8.3 million adults in the U.S. suffer from gout.
That’s according to the National Kidney Foundation, who has been watching the disease increase constantly worldwide. In the United States alone, the commonness of gout has more than doubled between the 1960s and the 1990s.
With gout on the rise, there is a need more than ever to find a remedy for the “disease of kings.”
Is taking apple cider vinegar for gout a suitable option?
This popular vinegar has certainly made quite a stir in the natural remedy world, with its popularity steadily increasing. Claiming to be beneficial for everything from weight loss to diabetes, it’s no wonder some regard it as a magical home remedy.
But before you rush out and buy a big bottle, take some time to look at the facts.
We give you the inside scoop on whether apple cider vinegar can really heal gout.
What is Apple Cider Vinegar Made Of?
Apple cider vinegar is created from fermented apple juice. During the production process, apples are crushed, and the juice is squeezed out. Bacteria and yeast are then added to the liquid to begin the alcoholic fermentation process. This extra fermentation turns the alcohol into acetic acid, the wonder ingredient of apple cider vinegar.
During this double fermentation process, healthy organisms known as prebiotics are formed. These organisms are what feed good bacteria in the body known as probiotics within our digestive systems and contribute to our overall well-being.
What is Gout?
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis. It is caused by a condition known as hyperuricemia, which is having too much uric acid in the body. When there is too much uric acid in the body, uric acid crystals, also known as monosodium urate, can build up in joints, fluids, and tissues within the body.
The needle-like crystals can cause acute pain, with sufferers experiencing swelling, tenderness, and redness at the affected joints. If you have ever experienced gout, or know someone who has suffered, you will know how painful this form of arthritis can be.
What Causes Gout?
Gout is a result of high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream.
But what causes this?
Uric acid is produced in the body during the breakdown of chemical compounds called purines. These compounds are found in high amounts in certain foods such as meat, poultry, and seafood.
Normally, uric acid is dissolved in the blood and leaves your body via the kidneys through your urine. If too much uric acid is produced, or not enough leaves the body, it can build up and form those horrible and painfully sharp crystals.
Gout Medications
Unfortunately, the common medicine prescribed for gout can cause some seriously bad side effects, not to mention being quite expensive. Two of the most common medications for gout are NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and corticosteroids.
NSAIDs treat pain as well as inflammation but cannot be taken if at high risk of heart disease or stroke. Corticosteroids may be used to treat severe attacks of gout but can lead to increased blood glucose levels.
Why take these sorts of mass-market drugs that can create even more health problems?
Instead, let’s look at one of the most popular natural treatments in the world of organic, wholesome health remedies.
How Can Apple Cider Vinegar Help With Gout
1.) Reduces Obesity
According to Dr. Hyon Choi, there is a tight association between excess weight and the risk of developing gout and gout flares. And he’s the director of the Gout and Crystal Arthropathy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The more your body weighs, the less efficient your body is at removing uric acid. Carrying extra weight slows down the kidney’s important function of removing uric acid, causing unhealthy levels of uric acid and possibly gout.
Apple Cider Vinegar has been proven to aid in weight loss. When you consume small amounts of acetic acid through apple cider vinegar, it activates your metabolism to help your body turn fat into energy instead of storing it.
On top of that, the acetic acid can make you feel more full, and therefore helps you control your appetite. The best use of apple cider vinegar for weight control is for people who eat a lot of starchy food. The acid slows down the digestion of starch, which helps you feel fuller for longer.
Several studies confirm the great way apple cider vinegar can reduce the body’s weight. In an in-depth study published in a scientific journal, a group of obese Japanese subjects drank one to two tablespoons of diluted apple cider vinegar every day. In just 12 weeks, they lost an average of four pounds.
While apple cider vinegar is not a magical weight-loss solution, it can help you take control of your weight. And that means you’re less likely to suffer from gout.
2.) Reduces Risk of Diabetes
Gout and type 2 diabetes have a close relationship. If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your chances of getting gout are higher, and vice versa.
People with type 2 diabetes are more likely to suffer from high levels of uric acid. When your body is insulin resistant, sugar stays in the blood instead of moving into the cells. Luckily for people who suffer from diabetes and gout, apple cider vinegar has been shown to have many benefits for blood sugar and insulin levels.
According to a study by the American Diabetes Association, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before going to bed can reduce fasting blood sugar in the morning by 4%. Numerous studies have also shown that vinegar can improve insulin function and lower blood sugar levels after meals.
With such a close link between diabetes and gout, reducing your risk of diabetes by drinking apple cider vinegar can also have similar benefits towards healing gout.
3.) Balances pH Level
The most crucial ingredient of apple cider vinegar in the healing of gout is acetic acid. This magical substance turns into an alkaline agent that prevents the creation of a gout-friendly environment in the body.
Once the acetic acid is turned alkaline inside the body, the pH levels of the body are balanced. When the alkaline pH level is more balanced in your body, your body naturally fights off diseases such as gout.
4.) Detoxification
The vitamin C in apple cider vinegar is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce the antioxidant enzyme and free radical imbalance. Apple cider vinegar works with your body to help stimulate circulation in the skin and blood by helping to remove harmful environmental toxins that build up in your body.
Gout leads to increased generation of free radicals, which can harm the body cells and cause oxidative stress. Apple cider vinegar is a great natural remedy to this oxidative stress. Drinking apple cider vinegar breaks up the uric acid crystals and prevents them from reforming in the joints by aiding blood circulation and purification.
5.) Anti-inflammatory Properties
If you have ever experienced gout, you will know painful it can be. Due to the uric acid crystals that build up, your joints suffer from extreme inflammation and pain and can become stiff and swollen.
The acidity of the vinegar can help to reduce the symptoms of inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also be helpful to alleviate the pain caused by gout.
6.) Magical Malic Acid
Apples are one of the many fruits that contain malic acid. This wonderful acid boosts the alkalinity in your body, thereby dissolving uric acid and removing it from the body. Less uric acid means less gout!
But to really reap the benefits of malic acid for gout, you should be consuming apple cider vinegar. The concentration of malic acid in apple cider vinegar is much higher than in apple juice, around ten times more.
Taking Apple Cider Vinegar for Gout
Ok, so we’ve covered how taking apple cider vinegar for gout is a great natural remedy. Not only does it work to reduce pain and inflammation, it reduces the buildup of excess uric acid that causes gout.
But now you may be asking yourself: how do I drink apple cider vinegar?
While the benefits of apple cider vinegar are a result of its high acidity, consuming such a concentrated acidic liquid has some problems. Such a high concentration of acid can harm your teeth, eroding tooth enamel. Therefore, make sure to dilute it with water and try to drink it through a straw (so as to avoid it touching your teeth). It’s not the end of the world though, you can always brush your teeth afterwards.
Consuming apple cider vinegar in the correct, suitable doses is key to properly treating gout. Our Uric Acid Support supplement contains an ample amount of apple cider vinegar, in addition to other natural remedies, all in an easy-to-take tablet.
If you’re suffering from gout and are looking for a safe, healthy way to treat your condition, look no further. Keep reading this blog and feel free to contact us any time. Our sincere hope is that you’ll say goodbye to gout for good.
