Lemon is one of the most beneficial citrus plants. First of all, due to the content of vitamin C. It is an effective assistant for colds, various ailments. But is lemon useful for gout? Does it cause harm in this joint disease caused by metabolic disorders, kidney activity? Can I use lemon for gout? The article is devoted to the answer to this question. We will consider the indications, contraindications to the use of fruit, we will present effective folk remedies based on it.
About the disease
What kind of disease is gout? Symptoms of this pathology are quite characteristic. The disease affects the joints - uric acid salts accumulate in them. Whereas before, mostly elderly men suffered from it, today the disease catches up with both women and young people.
Gout is a form of arthritis. It occurs due to deposits of urate crystals (uric acid salts) in the joints. As a result of this, inflammatory processes develop, which are accompanied by intense pain during exacerbations. Accordingly, such crystals will form when the level of uric acid in the blood is elevated.
Now you know what this disease is. Symptoms of gout are as follows:
- Periodic pain in the big toes.
- Intense joint pain.
- Unstable pulse.
- Difficult urination.
- Knee pain.
- Possible deposits of kidney stones.
- The appearance of formations, growths around the joints.
- Chronic fatigue.
Lemon with gout: is it possible or impossible?
It should be noted that with gout, you need to carefully eat foods rich in proteins and fats:
- Only lean meat is allowed. Small portions - not more than three times a week.
- Bean dishes, salted and pickled foods, foods rich in purines are prohibited.
- Whole grain, rye bread, vegetable dishes, on the contrary, are shown.
- It is recommended to use as much water as possible - both pure and in the form of medicinal teas, decoctions, compotes.
Is it possible to eat lemon with gout? Yes. Moreover, this fruit will bring great benefits to the body - improve the outflow of bile and contribute to the elimination of purines. Moreover, lemon with gout is allowed to eat in any form. Both fresh fruit and drinks based on it.
The use of citric acid in its pure form contributes to the excretion of uric acid due to its neutralization of bile.
Fruit benefits
Lemon with gout is indicated due to the large number of beneficial properties that this amazing fruit has:
- Lemon is rich in vitamins A, group B, D, P. It contains a high content of potassium and copper salts. As for potassium, this is a valuable element for the normal functioning of the heart and vascular system.
- Lemon is one of the champions in the content of vitamin C. The dose of this substance in the juice of one fruit is a third of the daily requirement of the body for this vitamin.
- Citrine in the fruit has a beneficial effect on metabolic, redox processes in the body.
- Pectin substances, also found in lemon, allow you to remove heavy metal salts from the body.
- Lemon is an excellent bactericidal and diuretic. Therefore, it helps to eliminate toxins from the body.
- The rind and lemon juice also have remarkable antiseptic properties.
- The leaves of this plant are often used to relieve heat.
- Lemon juice helps to alleviate the effects of toxicosis during pregnancy.
- Despite the fact that lemon has a very acidic taste, it acts on the digestive tract in the opposite way - it reduces the acidity of gastric juice.
Use for diseases
Lemon with gout helps remove uric acid salts. In addition, it is noted for its use in the treatment and prevention of other diseases:
- Atherosclerosis.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Migraine.
- Infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
- Arthritis.
- Urolithiasis disease
- Skin problems (in particular, corns).
What does it contain?
Why is lemon so valuable for gout and a whole list of other diseases? It's all about the nutrients that are contained in this sunny fruit:
- Carbohydrates.
- Organic acids.
- Cellulose.
- Vitamins
- Macronutrients: calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus.
- Trace elements: iron, zinc, fluorine, manganese, copper.
Gout Value
We will dwell in detail on the healing properties of lemon for gout. The cause of the disease is a violation of purine metabolism in the body. The consequence of this is the accumulation of uric acid salts and its further deposition in the kidneys, joints, ligaments, and liver. Therefore, it is so important to eat right, to limit yourself in the use of proteins and fats.
Lemon juice with gout has beneficial effects for several reasons:
- During digestion, citric acid is broken down into alkaline derivatives. They, in turn, have a neutralizing effect on uric acid accumulated in the body. Thus, lemon helps its excretion, prevents the crystallization of this substance and its accumulations in the form of salts.
- Lemon juice is also valued for its beneficial effects on the liver. It improves the outflow of bile. And this already contributes to the normalization of purine metabolism.
- Vitamins, fiber, bioflavonoids, pectin substances contribute to the normalization of digestion, which is so important for gout. In addition, they help the body release toxins faster.
- Potassium has a beneficial effect not only on the cardiovascular, but also on the renal system. It helps to remove excess uric acid, its salt from the body. Therefore, the use of lemon is important not only for gout, but also for urolithiasis.
- After consuming lemon or juice of this citrus, an acid-base balance is gradually formed in the body. Why and tea with lemon with gout will never be superfluous.
Contraindications
And one more popular question. Citric acid for gout: benefit or harm to the body? With this disease, not only lemon is shown, but also lemon juice, and products based on it. Including citric acid. But still there is a list of conditions in which lemon treatment should not be carried out:
- The period of breastfeeding.
- Age to three years.
- An allergy to citrus fruits - in this case, you can not use them in any case. Lemon is a fairly powerful allergen.
