Arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects around 40 million people in the U.S., irrespective of their age. Among these, the number of people who have gout arthritis accounts for around 8.3 million. These figures are indicative of how common gout has become among the masses and speaks of the severity of the condition.

What is gout?
Gout is a kind of arthritis that is caused due to the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. This build-up of uric acid crystal usually affects the feet, thereby affecting the individual’s mobility. The uric acid found in the body is a part of the food we eat.

A person with gout would often experience ‘flare-ups’ or feel ‘gouty’ during the onset of a gout attack. A gout attack is characterized by a rapid and sudden onset of pain in the affected joint which is followed by warmth, reddish discoloration, swelling, and tenderness in that particular area. The most common site of a gout attack is the small joint of the big toe, and the other sites are- knees, ankle, wrists, elbows, and fingers.

Gout is a complex condition, and there are a variety of factors that contribute to the onset of gout. Usually, gout is treated with various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids that can ease the pain caused by the gout attacks. However, in recent times, the use of apple cider vinegar for treating gout symptoms is on the rise owing to the positive results it has yielded. Though the results are quite positive, some people remain skeptical about the effects of apple cider for gout. So, let’s delve deeper into the properties of apple cider vinegar and how it helps in treating gout.

What is apple cider vinegar?
Vinegar has proven quite effective in preventing infections, treating diabetes, healing wounds, etc. for a long time. The apple cider vinegar, a type of vinegar made from fermented apple cider, has become a raging health trend owing to its medicinal properties that have proven beneficial in treating obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, acid reflux, headaches, erectile dysfunction, and gout.

What are the benefits of using apple cider vinegar for gout?
Apple cider vinegar is endowed with a lot of medicinal properties that makes it the perfect treatment option for a variety of health conditions including gout. Here are some of the amazing properties of apple cider vinegar which supports the fact that it should be a part of everyone’s diet irrespective of whether they suffer from a health condition or not.

• The major components of apple cider vinegar are acetic acid, iron, potassium, mineral salts, vitamins, calcium, and other healthy organic acids. Out of these, the potassium, iron, calcium components of the apple cider vinegar prove quite useful in treating the gout symptoms. Potassium proves quite effective in relieving the pain caused by the gout attacks. Iron and calcium promote joint health; stronger the joints, the lesser the impact of the gout attacks.
• The acetic acid, which is one of the major components of the apple cider vinegar is quite potent in treating gout. Acetic acid is an amazing element; though it maintains all the characteristics of a typical acid when it is outside the body when it is consumed and enters the body, it transforms itself into an alkaline agent that neutralizes the acid and disrupts the formation of a favorable environment for gout. It leads to the formation of a pH balanced environment in the body which isn’t conducive to gout.
• Apple cider vinegar is a rich source of antioxidants especially the polyphenols which are one of the most powerful antioxidants. People with gout are often advised to opt for a diet that is rich in antioxidants since they can destroy the free radicals that worsen a gout attack. The immune system attacks the monosodium urate (MSU) gout crystals, which results in the creation of free radicals. These free radicals can destroy the healthy cells and hasten the aging process which is detrimental to people with gout.
• Regular consumption of apple cider vinegar has proven quite effective in breaking up the uric acid crystals and prevents them from reforming in the joints by promoting blood circulation and purification. This is instrumental in reducing the inflammation and swelling in the joints and allows greater flexibility of the joints.

How to use apple cider vinegar for gout?
Since apple cider vinegar is acidic in nature, consuming it in its original form can cause tooth decay and burn the esophagus in the process. So, you have to consume it after diluting it with water. Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a full glass of water and consume it before going to bed.

The use of apple cider vinegar for gout has proven beneficial to a majority of the population dealing with this medical condition. For better results, ensure that you stick to an alkaline diet as well.