What Can Lemon Juice Do For Your Gout?
Lemon is a fruit in the citrus family, people like lemon due to its’ distinctive sour taste which consists of lemon juice. It is the citric acid in the lemon juice, which is about 6% which gives it its’ sour taste and its’ pulp is used for cooking and baking. It also serves as a key ingredient in many drinks and foods since the average lemon contains around 3 tablespoons of juice. Being a citrus fruit it is naturally high in vitamin C which may be a effective natural remedy for gout and also has some vitamin B complex.
Lemon juice may be used as a natural remedy for many ailments that include dizziness, headaches, bleeding gums, nose bleeds, throat pain, anaemia, constipation, hiccups and may even be consumed for an easier childbirth. Lemons are available throughout the year but are mostly in season from May to August. Like other fruits, lemons contain unique flavonoids that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.
Studies have shown that citrus fruits like oranges, clementines, tangerine and lemons may help to dissolve uric acid in your blood due to the higher levels of citric acid that may provide you with relief from a gout attack. It definitely should be included in your gout diet since lemon is also a stimulant to the liver. If your body is too acidic whereby your body’s pH level is too high or < 7, a state known as acidosis, uric acid may crystallize and may cause you a gout attack or even worse it may form stones in the kidneys which you definitely don’t want.
One way to improve the body’s acidity and remove it is by alkalinizing the urine and lemon juice stimulates the formation of calcium carbonate, which neutralizes acids like uric acid. Many gout sufferers drink freshly squeezed lemon in a glass of water after meals to prevent a gouty attack. It definitely improves the digestive system and did you know that it also reduces heat in your body and is the reason why lemon juice with water is given to you at restaurants in the summertime.
How do I take lemon juice in my gout diet?
How you can add lemon to your gout diet is as simple as taking the lemon juice of 1 or 2 lemons and adding it in your glass of cool water, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach would be best. You can also mix lemon with baking soda together which creates a perfect pH level of 7 in your body keeping it neutral. This may help restore balance almost instantaneously.
Very simply add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and ½ of tablespoon of baking soda in a glass of water and mix it very well for about two minutes to make sure it doesn’t foam or fizz, it must be flat before drinking! It will have the taste of flat water. Don’t add more or less with this recipe because it won’t be as effective. You can also infuse some slices of lemon inside a cup of hot drinking water twice daily. 100 g (3.5oz) lemon also includes 138 mg of potassium which is also very important for us gout sufferers.
You want to include as much potassium as possible in your gout diet. By the way you can also try of any of these recipes with lime as well. I personally use lemons in my diet, I like to add it in my green tea in the wintertime, in my cool glasses of water in the summertime, as well I love to sprinkle it on my broccoli, swiss chard, rapini, spinach and in my salads.
Changes in Diet Can Help With Gout
Purine-rich foods, such as alcoholic beverages, soda, and gluten, are considered to be major risk factors for the development of gout. Of course, these types of foods are normally seen as unhealthy anyways and tend to fall under the category of “junk foods”.
That being said, even certain foods that are viewed as healthy foods can raise
However, even vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant, on the other hand, have been linked to an increased risk of gout. This is due to the presence of a molecule called solanine, which in some persons can induce joint pain.
If you suffer from gout, it is recommended to stay away from these types of foods in order to minimize the risk of a gout flare-up. Incorporating meals that help to alkalize your body’s pH level is also a smart suggestion for the long-term treatment of gout symptoms.
Lemon juice is one of these foods. Although it may appear that an acidic item like a lemon would have the opposite effect, lemon juice has been discovered to neutralize acids in the body such as uric acid.
How lemon juice can help combat gout
In several ways, lemon juice can help with gout attacks. Citric acid, vitamin C, and potassium are the three main properties of lemons that help to reduce gout attacks:
- Citric acid:
Gout attacks occur when your body’s pH falls below 7, towards the acidic end of the scale. This is known as acidosis, and it refers to an excess of uric acid in the body in gout patients.Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, clementines, and tangerines have been shown in studies to help dissolve uric acid. This is due to the citric acid they contain, which aids in the formation or increase of calcium carbonate in the body, thereby lowering the amount of uric acid.With a concentration of between 5% and 6%, lemon juice has the highest concentration of citric acid. Lemon juice is the clear winner when it comes to the best citrus fruit to help with gout.Lemon juice contains citric acid, which acts as a liver stimulant and aids in the prevention of kidney stones. Gout is complicated further by kidney stones. Kidney stones are not only painful, but they can also cause other health problems.
- Vitamin C:
Lemon juice, in addition to citric acid, has a high level of vitamin C, with around 95 mg per cup.According to medical studies, the more vitamin C men consumed, the less likely they were to develop gout. This is thought to be due to the fact that vitamin C protects against gout by lowering serum urate and assisting in its removal through the kidneys.However, while vitamin C consumption has been linked to a lower risk of developing gout, there is less evidence that vitamin C helps people who already have gout. In another related study, vitamin C did not significantly reduce uric acid levels in gout patients.Despite this, studies have shown that the vitamin C in lemon juice can help relieve gout pain. This is due to its ability to heal and maintain the health of blood vessels, tendons, and ligaments.
In fact, when used with your regular medication, lemon water may help to alleviate some of the symptoms of arthritis. For example, Vitamin C has been found to help promote collagen synthesis which can aid in repairing damage to tendons.
In addition, Vitamin C can play a key role in bolstering the immune system. This has been noticed in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system assaults healthy cells, resulting in joint inflammation.
Finally, Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects cells from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage cells. In disorders like arthritis, free radicals are thought to have a beneficial role.
- Potassium:
Potassium is also present in lemon juice, with roughly 250 milligrams per cup. Studies have indicated that potassium citrate can help lower acidity in the body.Because lemon juice contains organic salts like malate and citrate, it has a high potassium content. These salts help your body expel uric acid through urine, neutralizing it.Potassium also prevents the formation of uric acid crystals and aids in the breakdown of those that have already formed. As a result, the kidneys will work more efficiently, and kidney stones will be less likely to form.
The nutritional properties of lemon
According to the USDA, a cup of lemon water containing one lemon’s juice includes 19 mg of Vitamin C, 11 calories, 10 micrograms of folate (a vitamin that helps prevent anemia), and around 49 mg of potassium.
Aside from pouring lemon juice in water, other parts of the fruit and various ways of using lemons are also beneficial for the treatment of gout.
- Lemon peel:
Vitamin C, calcium, and a little quantity of fiber are all found in the peel. You can add the zest of the lemon to your lemon water. Before using the peel, make sure the lemon has been thoroughly washed. - Lemon extract:
Lemon extract has a lot of potential health benefits. The peel of the lemon is used to make lemon extract, while the center of the fruit is used to make lemon juice. Citrus peel extract has shown encouraging results in animals with elevated cholesterol levels. - Lemon Inhalation Aromatherapy:
Many people believe that using lemon essential oils for aromatherapy makes them feel more concentrated. It was proven to help lower anxiety after orthopedic surgery in a small 2016 research. Another study from 2014 found that inhaling lemon essential oils can help prevent nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy.
Benefits of Lemon Juice for Gout Patients
Whether you have arthritis or gout, it’s vital to stay hydrated, and the best way to do so is to drink plenty of water. Lemon water is a healthier alternative to sodas and sugary drinks, and it has arthritis-fighting properties.
Lemon water isn’t a panacea for arthritis, and it’s not meant to take the place of any medications or treatments you’re currently using. Vitamin C and water, on the other hand, are both necessary for healthy health, whether consumed in combination or separately.