Atkins Diet Misconceptions: Low Carb Diets and Gout

In a response to a TV episode on the show Royal Pains, I analyze the claims that a high fat diet will necessarily lead to the pain associated with gout and gout attacks. The conventional wisdom seems often analogous to popular, but wrong cholesterol theorem that dietary cholesterol leads to increased cholesterol in the blood. Is the popular theory right?

What is Gout?
Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when abnormally high levels of uric acid build up in the body, causing crystals to form in joints. The crystals cause sudden, severe attacks of joint pain and swelling. Uric acid is a substance that is normally released by the kidneys when the body breaks down waste products called purines. When the kidneys are no longer able to flush uric acid out of the body properly, it crystallizes and accumulates around the joints.

Misconception that Atkins is only acidic foods:
Alkaline Foods
Extremely Alkaline Forming Foods - pH 8.5 to 9.0:
Cantaloupe, Cayenne (Capsicum), Kelp, Melons, Watercress, Seaweed
Moderate Alkaline Forming Foods - pH 7.5 to 8.0
Alfalfa sprouts, Avocados, Berries, Carrots, Celery, Lettuce (leafy green), Peas (fresh sweet), Pumpkin (sweet), Spinach, Bell Pepper, Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce (pale green), Strawberry, Squash , Sweet corn (fresh), Sour Dairy
Slightly Alkaline to Neutral Forming Foods - pH 7.0
Almonds , Artichokes (Jerusalem), Brussel Sprouts, Coconut (fresh), Cucumbers, Egg plant, Onions, Tomatoes (sweet), Mayonnaise (home made), Millet, Olive oil,
"Red" meat and seafood on the Atkins diet
If you look at this table of high purine foods , you'll see that beef, lamb, pork, plus "white" meat chicken and turkey - all allowable on the Atkins diet - are not high purine foods, they are medium purine. And that fruits and vegetables, many of which are allowable, on the Ongoing Weight Loss phase of the Atkins diet, are usually medium or low purine. Moreover, a large study found that purines-wealthy vegetables do not increase the risk of getting gout (7).

Gout the missing chapter from Good Calories, Bad Calories Gary Taubes
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/10/05/gout/
"The actual evidence, however, has always been less-than-compelling: Just as low cholesterol diets have only a trivial effect on serum cholesterol levels, for instance, and low-salt diets have a clinically insignificant effect on blood pressure, low-purine diets have a negligible effect on uric acid levels. A nearly vegetarian diet, for instance, is likely to drop serum uric acid levels by 10 to 15% percent compared to a typical American diet, but that's rarely sufficient to return high uric acid levels to normality, and there is little evidence that such diets reliably reduce the incidence of gouty attacks in those afflicted.(4) Thus, purine-free diets are no longer prescribed for the treatment of gout, as the gout specialist Irving Fox noted in 1984, "because of their ineffectiveness" and their "minor influence" on uric acid levels.(5) "

Soft drinks, fructose consumption, and the risk of gout in men: prospective cohort study
Hyon K Choi
BMJ 2008; 336
In a huge study of 46,393 male health professionals in Canada, a survey was carried out and then they were followed every four years for 12 years. 2 cans a day consumption of HFCS-soda led to 85% greater risk to suffer gout.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Atkins Diet
• Low Carb
• Myths
• Misconceptions
• gout
• purine
• bowulf

[cherylbirchard]

With in days of starting Atkins I noticed a dramatic change in my joints...for the better! I am able to climb stairs with very little pain in my ankles and knees. I have no doubt in my mind that eating refined processed carbs increases inflammation and we all know the dangers of inflammation in the body! I've done my own experiments and every time the same results. I'll be on Atkins for life, which I know will be a long and healthy one!

[bowulf]

@cherylbirchard What you say has been proven over and over again in studies that low carb is a anti-inflammatory diet and reduces the level of inflammation in one's joints, which is one of the reasons RA people seem to thrive on it. Congrats on achieving true health!

[missmelissa73]

I have done Atkins several times. It is only this last time that I have been able to make the correlation of having joint and muscle pain directly to this diet. That being the episodes of arthritic gout pain appear only after I have been doing this kind of eating plan. The last bout being so severe I was unable to walk properly. It is only through eating vegan, lots of plant based foods that I have healed myself.

You can try and explain the science, but my experience is Atkins is dangerous!

[bowulf]

@missmelissa73 Sorry your experience differs from most people who do the diet. Heck, it is only through this diet that I was able to run and run marathons again and eliminate all life threatening conditions I had. The only thing Atkins was dangerous in my case was to my my relationship with my doctor. I saw him much less frequently afterwords although he still uses me as a poster child for what to do.

[bowulf]

@Alexkeelee I see my vegan counterparts are very open-minded. I will be watching for "heart decrease." Good luck to you.

[bowulf]

@kalburiumstormbreath I am sure I have plenty of rude people who watch my videos, but they always end up in the same spot.  (My block list)

[ruralpotter]

@bowulf YUP! I have Lupus and used Adkins Induction diet to control the inflammation. My SED rate went from 88 to 38. My ANA has gone away. The weight loss is just a bonus for me. FYI, it took me over a week for my body to get used to very low carbs. Lots of headaches, etc. After that, I have felt pretty good.

[NightRavenz78]

Thanks for the info

[thespiswolf]

@Alexkeelee Umm, retard? Dr. Atkin's died of head trauma from a fall. Perhaps you should research what you are going to say BEFORE you post? The answer is YES.

[bowulf]

@rxs10000 Ah yes, isn't time for you to go back to school. Christmas is over.

[rxs10000]

@kalburiumstormbreath hahahahahaha yes. While he is awake too!!!!!