Mineral water for gout is prescribed to prevent attacks and quickly relieve pain during exacerbation of the disease. It is drunk to maximize remission (absence of inflammation, exacerbations), to relieve symptoms during recurring attacks of pain. Water combined with medications and a special diet speeds up recovery because it lowers the level of uric acid, the main cause of gouty changes in the joints.
This property has been known for centuries. Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judea, and Michelangelo were successfully treated with the waters. Peter I was literally raised to his feet by Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary). I. S. Turgenev, who suffered from excruciating gouty pain, always tried to go to Baden-Baden in moments of exacerbation, where he was treated with sodium chloride waters.
Today, you don’t need to go anywhere to recover. It is enough to know which alkaline mineral water will help with gout to buy it in the store.
Is it permissible to use mineral water in this case?
Experts unanimously say that mineral water is useful for gout on the legs or arms.
This source of nutrients saturates the patient’s body, allowing him to endure the disease in an easier form. First of all, the water-salt balance returns to normal. This is extremely important for the following reasons:
A lack of fluid in the body can lead to the destruction of cartilage tissue in a short time.- A lack of water in the human body can cause a decrease in the amount of synovial fluid. As a result, it ceases to be a shock absorber. This leads to deterioration of the joints.
- The accumulation of salts in the body also negatively affects the joints.
- Violations of pH balance cause deterioration of metabolic processes. As a result, this can lead to stagnation of urine. This can provoke the formation of sand and stones in the patient’s body.
Important! Mineral water will help reduce the risk of these ailments. Its daily dose is determined by the doctor individually. It all depends on the patient’s well-being, his physiological characteristics and the severity of the disease.
Mechanism of gout development
The main cause of the disease is a disorder of nucleic acid metabolism, the result of which is increased formation of uric acid, and then the deposition of its salts.
The nature of the disorder is still unknown; in many cases it is inherited. With gout, the concentration of uric acid increases by 1.5 - 2 times. When it is so high for a long time, acid salts are deposited in the joints - on cartilage, synovial membranes, joint capsule, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and sometimes accumulate in the skin, kidneys, and other organs.
Deposition leads to repeated attacks of acute pain in the affected joint, swelling, redness, and local fever. The chronic form, which develops over several years, is accompanied by deformation of the joints, for example, the joints of the big toes, kidney diseases, atherosclerosis, digestive disorders and other diseases.
Main types
There are many varieties of mineral water. Each type has its own special quality characteristics. This is due to varying degrees of mineralization. The more mineral nutrients dissolved in water, the stronger its effect on the patient’s body.
There are three main types of healing water.
Dining room
Mineralization is no more than 1 g/l. The indicator of dissolved nutrients is very small. In this regard, such a drink can be consumed every day for a fairly long period , without worrying about the consequences at all.
Such a drink will definitely not provoke negative changes in the body.
Table water helps restore the acid-base balance, cleanses the body of oxalic and uric acids, and removes toxins.
Examples of water: “Pilgrim”, “Arkhyz”, etc.
Medical dining room
Mineralization varies from 1 to 10 g/l. This drink also tastes good. But unlike the table variety, it may have a slightly salty taste.
Due to the high content of bicarbonate ions, the drink provokes the breakdown and removal of sodium urate and other purines from the patient’s body.
This leads to a reduction in the development of inflammatory processes and improvement of the genitourinary system. Drinking medicinal table water in large quantities is not recommended. Before using it, you should definitely consult your doctor. It can help establish acceptable volume.
An overdose can cause many urolithiasis, as well as provoke the rapid development of gout.
For some patients, medicinal table water is completely contraindicated.
Medical
Mineralization is more than 10 g/l. This figure may be less. This indicates that the drink contains additional biologically active components:
- bromine,
- iodine,
- boron, etc.
Healing water helps reduce pain in affected joints, removes oxalic and uric acids, eliminates urinary tract spasms, has a diuretic effect and speeds up metabolism.
This type of drink is prescribed by a specialist. You need to drink medicinal water in a course (its duration should not be more than four weeks) . After this, it is important to take a break for several months. You should not drink the drink on your own initiative without consulting a doctor.
Reference! Before drinking medicinal water, you need to release excess gases from the bottle. Otherwise, there is a risk of complications in the functioning of the digestive system.
Sanatorium-resort treatment of nutritional obesity
The main goal of spa treatment of gout is to reduce the level of uric acid in the blood, which is a fundamental factor in the basic treatment of the disease and should be carried out over a long period of time (sometimes permanently). The impact on hyperuricemia includes reducing the intake of purines into the body by prescribing a special diet, using drugs that inhibit the synthesis of uric acid (uricodepressors), increasing the excretion of uric acid compounds (uricosuric drugs) and ensuring their chemical breakdown (uricodepressants).
