I have done quite a bit of research on fasting, but other than a few mentions of gout, there really is not a lot of info on the subject … basically it states that if u have gout, it is recommended either not to fast or it would require alternate action steps in order to fast and not get a gout flare up?
Has anyone tried fasting with gout and what alternatives did they have in order to fast without a flare up?
I had four episodes of gout in six weeks when I first started IF. In addition to hitting several (I later discovered) trigger foods at once, I wasn’t drinking enough liquids.
I now drink a lot more water (or iced tea) while fasting, and also added a supplement for uric acid health that contains cherry, bromelaine, and celery extracts.
Also, try not to eat steak, lobster, and asparagus in the same meal (albeit delicious).
I had gout. I never had it flare up during a fast though. I did have it flare up when I first started Keto, but that was because of a big dose of red meat throughout the week and lack of water intake. So, my advice, if your going to fast, stay well hydrated, and the uric acid shouldn’t build up.
Good luck
Well firstly, the reason it happens is excess protein is broken down and uric acid is one of the byproducts. It doesn’t have to be protein in the diet, but muscle tissue as well. There 3 scenarios this happens where a gout attack can occur or your more primed for one:
Eat too much protein in general. The body will break down all of it, whether it’s used for rebuilding, repairing, or energy. The solution, don’t eat too much protein (doesn’t matter what the source is).
Assuming your protein intake is now moderate, your activity level now exceeds what your body is able to use fat as it’s energy source for. An example, walking vs sprinting or heavy weight lifting. The walking activity, the body is easily capable of burning fat for it’s energy source (no need to tap into muscle tissue to get broken down into glucose). Sprinting or weight lifting, your body may no longer be able to fuel the activity with it’s fat stores or dietary fat. This means it will either break down dietary protein or muscle tissue into glucose to fuel the activity. Both of which create uric acid as a byproduct.
Your body doesn’t have enough liver glycogen stored to fuel whatever activity you’re doing. Like above, it will either use dietary protein or muscle tissue to turn it into glucose to fuel the activity. A way to alleviate this is to have a small piece of fruit as the fructose gets stored in the liver for this very purpose.
In specific response to your question, if you’re getting gout during extending fasting, it likely means you’re engaging in activities that your body can no longer use it’s fat stores to fuel. It’s breaking down muscle tissue (because you’re fasting). The solution being, stop whatever activities is causing the muscle tissue breakdown.
Also as others have mentioned, increased your water intake as it does help get rid of uric acid.
I’m fat and 40. First gout attack was on Thanksgiving after a one-week fast. After colchicine, then more, colchicine, then an eventual allopurinol Rx, I could still easily get double digit uric acid levels. This is a known phenomenon in the literature. Jason Fung gives it only a passing mention. I’m still on allopurinol. I don’t fast more than four or five days now.