The rate of gout cases keeps increasing. It’s estimated that almost four percent of U.S. adults have gout. It’s more common in men over the age of 65. If your dad has severe pain and inflammation in his big toe, it can be a sign of gout.
Gout is a form of arthritis that’s caused when uric acid crystals build up in a joint. Uric acid is always found in your body, but the amount increases when your body is digesting certain foods like beef, kidney, seafood, fruit sugars, and alcoholic beverages. For that reason, if your dad has gout it’s important to eliminate certain foods from his diet.
What Should You Keep Out of His Home?
Alcoholic beverages are one of the first things to eliminate. It seems to be beer that is the worst offender at triggering a gout flare-up. If your dad really enjoys having a beer from time to time, you could look into hop water. Lagunitas makes a beverage called Hop that contains the flavor of hops and a bit of brewers yeast, but there’s not a trace of sugar or alcohol.
Eliminate beef and any organ meats. If your dad likes pate, he needs to cut it from his diet. He also needs to limit his intake of poultry and pork. Seafood is out. If he wants to have fish, he may need to try different fish and find the ones that don’t affect his gout as badly as others do. He’ll want to gain his protein from dried beans and low-fat or fat-free dairy items instead.
Boost the intake of vegetables and get rid of processed foods. Instead of freezer meals, stock your dad’s fridge with leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli and cauliflower). Get fruits that aren’t high in sugar, such as raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries.
What Can You Do to Help?
During a gout flare-up, your dad may struggle to do things he normally does without any assistance. Even the weight of a bed sheet on the big toe may be excruciating. When he’s having a bad flare-up, senior care services can ensure his housework is completed. Caregivers can cook meals, drive him to the doctor, and remind him when it’s time to take more NSAID pain relievers.
Senior care services are easy to schedule and arrange. Pick up the phone, discuss your dad’s needs, and arrange caregivers for him.
Sources:
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/gout/patient-facts
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior care in Lone Tree, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare today at 303-953-9924.
