Control gouty arthritis with food & exercise
By Dr. B. S. Aggarwal The Tribune Wednesday, December 31, 2003
The incidence of gout is rising as there is a change in the eating habits of people. One possible
reason is the consumption of preserved and stored food. Instead of fresh home food, people like to
indulge in careless eating at parties and go for the stored hotel food. This is, perhaps, the result
of credit-card prosperity.
Protein utilisation and breakdown in the body produces urea, uric acid and creatinine. It is the
uric acid component which causes sudden, painful and red swelling around the joints overnight. The
most commonly affected are the base joints of the big toe and thumb called MTP and MCP joints,
respectively. The next to fall in line are the wrist, ankle, knee and shoulder. Gout also affects
the spine in some cases causing diskitis. The affected person gets up with great pain and spasm in
the neck or back after a good overnight meal. The sufferer is a well-fed, healthy and wealthy person
with a sedentary life-style.
The normal range of uric acid in human beings is from 2.5 to 7.0 mg/dl. . . .
In vegetarians, gout is seen in those people who are fond of taking milk and milk products (dahi,
lassi, paneer and milky tea), pulses with rice dishes (dal-bhat-idli sambar), mushroom-peas and, of
course, among those who fast for more than seven days and consume non-cereal and pulses diet. The
fasting people empty their protein stores in the body. It is the protein breakdown all the way which
causes this type of arthritis. Gout is also found in people suffering from osteoporosis and
diabetes. The bones are called to contribute protein and calcium to the general circulation during
the deficiency of nutrients in blood.
In diabetics, the increase in blood sugar is a product of carbohydrate metabolism. In gout, the
blood uric acid level is increased because of protein metabolism. So, gout and diabetes are
basically dietary diseases.
Indigestion for a long time, constipation and bad breath are also contributory factors for non-
articular gouty manifestations or muscular rheumatism. This condition brings muscular stiffness and
aches in the whole body, particularly in the spinal region. The shifting of postures in bed gives
many ''ooffs'' ''ouches'' to the people who are enjoying a sedentary life-style.
To break this vicious circle, one has to revise one's daily schedule of diet and exercise. There is
need to change the over-indulgent and sedentary attitude which contributes to weight gain also.
People in the North have a very high protein diet with wines. Punjabis like to take lumps of
''dahi'' at least twice a day. A change in this habit is required for healthy living.
The best treatment would be to space out the intake of protein products and reduce its quantity to
normal level. One should consume chicken or paneer once a week only and ''dahi'' twice a week. Whiskey-
lovers should not consume too much protein salads. Chicken or ''kharora'' soup should be avoided. To
keep away from gouty arthritis, one should practice dietary yoga. Of course, there are drugs to help
reduce the pain and symptoms, but the long-term remedy lies in a balanced diet and regular exercise.
Nothing is better than a balanced diet and an addiction for morning walk or indoor exercise. After
all, ''exercise is the best food for the body.''
- The writer is a senior orthopaedic surgeon based in Chandigarh.
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