With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, many people are excited about corned beef and cabbage! Just remember, if you have gout, make sure to have an extra serving of cabbage and keep the portion of corned beef to just a few ounces at most. Studies show that of all types of cabbage is good with red cabbage being the best for people who have gout.
Gout is the build up or uric acid in the joint and in most cases is hereditary. It is most common in men between the ages of 50 and 60, but women can get gout, too. Someone with gout will have attacks with intense pain, redness and swelling in one or more joints. Mostly they have pain in the joint of the big toe, or the instep of the foot.
Some treatments for gout attacks are:
- Oral anti-inflammatory medicines
- Elevating your feet
- Avoiding standing and walking
- Wearing loose slippers
Some ways to prevent gout attacks include:
- Limit fish, poultry, and meat to 4 to 6 ounces per day.
- Avoid totally foods high in purines, especially tuna, shrimp, lobster, and scallops.
- Avoid alcohol, especially beer.
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily
So, make sure to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day – but be careful about how you celebrate, especially if you have gout.
If you are experiencing a red, hot, swollen joint of your great toe or ankle, even where the bedsheets are causing pain, contact Wappingers Falls podiatrist Dr. David Schlam at Hollowbrook Foot Specialists for an immediate appointment to assess the cause of your pain and how to most quickly get you feeling better.
By David Schlam
