Weight Loss Strategies For Gout

What Is Gout And What Tools Help With Weight Loss

Gout is a debilitating condition which primarily affects specific joints around the body. Obesity and its side effects are one of the primary causes of gout, but for those already living with the condition, carrying excess weight can make the symptoms worse. This is because more pressure will be applied to the joints, making flare-ups more painful and more regular. Fortunately, as we explore in this guide, there are lots of things you can do to help you reach your weight loss goals whilst living with the condition.

Weight Loss With Gout Means Eating The Right foods

We all know how important it is to eat a balanced diet to keep our bodies and minds healthy. But when living with gout, your choice of foods can also ameliorate or exacerbate the related symptoms. Most importantly, you should look to replace high-purine foods such as red meat and certain kinds of seafood with healthier alternatives. This will help to lower your risk of suffering from a flare-up.

When trying to lose weight, it’s recommended to eat foods which are high in fibre to help keep you feeling full. It’s also important to cut down on alcohol consumption; the benefits of this are twofold when living with gout. Not only can reducing alcohol help to improve your general health and contribute to your weight loss journey, but it will also reduce the frequency of flare-ups, helping you to better manage your condition.

Do The Right Exercises

According to health authorities, adults should aim to complete at least 150 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity each week. However, living with gout can restrict your body and make it more difficult to complete certain workouts you may previously have been able to do.

As such, it’s important not only to get enough physical activity in, but also to complete the right kind of exercise. Doing too much vigorous activity can actually be counterproductive and do more damage to your joints than good. Instead, focus on low-intensity workouts that take the pressure off of your joints whilst increasing your heart rate and strengthening your muscles.

What’s most important is to find an activity or range of activities that you enjoy partaking in, as this will encourage you to get out and about more often. There are lots of low-intensity exercises you could try out, including water aerobics, swimming, cycling, walking or gentle resistance training.

Top Tips For Easing Gout Symptoms

As well as eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly, it’s important to maintain healthy lifestyle habits when trying to lose weight whilst living with gout. Here are three other important tips to bear in mind:

Lose weight steadily. Losing too much weight too quickly can be detrimental to your overall health. There are many potentially harmful side effects to accelerating the process, including loss of muscle mass and nutritional deficiencies. Make sure you consult a medical professional and create a sensible weight loss plan to help you gradually work towards your goals.

Drink plenty of water. We all know how important it is to keep our bodies hydrated, particularly when we’re engaging in more physical activity. But drinking plenty of water can also help when trying to lose weight. Not only can it replace unhealthier alternatives, but water can also increase the number of calories you burn. You may also find that drinking more water can ease gout flare-ups, so make water a key part of your weight management plan.

Continue to look after your mental health. People are becoming increasingly aware of how closely our physical and mental health is linked. Maintaining healthy habits that promote good mental wellbeing will help you to maintain consistency on your weight loss journey, and help you to generally lead a happier and healthier lifestyle.