Five Gout-Fighting Condiments That Really Help

By definition, a condiment is a spice, sauce, or preparation that you add to food to enhance flavor. Then there are some that not only liven up your meals, but also contain gout-fighting properties.

There are five gout-fighting condiments that help control uric acid levels are: ginger, turmeric, chicory, apple cider vinegar and celery seeds.

Here, you’ll find exactly why the natural properties in these condiments can prevent gout from developing. Plus, I’ll add some insight on how you can incorporate them to your meals or diet.

Ginger contains gingerol and shogaol

Ginger root, or ginger has been used in many natural remedies throughout history. Its natural ingredients help with ailments such as nausea, indigestion, flu and joint pain. Ginger’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and pain relief properties are the most beneficial for gout sufferers.

A published medical review found the natural compounds in ginger, gingerol and shogaol, restrict inflammatory causing enzymes. Another study concluded gingerol combined with essential oils reduce inflammation and pain due rheumatoid arthritis.

Ginger also promotes healthy kidney and liver function by increasing the body’s natural antioxidants. The detoxifying properties of ginger assists in eliminating uric acid, toxins, fats and heavy metals.

Also, many holistic and herbal experts claim ginger extract supplements can have the same effect as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like ibuprofen and indomethacin. 

Insight: If you are not big fan of ginger’s flavor, you can do what I did and start drinking different flavored teas infused with it. To get all the nutrients, peel a quarter-sized piece and boil it in water. Adding a little bit of fresh ginger is an easy way to change up meals, especially stir-fried dishes. Regularly eating fresh ginger has definitely helped me in lots of ways. You won’t need to consume a lot to start reaping its benefits.

[For more information on how antioxidants prevent gout, read: Cherries Are The Aces You Need When Dealing With Gout]

Turmeric contains curcumin

Curcumin restricts or blocks the enzyme, xanthine oxidase, which is responsible for activating uric acid production. A recent 2019 study indicated turmeric’s natural properties act as anti-gout agent that lowers uric acid levels.

Curcumin is also an excellent antioxidant which can eliminate free radicals and fight anti-bodies. This pain-relieving effect is caused by limiting the auto-immune reaction to inflammation.

To have sufficient anti-inflammatory effects you need to get at least 500 milligrams of curcumin per day. Typically, there are 200 milligrams of curcumin in one teaspoon of fresh or ground turmeric.

Lastly, curcumin is not easily soluble when digested. Eat black pepper, olive oil, coconut oil or healthy fats to effectively absorb turmeric in your body.

Insight: As soon I found legitimate reports that indicated turmeric helps lessen gout, I bought the grounded version and started adding it to different meals. Fresh turmeric doesn’t have a strong pungent taste or smell like ginger. You can add a half-teaspoon of turmeric powder to a dish for 2-4 people without overwhelming the total flavor of a meals. You’ll just have to get used to the orange color!

This posts contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Get products for gout: CBD softgels with curcumin and CBD topicals by Joy Organics. Use my promo code: gout20 for 20% off

Chicory contains inulin

Chicory is a plant, whose leaves and flowers can be eaten raw. The roots are edible only when boiled. A subtle condiment, chicory root extract adds flavor meals and beverages. 

Grounded chicory roots make a powder used to make a decaffeinated coffee substitute. A drink very popular in Louisiana. Its flavor is less bitter but a little more nutty or woody than coffee. 

According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, chicory is packed with minerals; zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium. It is also full of vitamins; A, B6, C, E, and K. 

Chicory helps treat gastric issues, bacterial infections, immune system, and blood pressure. For gout symptoms and hyperuricemia, chicory’s natural chemical properties improve digestive health, arthritic pain and kidney function 

A laboratory study published in Jan 2019 concluded that chicory lowered uric acid levels and improved kidney functions.

“Chicory decreased serum levels of urate and creatinine significantly, and promoted the clearance of creatinine and urate, as well as improving renal pathologic changes due to hyperuricemia.”

Chicory helps your digestive tract as it contains inulin, dietary fiber, which is a prebiotic. Prebiotics feed the good bacteria that provide healthy nutrients in your colon or gut.

With optimal food digestion and waste elimination, more toxins and uric acid can be removed from the body. Naturally, this reduces uric acid build up, which consequently makes chicory a gout-fighting condiment.

For arthritis, many findings have shown chicory to have anti-inflammatory properties. In a 2010 pilot study, test subjects who received chicory treatment for a month reported less pain associated with their osteoarthritis. 

