Could there be a nicer way of beating gout than by eating a couple of bowls of strawberries a day? They are, after all, one of the world's most popular and delicious fruit. So is this idea, which is quite well known in the world of gout treatment, a myth or magic? What does the evidence amount to? A GOUT POSITIVE NUTRITIONAL PROFILE It is true that the nutritional profile of strawberries is positive for natural gout treatment. Probably the most important fact is their high Vitamin C content, around 59 mg per 100 grams of fruit. This puts them towards the top of the high-in-Vitamin C fruits' tables. Way above cherries. They are moderately alkaline, alkaline neutral or just mildly acidic so their effect on the body's pH amounts is not likely to be much, and may be mildly positive. They contain about 91% water, are low purine and moderate on the Glycemic Index. All these facts make them a good gout food. And because their flavonoids amounts are high, their flavonoids-to-Vitamin C ratio is pretty good which means that their Vitamin C is likely to be better absorbed and thus have a stronger therapeutic effect. Some studies have shown that Vitamin C does reduce uric acid levels, which makes Vitamin C for gout a good idea. In these studies the lowest amount required to do this was 500 mg daily. It's not hard to get 500 mg of Vitamin C naturally from foods and drinks. Strawberries' flavonoids are anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols and flavonols. Quercetin, which has been thought to reduce uric acid levels, is a flavonol. There is some Quercetin in strawberries. Better known and researched are the anthocyanidins which have also been thought to reduce uric acid levels. Researchers have considered that it is the anthocyanidins in cherries for example, that may account for their uric acid lowering success in some small studies. The anthocyanidin profile of strawberries is not exactly the same as that of cherries, but sweet cherries and strawberries share a couple of them. There is one more health positive fact about strawberries. Their proanthocyanidin (abbreviated as PCO's or OPC's) levels are high, much higher than in cherries. STRAWBERRY TESTIMONIALS If you're looking for a natural gout remedy, and which gout sufferer isn't, all this is very interesting, but are there any real world testimonials? The most quoted historical character who advocated strawberries for gout was the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778). He said that his strawberries-only diet had cured or alleviated his gout. Accounts vary as to what he precisely said, but there is no doubt that he thought strawberries were helpful, and in his time he was a famous and respected botanist. So he knew a lot about strawberries. But don't eat a strawberries-only diet. This is a crash diet and crash diets are now thought to probably increase gout attacks. You can easily get strawberries into a low purine gout diet. Or into a carbohydrate restricted diet, such as the Zone diet, because they are moderate on the Glycemic Index. Modern real world testimonials to the value of strawberries in gout treatment can be read on the Internet. And for pain alleviation too. Of course you can also read that strawberries had no effect. It's a pity that more isn't known about strawberries for gout. But all these hints and signs, and in the case of Vitamin C for gout, studies too, do suggest that a daily bowl of strawberries is a good idea for a gout diet, especially when combined with other natural remedies for gout. NB. The contents of this article contain medical information not medical advice. Please always discuss gout remedies with your doctor or other health care professional, before implementing any treatment.
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