Complex spa treatment for gout in the form of drinking treatment, mud therapy and balneotherapy twice a year allows you to achieve stable remission during gouty arthropathy and prevent damage to internal organs.
We owe much of the development of balneology to the gouty geniuses of humanity. Since ancient times, healing waters have been used to treat gout. As Seneca wrote in his Philosophical Writings, “in water lies the hope of the future world, and the beneficial properties of water are no less varied than the taste.” The baths, built on healing springs, served one purpose - to restore the health of the august persons. The main resort of ancient Rome was the hot sulfide springs of Baia near Naples, where the procurator of Judea Pontius Pilate treated gout. Septimius Severus was treated for gout and urolithiasis with the radon waters of the Bulgarian resort of Hisar, and Marcus Agrippa with the sulfide waters of Acque Albule in the ancient city of Tivoli in the Italian province of Lazio. Michelangelo, who suffered from gout and urolithiasis, was treated for many years by the waters of the Italian resort of Fiuggi. For sanatorium-resort treatment of gout, resorts with two therapeutic factors are preferable - with drinking and low-mineralized waters, mud or mineral waters for balneological procedures.
For patients with gout, sanatorium-resort treatment is recommended in sanatoriums and mud and balneotherapeutic resorts with radon, sulfide, sodium chloride, nitrogen siliceous, iodine-bromine waters.
If the kidneys are damaged, resorts with sulfide waters are excluded. Contraindications for spa treatment of patients with gouty nephropathy: chronic renal failure and poorly corrected arterial hypertension. In case of urolithiasis type of nephropathy, patients should be sent to drinking resorts without obstruction of urine passage from stones, as well as persons after lithotomy and lithotripsy.
Benefits of use
Mineral water can have an incredible healing effect.
When used correctly , a person suffering from gout can observe the following positive changes:
improvement of metabolism. First of all, the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins is accelerated. This helps cleanse the body of toxins, as well as oxalic and uric acids;- normalization of water-salt balance (pH). Subsequently, acidity decreases, the risk of oxalates and urates in the joints is prevented, and the urinary system is normalized;
- normalization of intestinal motility, improvement of appetite, normalization of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This happens due to the restoration of pH balance;
- enriching the body with useful minerals, trace elements and antioxidants;
- preventing the formation of stones and other dangerous neoplasms;
- elimination of inflammatory processes;
- improving the body's resistance against the negative influence of the environment;
- increasing the duration of gout remission, preventing the appearance of new undesirable symptoms;
- reduction or complete disappearance of pain (due to the removal of purines from the body);
- removal of “bad” cholesterol;
- reduction in the frequency of attacks;
- normalization of the cardiovascular system (due to a decrease in acidity, the condition of blood vessels improves, blood circulation in the brain increases).
List of popular manufacturers
All of the above composition parameters and functions currently correspond to the following list:
- Narzan;
- Lipetskaya;
- Novoterskaya;
- Borjomi;
- Jermuk;
- Dilijan;
- Slavyanovskaya;
- Smirnovskaya;
- Lysogorskaya;
- Essentuki No. 4;
- Donat (Magnesium);
- Novoterskaya healing.
This is not the entire list of waters that contain alkali.
Each of the presented varieties has its own main direction, dictated by its composition.
1. Magnesium water is prescribed for the presence of kidney stones - almost half of people with gout face this problem.
2. Sulfate reduces the level of uric acid in the body, is used as an auxiliary element in relieving the inflammatory process in organs, and produces a choleretic effect.
3. Calcium, similar to sulfate, removes excess acid and increases the level of resistance.
4. Silicon enhances the protective properties of cells, together with fluoride ions present in the composition, helps slow down the process of formation of uric acid in the human body.
5. Hydrocarbonate has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, removes uric acid well, and promotes the dissolution of mucus in the urinary tract.
Doctors recommend drinking Novoterskaya water, for example, not only for people with gout, but also for people suffering from diseases of the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and diabetes mellitus. Such a wide spectrum of action and variety of minerals helps treat diseases affecting almost all human organs.
Also, many doctors recommend drinking water infused with shungite. The mineral received its name based on its location. Enriched with oxides of magnesium, silicon, manganese, potassium, aluminum and other auxiliary substances, this natural mineral, thanks to its unique composition:
- improves the body's metabolic processes;
- performs an absorption function;
- kills pathogenic bacteria;
- cleanses.
