Does Water Help Flush Out Excess Uric Acid?
Water is one of the known remedies for gout. When you were diagnosed with gout, you were probably advised by your doctor to make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking enough water. Seems like basic advice but it’s crucial to keeping your gout symptoms away.
So you’re probably wondering, does water help flush out uric acid? Yes, it does. It helps dilute the concentration of uric acid in your blood. Sure, you may be taking more trips to the bathroom but that’s actually good since you are eliminating uric acid from your body. This makes it less likely for crystals to form and stay in your joints.
In one study conducted among 535 gout patients, they found that those who drank more than eight glasses of water daily had experienced fewer gout attacks. They also found a lower risk for developing hyperuricemia in patients who drank three or more liters of water per day.
Drinking lots of water also helps you avoid getting dehydrated which is another cause of gout attacks. When you’re dehydrated, you’re more prone to kidney stones and infections which are precursors to gout attacks. If you’ve had gout long enough, you will know that a healthy kidney is important for avoiding future complications like joint damage and tophi.
Other benefits of drinking water include:
● Water helps lubricate your joints
● Water delivers oxygen to different parts of your body
● Water keeps the mouth clean
● Water helps reduce tooth decay
● Water enhances the skin and protects it against skin disorders
● Water regulates body temperature
● Water allows your bowels to work properly
● Water helps your body flush waste through sweat, urine, and feces
● Water helps maintain your blood pressure
● Water helps you prevent kidney stones by regulating fluids in the body
● Water allows minerals and nutrients to reach different parts of the body
● Water prevents dehydration during exercise
● Water helps with weight loss by preventing overeating
● Water can prevent a hangover
● Water helps increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain
So as you can see, there is a lot to gain from drinking enough water. It’s not just beneficial for gout but to your overall health as well. The recommended water intake for gout sufferers is 8 to 12 fluid ounce glasses a day. If you’re not sure how much that looks like, go to your kitchen and pour water into a measuring cup. The total should add up to about half a gallon of water.
You will know you are drinking enough water is if your pee is lighter in color. A pee with a dark color, strong odor, and cloudy appearance usually indicates a lack of water in your body. If that’s the case, you should be increasing your water intake.
Tips for Drinking More Water
Drinking water is a simple habit to maintain but for some of us, it’s not that easy. If you find yourself struggling to drink enough water because it’s just not on top of your mind or you simply don’t like the taste, here are some tips to help you.
- Add flavor to your water.
You can easily make your water taste better by adding natural flavors to it. You can add fruits like lemon, strawberries, oranges, and grapefruit or vegetables like cucumber, celery, or ginger. Some like to add herbs in their drink like mint, basil, or lavender. You can experiment by combining these different ingredients together. For the best results, you want the ingredients to steep in your water before consuming it.
Avoid artificially flavored drinks like fruit juices and sodas. Those should be avoided like the plague since they increase your uric acid.
2. Make water accessible
A way to ensure you’re always drinking water is by making it easily accessible. For example, you can fill up your pitchers with water the night before so you’ll always have water ready to pour for the next day. Or how about placing a glass of water in areas where you’ll likely be like your bedside table, office table, living room, the car, your bag, etc. By tackling these obstacles ahead of time, you have no excuse to not drink water.
3. Set a reminder
If you find yourself forgetting to drink water or you’re too busy to drink, reminders can help. Set a reminder on your phone that will alert you to drink water every 30 minutes. Or set the alarm so it reminds you to refill your water bottle every two hours. This ensures you are drinking water and have enough to drink for later on.
4. Use a marked water bottle
Unlike a regular water bottle, this kind of bottle gives you a visual on how much water you’ve consumed for the day. It’s often marked with ounces while some will be marked with hours. It’s a fun way to stay on track with your water intake without the hassle of measuring.
5. Invest in a water filter
Sometimes, it’s not your memory or motivation that’s the problem but the taste of your water that’s putting you off from drinking enough of it. It may be worth investing in a water filter which will not only remove bacteria and other harmful chemicals, it will also make your water taste a whole lot better. You’ll also want to drink more water considering how much it costs to install a water filter.
6. Use an app
If all else fails and you’re still not drinking enough water, consider using those apps that track your water intake. This adds a gaming element to the habit and it’s always satisfying to see a progress chart that shows your momentum.
7. Eat water-rich foods
Water does not have to come from your water filter or jug alone. You can increase your water intake by consuming foods with high water content such as watermelon, lettuce, celery, zucchini, and cabbage. Not only will these keep you hydrated, they’re also packed with nutrients that help enhance your health.
What has your water intake been like since you’ve had gout? Is it helping with your gout symptoms? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Want to learn more about gout? Visit my website at www.goutandyou.com
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns.
