Uric acid is one of the waste products present in the blood, formed when your body breaks down a chemical known as purines. Generally, uric acid stays dissolved in the blood and passes through your kidneys to leave your body as urine. The presence of excess uric acid in the body leads to a condition known as hyperuricemia. It can lead to the formation of uric acid crystals. 

Such crystals end in your joints to cause gout, which is a painful form of arthritis. They might also settle in the kidneys to form kidney stones. It is pertinent to treat this immediately by getting in touch with a specialist. You can use your health card to find treatment for high uric acid conditions. 

Use Your Health Card for Treating High Uric Acid Levels

If you face a gout attack, you can use medication to reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation. It is crucial to drink loads of fluids but avoid sweetened soft drinks and alcohol. However, make sure never to self-medicate in case of high uric acid, and only take prescription meds. 

Kidney stones might gradually pass out of your body through urine. For that, drinking more water is necessary. Try to have at least eight glasses of water daily for best results. 

Doctors may also prescribe certain medications that help kidney stones to pass through relaxing the ureter muscles. The ureter is the duct that your urine passes through to the bladder from the kidneys. If the stone is too big to pass, it may cause an infection or block the urine flow. For this, it is best to seek medical help and remove the stone surgically. 

Top Six Home Remedies for Uric Acid

Given below are the six home remedies for uric acid that can help keep your uric acid in control:

Limit Food Rich in Purine:

Purines exist naturally in several food items. When your body breaks it down, uric acid is produced. The system of metabolising the purine-rich food items might cause gout by making the body produce excess amounts of uric acid. 

On the other hand, purine-rich foods might be healthy otherwise. Thus, the goal is to reduce the intake of such foods instead of completely avoiding them. 

Some of the high purine food items are: 

Wild game like venison 

Herring, mussels, anchovies, sardines, haddock, tuna, and trout 

Excess alcohol, including beer 

Food rich in fat, such as red meat, dairy products, and bacon 

Organ meats like sweetbreads and liver 

Sugary beverages and candies 

Foods that have moderate purine include: 

Poultry 

Deli meats 

Other types of meat, such as beef and ham 

Lobster, crab, shrimp, and oyster 

Eat Foods Low in Purine Content: 

By going from foods that are high in purine to the ones with lower purine, you can steadily lower your uric acid level or at least prevent sudden spikes. Some of the food items that have lower purine are: 

Fat-free and low-fat dairy products 

Most nuts and peanut butter 

Most vegetables and fruits 

Whole-grain rice, potatoes, and bread 

Coffee 

Though dietary modifications cannot solely help you control gout, they can help in preventing flare-ups. Also, keep in mind that getting gout does not necessarily mean that you have a diet rich in purine. There are other factors, including genetic susceptibility, which can also play an important role. In addition, obese people and postmenopausal women have a greater risk of gout. 

Drugs that Increase Your Uric Acid Level: 

Your uric acid level might increase from certain medications, such as:

Diuretic drugs, like hydrochlorothiazide and Lasix (furosemide)

Immuno-suppressant drugs taken after or before organ transplant  

A low dosage of aspirin 

Such medications that increase your uric acid levels also come with other necessary health benefits. Thus, do not attempt to change any medicine without talking to your doctor. They might give you alternatives to those medications. 

Maintaining a Healthy Body Weight: 

Maintaining a healthy body weight might help reduce the possibility of gout flares. For instance, obesity raises the chances of gout, particularly in younger people. Being obese also increases the risks of metabolic syndrome in a person. 

It might raise cholesterol and blood pressure while raising the risks of cardiac arrests. Though the effects are worrying on their own, being overweight is simultaneously associated with a greater risk of high blood uric acid levels, increasing gout risk.  

Sudden weight loss, particularly something that occurs because of fasting, might increase uric acid levels. Thus, it would be best if you focused on delivering long-term sustainable changes for weight management, such as having a balanced diet, getting more active, and selecting nutrient-dense foods. 

Steer Clear of Sugary Drinks and Alcohol:

Heavier consumption of sugary drinks (like sweetened juices and sodas) and alcohol leads to a greater risk of getting gout. Sweetened beverages and alcohol might also add unnecessary calories to your diet. It can potentially cause metabolic issues and weight gain. 

Drink Your Coffee 

Several studies have indicated that people who have coffee have a lesser probability of developing gout. Women consuming one to three cups of coffee every day have about a 22% reduction in gout risk compared to those who did not drink coffee. Women having over four cups every day decrease the chances of getting gout by at least 57%. 

Many studies also link coffee consumption to a low risk of cardiac diseases. In fact, people consuming three to five cups of coffee every day have lower risks of cardiovascular diseases. 

People with gout have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and drinking coffee might help in improving their overall health. However, make sure not to have excess amounts of caffeine because it could have side effects. Utilise your health card for advice on how to balance your caffeine intake. 

The Bottom line

Incorporate the points outlined in this post to keep your uric acid under control. Also, consult a doctor to know the right treatment path for your condition. It is possible to manage uric acid if you follow a few home remedies and take proper medication.