice may be an alternative in the treatment of urolithiasis in patients with hypocyturia. [22] Lemon juice has a lot of ericositrin and hesperidin. Animal studies have shown that ericositrin and hesperidin have antioxidant properties and can reduce oxidative stress. [23] Flavonoids, coumarins and essential oil from citrus fruits exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect, which can be used as additives to protect against or weaken chronic inflammatory diseases. [24] Citrus with high secondary metabolites including flavonoids, coumarins limonoids and reduce the risk of cancer, including gastric cancer, breast cancer, lung carcinogenesis, tumorigenesis colon gepatokartsinogenez and malignant neoplasms of the blood and so on. G.  [25],  [26], 

Then the question arose whether it is possible to eat lemon with gout, because it is an acid in its pure form, and uric acid, on the contrary, is neutralized by alkali. After researching this issue, several explanations have emerged for the use of lemon in gout. One of them - citric acid reduces the pH, which prevents the deposition of uric acid. [27], [28], [29]Also, lemon juice affects the liver by improving the flow of bile, and this is known to reduce the overall level of purines.

Therefore, the question "is it possible to eat a lemon for gout" the answer is in the affirmative. 

The benefits or harm of lemon for gout

Gout is a disease that requires a certain mandatory diet. And any errors can be a provoking factor in exacerbation of the disease. Therefore, you should closely monitor the diet.

Today, the benefits or harm of lemon for gout are widely discussed. People with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - gastritis, peptic ulcer, acute pancreatitis - citric acid is harmful and lemons are contraindicated, as the acidity of the stomach increases. The question arises, what benefits can be a lemon for gout. A lot is said about this, but the main fact confirming the benefit of lemon for gout is the neutralizing effect of lemon juice on uric acid. Lemon also contains a huge amount of vitamins, bioflavonoids, pectin and fiber, which contributes to the normal digestion and elimination of toxins in gout. Potassium, which is contained in lemon, improves kidney function and removes uric acid salts. Therefore, it is possible to confirm the clear benefit of lemon for gout.

Citrus flavonoids (hesperidin, naringin, negesperidin, and nobiletin) significantly inhibit the breakdown of amylase-catalyzed starch. In addition, naringin and neohesperidin mainly inhibit amylose digestion, while hesperidin and nobiletin inhibit the breakdown of both amylose and amylopectin. These results showed that citrus flavonoids play an important role in preventing the progression of hyperglycemia, partly by binding to starch, increasing glycolysis in the liver and glycogen concentration, as well as reducing gluconeogenesis in the liver. [30]Hesperidin, naringin and nobiletin also showed antidiabetic activity, partly due to a decrease in hepatic gluconeogenesis or an improvement in insulin sensitivity. [31]

Naringenin and hesperetin can have an anti-atherogenic effect in part due to the activation of the receptor activated by the proliferator peroxisome and an increase in adiponectin expression in adipocytes. [32]

It has been proven that eating garlic and lemon juice leads to an improvement in lipid levels, fibrinogen and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia. [33] There is a recipe for taking lemon juice from one lemon in pure form, one or two teaspoons twice a day. According to another recipe, add one grated clove of garlic to lemon juice and take it in the morning and evening. What is the best recipe to choose yourself.

Lemon with gout is one of the remedies with a reasonable mechanism of action. Alkaline derivatives, which are formed in the process of citric acid cleavage, neutralize uric acid. Also expressed is the elimination property of lemon in relation not only to uric acid salts, but also to other toxins.

Therefore, even if lemon treatment does not seem like a good method to you, then just eat it and it will improve your condition.

[34], [35], [36], [37]