Orchestrate Your Fight against Gout This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a perfect time enjoy the spectacular events going on in your community. A show and dinner out is a great way to spend a night, and this year a very popular holiday event in Houston, TX is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve. This exciting, classical music show is perfect for a date, or a family outing. Dinner can end the night on a high note as long as you orchestrate your food choices.

Terrible foot pain can ruin a night on the town, and what you eat may be leading to your pain. Gout is a form of arthritis that can attack the big toe and ankle joints, and stop you dead in your tracks. High levels of uric acid accumulate and result in the formation of needle-like crystals within the joint. It often attacks in the middle of the night, and the pain is severe. Certain foods rich in purines can increase your risk of this type of arthritic flare-up.

Fight gout this holiday season by knowing the triggers. The following can increase uric acid levels in your body and can lead to a gout attack: aspirin, diuretics, dehydration, obesity, fasting and foods rich in purines. Some of the foods you may want to avoid cooking and eating out are: beer, alcohol, organ meats, anchovies, red meat, seafood, and foods or drinks high in saturated fat and high fructose corn syrup.  

If you have had a gout attack before, you are well aware of the benefits of prevention. For more information or treatment for joint pain, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Jeff Bowman at Houston Foot Specialists. Often, a prescription that can take away the pain can be written at your appointment.  Quick treatment means a quicker recovery so don’t wait! Call our office in Houston, TX at (713) 467-8886 to make anappointment today.

Your Feet and a High Protein Diet

We are inundated these days with all kinds of diets and ways to eat to keep us fit and healthy. It can be hard to weed through them all and know which ones are good and worth doing. Protein is a “hot” word in the health world but it really is essential and believe it or not, it can also affect your feet.

Dr. Jeff Bowman is a foot specialist in Houston, TX who cares about the whole health of his patients. Diets often play a big role when it comes to keeping feet healthy and too much protein on a regular basis can specifically affect feet. If you have been experiencing joint pain and inflammation, it is worth taking a look at your protein intake.

Protein is important, as your body needs it to produce and repair cells. It is recommended that adult women take in 46 g of protein daily and men take in 56 g daily. Every gram of protein contains 4 calories. A diet high in protein can increase your risk of obesity and extra weight adds stress and strain on your feet. This can result in sore joints and aggravation of existing foot problems.

Gout is a very painful type of arthritis that affects the big toe joint in your foot. A diet high in protein can cause ketone levels to rise, which in turn increase the amount of uric acid in your blood. An accumulation of uric acid is what can cause a flare up of gout. If you already suffer from arthritis, eating animal proteins such as meat and eggs can increase the pain and inflammation in your joints.

If you have pain in your joints or feet and are unsure if protein is to blame, Dr. Bowman is available to help. Call our podiatric office at (713) 467-8886 or request an appointment online at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved

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Do Cherries Really Help With Gout?

Some of home remedies out there truly do make a difference in alleviating symptoms while others simply mask them or end up in the “myth” bucket. Anyone who has experienced a gout attack can attest to the severe pain that comes along with it. It can be an extremely painful and sometimes disabling problem that often affects the big toe joint in the foot.

Gout is actually a form of arthritis that happens when a build up of uric acid causes sharp needle-like crystals to form in the joint. Excess weight has been proven to increase a person’s risk for developing gout as can a diet high in purines. Drinking alcohol, especially beer, can also have a dramatic influence on whether someone will develop or trigger a gout attack.

So, what works the best when it comes to preventing and treating gout? Lifestyle changes, diet modifications, avoiding alcohol and maintain a healthy weight are all very essential factors in preventing and treating gout. Another well-known and effective remedy for gout is consuming cherry juice. The key ingredient that helps gout is flavonoids, which aid in reducing uric acid levels in your blood stream and the inflammation associated with gout.

There isn’t any scientific proof for using cherry juice as treatment for gout and while many can attest to its effectiveness in reducing symptoms and future attacks, it does not work for everyone. It also will not be effective if other preventative measures are not being observed.

If you are one who suffers from gout, it is important to treat it appropriately. Dr. Jeff Bowman, foot specialist in Houston, TX will be able to confirm a case of gout and provide appropriate treatment options. Call our podiatric office at (713) 467-8886 to schedule an appointment or visit us at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

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Keeping Feet Healthy During the Holidays

The holiday season is not over yet! Have you been enjoying the office parties, family get-togethers and holiday events? With the vast amounts of food and drink, it may be your waistline you are most worried about but have you thought about your feet?

Dr. Jeff Bowman, foot specialist in Houston, TX often treats patients during the holidays that have put foot health at the bottom of the priority list. Often, feet are not thought of until there is a problem and then it is too late. You can still party it up and have a great holiday season while keeping feet safe and healthy.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Dancing the night away can take a toll if you are not in the right shoes. Respect your feet and avoid shoes that are high and narrow. Blisters, calluses, swelling and ankle injuries can be avoided by wearing low-heeled, roomy shoes.

Just say no

Overindulging in foods rich in purines such as red meat, red wine, beer and shellfish can bring on a gout attack. If you have never experienced one, it is usually with the big toe joint and can be very painful. Alcohol will make your feet swell more than normal.

Diabetes alert

If you have diabetes, it is very important to watch your diet and maintain sugar levels. High blood sugars increases the risk for peripheral neuropathy, which compromises the ability to feel pain, heat and cold. This can result in serious injury.

Be proactive

If you are hobbling around during this holiday season, see Dr. Bowman for treatment. Ignoring foot pain for the sake of fun will only compromise your foot health and lead to further injury. Call our podiatric office today at (713) 467-8886 to schedule and appointment or visit us at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

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