It performs all the functions of mineral waters with a specific direction.
Contraindications
Rheumatologists warn that drinking mineral water and other alkaline drinks is not recommended for people with the following diseases and ailments:
kidney disease;- chronic pyelonephritis;
- acute obstruction of the urinary tract;
- disorders in the endocrine system, diabetes (especially when treated with insulin);
- exacerbations in the gastrointestinal tract (stomach ulcer, narrowing of the esophagus, etc.);
- osteoporosis;
- purulent discharge of varying degrees.
Important! Pregnant and nursing mothers can drink mineral water, but only in limited quantities. Before use, be sure to consult an experienced physician. Mineral water is contraindicated for children.
From the history of the discovery of mineral springs
For gout, doctors most often recommend Essentuki. From the stories of the Cossacks of the Yesentukovsky redoubt it is known that this miraculous water was discovered by their horses. They loved to drink brackish water from the swamp, preferring it to river water. There were 23 such “swamps” in the district. Scientists became interested in these sources. An analysis of the water showed the presence of sulfites and sulfates in it, and saturation with carbon dioxide. It had the soda taste that alkaline mineral waters have. The list (for gout) has been replenished with “Esentuki No. 17” water. It is in this source that there is a high concentration of bicarbonates and chlorides. The remaining sources of Essentukovo water have low mineral saturation.
Which one can you drink?
To choose the right sparkling mineral water, you need to focus on two main factors:
- body reaction. If no negative changes are observed, then you can continue treatment of gout with mineral water;
- doctor's recommendations. Before use, it is better to seek advice from a professional. He will help determine the timing of treatment, the required dosage, and also select the most suitable type of mineral water.
Doctors advise drinking alkaline or slightly alkaline water. This is due to the fact that such a drink has the best healing properties.
Alkali-based water helps restore the acid and water balance disturbed by gout. Along with this, the deficiency of useful microelements is compensated, metabolic processes are improved, stones and other formations are resolved.
Compound
When choosing, you should focus on the composition of the product. High-quality mineral water contains the following components:
- Hydrocarbonate. The ions of this substance contribute to the breakdown and removal of purine (including sodium urate). As a result, the pain associated with gout decreases, and the functioning of the genitourinary system returns to normal.
- Calcium. It neutralizes uric acid, helps activate the metabolic process, and reduce inflammation.
- Magnesium relieves spasms in the urinary organs and restores pH balance.
- Silicon. Has a diuretic effect and accelerates metabolism.
- fluorine, which prevents the active appearance of uric acid.
List of brands
The issue of choosing a mineral water manufacturer should be approached responsibly. Below is an overview and brand names:
Essentuki (No. 17, No. 4)
The mineral water mined in the Caucasus is classified as a medicinal table drink and is hydrocarbonate. The maximum amount of mineral elements is concentrated in it (especially in “Essentuki” at number seventeen).
Therefore, before use, you should definitely consult a doctor . When consumed correctly, the drink normalizes the functioning of the genitourinary organs, improves the patient’s well-being, and also provokes cleansing of the body from all kinds of purines.
Naftusya
It contains many organic elements. However, the degree of mineralization is low, which is why it is often classified as medicinal waters. “Naftusya” is hydrocarbonate (in addition to bicarbonate ions, it contains a large amount of calcium and magnesium).
Water
does an excellent job of cleansing the body, reduces inflammation in tissues , and helps normalize the functioning of the urinary and biliary tract.
The drink may have a very specific taste, reminiscent of oil. It is advisable to drink it in pump rooms (in special structures located near mineral water wells, created to protect water from negative external influences). This way, all the beneficial properties will be preserved in the water, which will have a positive effect on the well-being of a gout patient.
Narzan
The drink is extracted from glaciers, has natural carbonation, and belongs to the medicinal table sulfate waters. Bottled in the North Caucasus. “Narzan” will help improve the condition of gout , normalize the gastrointestinal tract, and speed up metabolism. Water also has a beneficial effect on the bone and nervous systems.
Smirnovskaya
It is mined mainly near Zheleznovodsk. It is low-mineralized, medicinal, sulfate. Its main difference from other brands is that this mineral water can be consumed at all stages of the disease . Water improves the secretory function of the stomach, intestinal motility, and restores the functioning of all organs.
Borjomi
It is extracted from the wells of the Borjomi Nature Reserve, located in Georgia. It is a medicinal table sodium bicarbonate water. The drink has a pleasant taste and a rich chemical composition.