Insight: This is one condiment I would never think would help with gout. If you are a coffee drinker, you should easily be able to get used the taste of chicory. That’s only if you a ready to live without the caffeine. I know how hard that can be. I actually prefer a 50/50 mix of water and almond or coconut milk. Keep in mind, most of the nutrients like inulin are lost during the powder process. The best way to get the most out of chicory is boiling the root and eating it fresh.

Apple cider vinegar contains pectin

First, the difference between apple cider vinegar and white vinegar is that white vinegar has very little nutritional value. Where as unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains many nutrients such as potassium, calcium, phosphorous, iron and magnesium. 

Many health and medical research have backed a variety of benefits from apple cider vinegar. It can regulate blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure and relieve acid reflux.

More research is required to prove the benefits of apple cider vinegar for gout. However, in recent years, many holistic specialists and nutrition experts claim it to be an effective natural home remedy for gout. There are three ways that it can help with gout flares.

First, apple cider vinegar is alkalizing. When digested and metabolized, its byproducts become alkaline. Although it has no effect on the pH level in blood, it does lower the acidity of urine. When urine is less acidic or more alkaline, your kidneys are able to flush out more wastes like uric acid.

[For more helpful details on alkalizing foods helps with gout, read: What and Why Alkalizing Foods Help with Your Gout?]

In addition to probiotic properties that aids in digestion, this condiment contains a gout-fighting prebiotic called pectin. It is a soluble fiber found in fruits and vegetables. This prebiotic promotes the growth of good bacteria that assists in removing waste products like cholesterol, toxins and uric acid.  

Apple cider vinegar also contains the same anti-inflammatory compounds called polyphenols also found in cherries and berries. They combat harmful free radicals that play a role in cardiovascular disease, cancer, and arthritic conditions.

Insight: Unlike the stories you may have heard, chugging two cups of apple cider vinegar never resolved my full blown gout attack in hours. What I can say is, as soon as I start to feel gout symptoms, I would make a tonic with apple cider vinegar. After taking two glasses and a couple of ibuprofens, the flare usually subsides. If it gets worse, then I know I’m going to need to use other remedies. The simplest way for you to include apple cider vinegar to your diet is using it with olive oil for you salads, or a splash it on a side dish of sliced tomatoes or cucumbers.

Celery seeds contain luteolin

Celery seeds do not come from the common celery stalks you dip in blue cheese dressing with buffalo wings. It comes from another type of the celery plant sometimes called wild celery, smallage, or Chinese celery.

There are natural substances in celery seeds that have shown to improve symptoms like arthritis, muscle spasms, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Specific compounds in celery seeds provide two worthwhile benefits for gout sufferers. It can reduce uric acid production and prevent pain relief from inflammation.

Celery seeds contain a natural compound called luteolin. A research study found this compound binds to the same receptors as xanthine oxidase, which serves as a catalyst for producing uric acid. Which means, luteolin can prevent uric acid production, thus reducing inflammation and joint damage.

Apigenin, 3-n-butylphthalide (3nB) and beta-selinene are other compounds in celery seeds that suppress the immune system. It does this by stopping the signaling capabilities of cells that trigger inflammation. These three compounds makes it a useful condiment for relieving joint pain and inflammation due to gout or injury.

A 2015 study stated:

“Celery Seed Extract (CSE) and has been found to be at least as effective as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen in suppressing arthritis in a model of polyarthritis.”

Insight: A nutritionist advised me to try celery seeds. I was skeptical because I did not see a whole lot of formal research. The taste is celery-ish, but slightly more bitter, earthy and grassy. It is a not an overwhelming flavor, so you can generously add a teaspoon of it to salads and cooked meals. I feel it helps like extra roughage to help eliminate uric acid and other toxins.

Final Thoughts

As your daily diet improves and includes more and more anti-gout foods, the less sudden your gout flares will be. Eating healthier build your body’s resistance from gout from striking suddenly. By incorporating more of these five gout-fighting condiments to your diet, you will add more natural options to prevent uric acid levels from reaching the tipping point for a full blown gout attack.

Let’s be clear here. These five condiments are not instant remedies when you are having a gout attack. A quick fix- they definitely are not. Plus, there isn’t a recommended amount or dose. The way I see it, including these condiments is like brushing your teeth every day. It is for preventative maintenance for long term protection.

The highest priority of a diet to prevent gout attacks is to limit foods that contain high amounts of purines. In addition to eating more fruits and vegetables for their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits, these particular condiments also provide similar gout-fighting properties to strengthen your system to become GOUTPROOF.

Lastly, which one of the five works or does not work for you?

Get products for gout: Extracts for gingerol, chicory, turmeric, pectin sold at HerbPro.

Related Articles:

• What and Why Alkalizing Foods Help with Your Gout?
• Cherries Are The Aces You Need When Dealing With Gout