Gout
The stereotypical image of a gout sufferer as a chubby old man swilling port while his big toe throbs is very misleading! This very painful condition affecting the joints can occur anytime after puberty, although in women it more commonly occurs after the menopause. So how painful can it be? Seventeenth century doctor, Thomas Sydenham wrote, '... it is a violent stretching and tearing of the ligaments... The night is passed in torture and sleeplessness...'
Gout is caused by an increased concentration of uric acid in the body fluids. So, what can you do to avoid it or reduce your chance of a second attack if you've already had one? Here are the key points:
- Avoid simple sugars (eg household sugar, honey, maple syrup)
- Eat plenty of vegetables (always essential for all-round health)
- Avoid a diet high in protein (avoid eating meat daily)
- Avoid alcohol
- Drink at least 2 litres of water a day
- Avoid fatty food
- Maintain a healthy body weight
One of the best things you can do to lower uric acid levels is to eat plenty of cherries! So here's my recipe for Cherry Glazed Shallots:
Ingredients:
200g fresh cherries (stoned)
900g (2lb) shallots
2tbsp vegetable oil
1 cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
300ml apple juice (freshly squeezed)
freshly ground black pepper
chopped parsley to serve
- Put the shallots in a pan and cover with cold water.
- Bring to the boil then drain.
- Peel when cool enough to handle.
Heat oil in a pan and sauté the shallots until golden brown - Add the cherries, cinnamon stick, bay leaf and apple juice. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until almost tender.
- Remove the lid and reduce liquid to a rich glaze stirring occasionally.
- Season with pepper and chopped parsley then serve.
Read also:
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Ulcers
While we were living in Japan, David (my husband) started getting very uncomfortable pains in his lower stomach. He mentioned this the next time he visited one of his students, Dr Koike, whom he taught English. Quite matter-of-factly the doctor said, “You either have gastroenteritis, an ulcer, or cancer. Let's go next door to my operating theatre and I'll tell you in 10 minutes.” -
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn's disease is a long-term inflammation of any part of the digestive system, although it usually occurs around the join of the small and large intestine. Symptoms of Crohn's disease include diarrhoea, indigestion and intestinal cramps. The cause is unknown, but is believed to be the result of an infection. -
An A to Z of Healthy Eating - I, J & K
There aren't many foods beginning with 'I' and 'J' (iceburg lettuce and juniper berries are about all I could come up with), so we're going to skip to 'K' today. You've probably eaten kidney beans and kiwi fruit, but my guess is you might not have tried kale or kohlrabi. Let's take a look at each of these in turn and find out why they're good for us and how they can be used.