The main advantage is that Borjomi is produced in glass bottles. This allows you to preserve all the beneficial properties. This mineral water will help get rid of uric acid stones in a short period of time and reduce pain.
Slavyanovskaya
It is mined in the Stavropol region. Refers to medicinal table sulfate-bicarbonate waters. It also contains large amounts of calcium and sodium. The drink has a sour taste. This mineral water is weakly mineralized, but also copes well with the treatment of acute attacks of the disease.
What types of mineral water are used for gout?
Today, such medicinal water has become popular among patients with gout, ailments of other origins, and among completely healthy people. Mineral medicinal water is rich in substances with increased biological activity, trace elements, and mineral salts. The physiological characteristics of such medicinal natural water are determined by the content of electrical charges, temperature, chemical composition and method of consumption. It is important to understand what alkaline mineral water you can drink if you have gout. Natural mineral medicinal water is qualitatively different from one another.
Its differences lie in the different content of chemical and mineral components:
- bicarbonate-sodium - hydrocarbonate, breaking down uric acid crystals;
- promoting the dissolution of oxalic acid, characterized by the presence of light metal ions (Mg) in the composition;
- replete with ions of mineral salts and sulfur compounds of useful metals, characterized by a diuretic and bile-promoting effect;
- calcium, optimizes metabolism, dissolves crystalline sodium urate compounds;
- silicon, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, acts as a diuretic;
- containing fluoride ions, prevents the sedimentation of crystalline uric acid salts in the joint cavities.
The main criterion for alkaline natural mineral water is an acid-base level not exceeding 7.
The composition of medicinal water, in addition to chemical elements, includes a certain amount of gases, for example, carbon dioxide and organic substances
Drinking waters are conventionally divided into four subtypes:
- drinking, with a unique mineral composition;
- mineral-table-medicinal;
- natural table-mineralized;
- dining rooms of natural origin.
Treatment of gout is a long process that involves the use of mineral table-medicinal weakly alkaline water for therapeutic purposes and for subsequent prevention of relapses.
Rules for use during treatment
In order for mineral water to have a healing effect, it is worth remembering the important rules for its use.
These include:
- mandatory consultation with an experienced specialist. Only he, knowing the full nature of the course of gout and focusing on the test results, will be able to establish what kind of water the patient can drink and in what quantities;
- You should drink in small sips, slowly and calmly;
- take on an empty stomach, half an hour before meals (at least three times a day);
- The period of use for medicinal purposes is approximately a month (one course). After a two-month break, treatment with mineral water can be continued. It is recommended to take 2-3 such courses per year;
- The drink should be at room temperature. Otherwise, a salt deposit may form, which will reduce the beneficial properties;
- before drinking, you should release excess gases from the drink (to do this, just leave the bottle open for a few minutes);
- the optimal dosage is calculated using this formula: “3 ml per 1 kg of weight.” Over time, the dosage can be increased (but not more than a liter per day and only with the permission of the attending physician);
- Be sure to alternate between drinking mineral and regular water. This will help maintain electrolyte balance;
- If complications occur, use of mineral water should be stopped.
Mineral water intake plan
Complex therapy measures using medicinal natural mineral waters are effective and have a positive effect on the general condition of the body. However, it is recommended to use such natural water after the end of the acute period and stabilization of health to prevent possible relapses. What water to drink if you have gout and how to do it correctly? You can choose the right healing natural water by visiting a specialist in the field of nutrition.
Disease prevention
When drinking a mineral drink for preventive purposes, remember the following rules:
daily norm of mineral water – no more than 300 ml;- To prevent gout, you should drink water for no more than a month. This time is enough to maintain a person’s well-being and prevent the development of the initial stages of the disease;
- In addition to mineral water, you should use medications prescribed by your doctor. A good option would be regular massage treatments, physiotherapy, and traditional treatment;
- During the period of exacerbation of symptoms, it is recommended to arrange fasting days, on which you are allowed to drink exclusively mineral water. In this case, a doctor's advice is required.
Characteristics of alkaline waters
Healing natural water is of underground, natural origin, rich in dense organic elements and mineral, natural gases (carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide). Such natural waters have a positive effect on the general condition of the patient due to various chemical and physical properties and specific features.
These features include:
- temperature regime;
- osmotic pressure;
- pH reaction of the environment;
- presence of radioactive components.
Among naturally carbonated and mineral waters, those carbonated due to their carbon dioxide content are most often used as a medicinal drink. Those that contain hydrogen sulfide and radioactive radon are used in doses that are acceptable and appropriate to alleviate the manifestation of the disease.
The main substances of mineral waters are ions - positively and negatively charged particles
