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What to do to prevent Gout?

It’s been four years since my last episode of gout. I have had three episodes of gout, two major and very painful episodes and one minor and less severe. I am now thirty-three years of age and had my first gout attack at the age of 27. My first attack occurred when I was young. Gout is a condition that affects older men in their 40s. I did what every gout sufferer does: I visited my doctor, took the prescribed medications, and avoided purine-rich food. At least, that’s what I did for the most part. You see, I don’t like being told what I can eat.

Let’s see…

After my first episode, I went back to being completely gout-aware and then I started acting as if it never happened. This is probably why I had another attack. I continued with my life, doing whatever I wanted and eating what I was used to. I was not overweight or obese, but I did live a very sedentary life. My typical week consists of spending all day at the computer during the week and then drinking beer on weekends.

I was not able to do any physical activity. After the second episode, I felt a little more awake. This is probably why my third attack wasn’t as painful. After the third episode, I knew I had hit a new low in my health. On my 29th birthday, I bought a mountain bike. I began to use it every day and felt stronger. I looked forward to the hour-long ride after work. I was surprised to lose a few inches in my belly. It wasn’t the goal, but it was a nice perk.

Exercise

I discovered that running, jogging and walking were more appealing to me than biking. It didn’t matter that I still bike occasionally, as I was doing it for health benefits. I felt more energetic and lighter. I never felt the need for a quick nap during the day. I can climb a flight without losing my breath. It was wonderful. It was like I was 18 again. I became obsessed with my health and my body. I also started lifting weights and tried a few low-carbohydrate diets.

My body fat percentage has dropped from 22 percent down to 10 percent. All of these things were possible because I changed my lifestyle. The mountain bike was my last resort. It was easy to do and looked very fun, so I decided to give it a shot. It opened the doors to wanting to be healthier, and to stay healthy. I felt a slight increase in my energy. Gout is not something I think about anymore. I eat what I like and drink what I like (with moderation, of course).

Conclusion

Ironically, eating healthier naturally comes with being more active (another welcome perk). I didn’t do the things I did because I had gout. I was more concerned about my lifestyle, which caused gout. But I knew that I was genetically more susceptible to it. I will soon be celebrating my fifth year of being gout free. I am sure I will have another bout in the future, but I would not be surprised if my life style changes.

 

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