Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs because you have too much uric acid in the body. The flare-ups of gout can be very painful, and many times they will concentrate in the big toe, causing swelling and pain that can be unbearable. Of course, it does not always isolate itself to the toes. It can also affect the knees, wrists, feet, ankles, elbows, and other joints. Gout is affected by the food you eat, and you might be wondering if there is a correlation between gout and spicy food.
What Is Gout?
To say these flare-ups are no fun at all is putting it very mildly. In many cases the bouts of gout will last for several days. The longer you have the condition the longer these flare-ups can last. Those who do not treat their gout properly may find that they have irreversible damage to their kidneys and joints.
What Can Initiate a Flare-Up
Most of the time, gout flare-ups happen because of the food a person eats. Some of the biggest causes include scallops, beer, red meat, herring, turkey, sugary drinks, liver, and even asparagus. This is because these foods are high in purines, which contribute to the high levels of uric acid that can cause crystallization in the joints and cause the pain. Some might worry that gout with spicy food will worsen, but that does not seem to be the case at all, at least for most people. In fact, most spicy foods you eat will be neutral, meaning they will not have any effect on your gout. Other times, they might even have a positive effect.
They could be beneficial in some cases because of properties of the capsaicin in the spicy foods. The capsaicin can help to reduce pain and inflammation, two of the hallmarks of gout. There is a potential for some spicy food to help, but you should never rely on this.
Of course, you need to think about all of the other foods that are in the spicy food you are eating. It is not just peppers. Some of the other items in the food could actually cause a flare-up. Make sure you know what is in the food, and do not mistakenly blame the spices when you happened to have a lot of beef in that particular dish. It is likely the beef rather than the peppers.
Get Proper Treatment
You never want to let your gout go untreated. If you have gout, or if you feel that you might be suffering but have not been diagnosed yet, do not put it off. You need to visit a doctor to get the diagnosis. They will provide you with information on what you need to do to change your diet, as well. Listen to the advice they offer, and be sure to ask them any other questions that you might have about gout and spicy food, foods to avoid, and what to do in the event of a flare-up.