It is not uncommon to hear complaints of joint pain and difficulty walking from older people. But why does this happen? In the area where the joint meets the socket, there is a fluid called synovial fluid which cushions the bones; and this fluid dries up with age.
Without the synovial fluid to cushion the joint movement, the bone can damage the tissue which surrounds it, causing pain and inflammation. This condition is typically called arthritis. However, there is another cause for arthritis and it is related with the production of uric acid crystals.
The Link Between The Thyroid and Uric Acid Levels
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped organ found in the neck. It is a part of the body’s endocrine system – which is responsible for the production and regulation of hormones in the body. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate growth and metabolism, which explains why people who have problems with the thyroid also have a problem with their weight and energy levels. However, the hormones produced by the thyroid also regulate the amount of uric acid found in the blood. In the cases of hypothyroidism, the kidneys don’t excrete uric acid adequately, which leads to its build-up in the joints as crystals. In hyperthyroidism, the body coverts purines to uric acid too fast, leading to a build-up in the joints as well. These crystals damage the tissues in the joint, which causes pain during movement. Prolonged damage to the tissue can cause recurring inflammation and eventual scarring, causing poor mobility to complete immobility.
Can An Alkaline Diet Help?
Alkalinization therapy is often a part of the medical management of gout, used to counteract the high uric acid levels in the blood. It has long been debated whether alkaline diets have a real health benefit or if they’re a fad. There are counterarguments that state that the body’s pH is maintained at a very regular level despite the acidity of the food that is consumed. However, the Nutrition Journal by Kanbara, A., et. al. published a study in 2010 that reveals that an alkaline diet can cause an increase in uric acid excretion through the urine while acidic diets suppress uric acid excretion in the urine.
According to this study, if we include more alkaline foods in our diet, we will promote the removal of uric acid in the blood, which gives hope for the removal of formed uric acid crystals in the joints.
Eating More Alkaline Food
An alkaline diet is usually high in vegetable and legume intake – food that has high pH or low acid content. There is a wide variety of foods that can be added to an alkaline diet. Some of them are the following ones:
- Rye bread
- Tofu
- Okra
- Green soybeans
- Carrots
- Green, leafy vegetables
- Tomato
- Red and yellow pepper
- Pumpkin
- Green onion
- Cucumber
- Cabbage
- Lettuce
- Garlic
- Dried seaweed
- Olive oil
A typical acidic or acid-forming diet always contains high levels of sugars, processed foods, bread and meat.
Lemons are also an alkaline food, which may sound confusing. But, inside the body, when the lemon juice has been fully metabolized and its minerals are dissociated in the bloodstream, its effect is alkalizing and it therefore raises the pH of body tissue.
According to various studies, alkaline therapy and alkaline diet can significantly reduce the levels of uric acid in the blood, which paves the way for research on their effect on uric acid crystals. Therefore, add more fruits and vegetables in your diet – they will help you reduce the symptoms of gouty arthritis.
Sourced: herbs-info.com
