Four little-known ways to keep gout attacks at bay

“Gout attacks are caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in and around the affected joints, most commonly the big toe, but also at times the hands, wrists, knees, ankles and elbows. The crystals form when the kidneys are unable to flush the uric acid out of the body quickly enough,” explains bodyandsoul.com.

And while your diet – like eating red meat and drinking alcohol – can trigger gout attacks, there are other lesser-known gout triggers that are just as bad.

That’s why your gout attack prevention plan starts by avoiding the following gout triggers…

Four gout triggers you must avoid but haven’t ever thought about

#1: Dehydration
Dehydration is a key gout trigger that people often forget. It’s also why alcohol is so bad for you. Make sure you drink six to eight glasses of filtered water daily to help flush uric acid from the body, advises the University of Maryland Medical Centre.

#2: Too much fruit juice
“Excessive intake of fructose (the sugar found in most fruit) may also exacerbate gout. While it is sensible to avoid excessive intake of fruit juice, there is no need to avoid fruit altogether. Vitamin C may reduce attacks, as can low-fat dairy products,” writes bodyandsoul.com.

#3: Aspirin
“Aspirin drives up the amount of uric acid in your blood. At high enough levels, uric acid deposits in joints (especially in the big toe and fingers) and forms the razor-sharp crystals responsible for gout,” explains health.com.

#4: Wearing uncomfortable shoes
Here’s something you probably didn’t think about: Wearing uncomfortable shoes affects your gout. This because the wrong type of shoes can lead to increased pain, impairment, and disability in gout affected areas warns WebMD. Just one more reason to choose comfortable shoes instead of flashy, fashion brands.

So as you can see, while making smart diet choices is important to keeping your gout under control, it’s just as important to avoid these lesser-known triggers.