- Gum disease. Drinking lemon can make your condition worse. If you have already eaten it, then you need to thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.
- Diseases of the teeth. Addiction to citrus has a negative effect on tooth enamel. Citric acid corrodes, destroys it.
- Gastritis, cholecystitis, peptic ulcer.
- Diseases of the heart and vascular system. Use lemon and products with its inclusion should be used with caution, in small quantities.
- Hepatitis.
- Nephritis.
Precautionary measures
Lemon has a reason for such an intense sour taste. It has a great influence on the acidity of gastric juice: if you use citrus in large quantities, it increases it, which in a certain way affects the digestion process.
With some unpleasant sensations in the stomach after consuming a lemon, it is worth giving up treatment with this fruit. You may have gastrointestinal problems. And the frequent use of yellow citrus will aggravate, exacerbate them.
Proper use
To begin with, which lemons will be more healthy. Choose citruses with a clean, shiny skin of a rich yellow tint. Give preference to heavier fruits. But lemons with tough, flabby, rough-looking peels should not be chosen.
How to treat gout with lemon juice? There are a lot of ways:
- One of the most common recipes is mixing lemon juice and baking soda. Drinking is prepared in the following proportion: freshly squeezed juice of one middle fruit and 1/2 teaspoon of soda is taken. After the solution has finished foaming, dilute it with a glass of boiled water. Mix well, then drink in small sips.
- You can just drink the juice of freshly squeezed lemons 2-3 times a day. To do this, just squeeze the juice of one fruit into a glass of clean water. Can I drink lemon water with gout? Of course, it is directly shown. But such a drink should be used with caution for those patients who, in addition to gout, have been diagnosed with pathology of blood vessels and the heart.
- A great option is a couple of cups of traditional hot tea with lemon several times a day. You can also make such a drink: add several teaspoons of lemon juice and honey to warm water, mix well and drink. You will get an excellent diuretic that improves kidney function, and promotes uric acid excretion.
- Another simple lemon treatment is to just eat a few slices of this citrus daily. Even such a simple measure will help lower uric acid levels in the body. But if at the same time you began to experience pain in the epistragal zone, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, bitterness in the mouth, then such lemon therapy should be discontinued.
Now imagine the popular recipes for lemon-based medicinal drinks.
Lemon water
For treatment it is necessary to consume this drink warm - 35-40 ° C. From each half of the lemon, 2 tablespoons of the juice are squeezed together with the pulp. The juice is diluted in one glass of water (200 ml). After preparing the drink, it is better to drink it immediately.
Take a glass of such lemon water on an empty stomach every morning, before breakfast.
Garlic lemon
This homemade medicine is prepared according to the following recipe:
- Grind 4 medium lemon fruits and 4 heads of garlic. It’s best to use a blender for this.
- The mixture is transferred to a 3-liter jar. Topped up with hot water, but not boiling water.
- Within 3 days, the drink should be infused at room temperature. Daily do not forget to mix it thoroughly with a spoon.
- When the composition is infused, strain it with gauze or sieve. Drink before meals on an empty stomach three times a day.
Cranberry Lemon
Cranberries - one of the most healthy berries, rich in various nutrients. For instance:
- Organic malic acid.
- Fructose.
- Macro- and microelements: phosphorus, iodine, calcium, iron.
- Vitamins of group B, C, K, PP.
The berry has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart, strengthens the immune system, helps the body fight inflammation. It is also an excellent antiseptic because of its high acid content.
But it is important to note that people suffering from gout, cranberries should not be consumed in an unprocessed, raw form. The best option is to make a drink based on honey, lemon and this berry. Such a drink is a valuable gift to your immunity.
The drink is prepared according to the following recipe:
- Wash (but do not peel) one medium lemon. Rinse, dry 500 g of cranberries.
- Prepare 1/2 cup of natural honey.
- Using a blender, grind the composition thoroughly. Lemon is processed here along with the peel.
- Pour the resulting mixture with honey. Add it gradually, a few spoons, to better stir.
- After thorough mixing you will get a product that you can add tea.
You can simply dilute 1-2 tablespoons of this product with boiling water. You will get an invigorating tasty drink. If desired, it can be further sweetened with honey. Such a drink should be consumed twice a day, 2-3 times a week.
Lemon with parsley
All useful substances for which cranberries are so valued are also found in parsley. A decoction based on this herb helps fight swelling, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, removes excess fluid from the body, and helps to restore metabolism. Which, by the way, makes parsley valuable for those suffering from problems with the thyroid gland.
And to make a drink based on parsley and lemon is very simple:
- For one glass of drink, you need one tablespoon of chopped parsley. Rinse the greens thoroughly, finely chop it.
- Pour a glass of boiling water. Let the drink brew for 5 minutes.
- Add a slice of lemon while brewing.
Such a drink is recommended to drink three times a day. This achieves a diuretic effect useful in gout.
Lemon, like the juice of this fruit, citric acid, is indicated for gout. After all, this fruit helps the excretion of uric acid salts from the body. Namely, they are deposited in the joints with gout. However, lemon therapy should be carried out with caution if you suffer from other diseases. It must be agreed with your doctor.