Although gout is generally thought of as a form of arthritis caused by inflammation in a joint, which in turn is caused by an accumulation of sharp urate crystals. However, in some cases, arthritic pain may be caused by an allergic reaction to specific foods.
Urates come from a build up of uric acid, a waste product formed from the breakdown of purines -- substances found naturally in the body as well as in certain foods, especially organ meats (like liver, brains, kidney and sweetbreads), anchovies, herring, asparagus, and mushrooms.
Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood and passes through the kidneys to be urinated out. But sometimes the body either produces too much or excretes too little of this acid. In that case, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needle-like crystals (urate) in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation and swelling.
del.icio.us
Digg this
