A mom I know recently shared that she has been dealing with a medical issue called gout.  That was surprising because I didn't know of anyone in my age group with that issue. I investigated and found that gout affects about 6.1 million adults in the United States .

Gout happens when uric-acid crystals irritate a joint lining. This causes inflammation.  Typically, it happens 3 to 4 times more to men than women, but after menopause, those percentages become more even. (Estrogen promotes uric-acid excretions in urine).  The symptoms in the elbows, knee's, ankles and the joint at the base of the big toe are described as 'excruciating'.

Dietary excess and over indulgences in alcohol and salt can trigger the symptoms of gout. Eating too many protein-rich foods (especially meats and seafood can cause uric-acid build up.

Heredity can also be a variable for someone's sensitivity to get gout due to a tendency for their kidneys to hold uric acid .

Gout will respond to anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids, and non-steroidal. The medications are very effective for relief. See your physician to discuss medications and lifestyle issues for gout. To find a doctor who treats this specialty, insert the word "gout" in the One-Click relief center, and it will direct you to articles and doctor's contact information.

Tip of the Day:

Drink an 8 ounce glass of water 20 minutes before any meal and have at least 4 other glasses throughout your day, especially after workout.

Thursday 07/28/11- Workout Diary:

DVD for shoulders, triceps and chest- 50 min

abs DVD- 15 min

Thursday 07/28/11- Food Diary:

Breakfast-

2 oz organic steelcut oatmeal (150 cal)

small banana ( 60 cal)

A.M. Snack-

1 cup non-fat cottage cheese with fresh peaches (155 cal)

Lunch-restaurant

salad with pecans, light amount of Gorgonzola, pears, olive oil/ balsamic vinaigrette (200 cal)

3 oz mahi mahi ( I adjusted their original preparation, and they did a great job!), grilled, no oil (155 cal)

P.M. Snack-

low-carb, whole wheat tortilla, 2 tbls. hummus, green peppers, purple onions (260 cal)

Dinner-

5 oz chicken breast (285 cal)

2 cups onion and Brussel sprouts, mushroom, EVOO (130 cal)

1.5 ears grilled corn ( no butter or salt)- I love fresh corn! (130 cal)

Dessert-

0% Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup blueberries (110 cal)

TOTAL CALORIES-1607