Path to Recovery
Beginning in Nov 2023 I stopped focusing on eliminating high purine foods from my diet and instead reevaluated the daily sugar consumption in my food and drinks. This is a very difficult and challenging change to make especially within our ‘western’ culture of fast food and processed snacks.
I will not mislead anyone by saying it was quick or easy but for me it was necessary. This work is lonely but gratifying once the results begin to show. I did falter many times but remained focussed on the goal because I now had a clear path to resolving multiple issues including the gout I had suffered from for so long.
For those of you reading this, you know there is no secret to this process or easy one-step method. You will need to change your lifestyle in order to restore your health and enjoy life.
My focus changed from managing uric acid to addressing the true culprit.
Sugar
Reduced Sugar Intake
I started with no sugar in my morning coffee, no more juice or processed breakfast items like cereal or oatmeal. Anything that could spike my blood sugar first thing in the morning was out! I incorporated more fiber rich foods, vegetables and reduced the amount of processed foods I ate on a daily basis.
I found myself still full from the night before most days which is another indication of overconsumption. I discovered I wasn’t giving my body enough time to fully digest the food I ate during meals. My body was basically in a constant state of digestion. This is a very important process which I learned to respect and conscientiously observe.
Controlling food portions also helped me ensure my body fully digested food properly transforming it into needed energy between meals. I actually felt hunger again, which had not been a familiar feeling for many years.
Snacking
Snacking is the one thing I stopped completely during this sugar depletion phase. Initially I recognized that my food intake was more than my body actually needed. Food is fuel and I worked to be more selective with the fuel I consumed and how often I ate. In between meals I stopped eating, providing my body the time it required to fully digest and use the fuel as energy.
My most effective tool to pass the time and curve the snack cravings is gum. Sugar free gum, especially Extra spearmint or polar ice as the clean minty taste helps minimize the cravings. Also brushing my teeth immediately after a meal helped.
As time goes by this becomes easier and less of a sacrifice. If I did snack it was nuts and dried fruit to help manage the glucose. The first thing I noticed was not feeling sleepy during the day even after a meal. I used this time to become more active. Walks during my lunch break. Push ups or squats at my desk. Any kind of movement to use up energy, strengthen my body and increase mobility.
Intermittent Fasting
I introduced a weekly intermittent fasting phase. This was my game changer and I feel turbo charged my recovery simply due to the extended period of time my body went without any food. During fasting my body was able to stabilize my blood sugar, use up excess stored energy sources and even begin the process of cleansing my cells. This is better explained by Gary Brecka in this Youtube video: Water Fasting Gary’s Podcasts have taught me so much about how the human body works.
Whether you subscribe to these lessons or not please look into incorporating intermittent fasting as a catalyst in your recovery as I did. Fasting for me began with a 24hr fast which is truly not a long time without food if you think about it, we are all currently already fasting at night while we sleep. This has now become a weekly 36 hour fast on Wednesdays for me. It begins on Tuesday, the evening prior. I stop consuming food around 7 or 8pm and go the entire Wednesday without eating. I drink coffee and water during this time. Thursday morning I break my fast with a meal high in protein and healthy fats. Bacon, eggs and avocado for example.
Believe it or not, getting over that first hunger pain is the most difficult part. It is so easy to snack on something small but the truth is that the initial hunger only lasts a few minutes. Your body has the ability to utilize stored sources of energy and end that hunger signal. This is the process that will boost your recovery. I remained steadfast and strong while my body did the work. Even though I was the only one in my household fasting I remained focussed. It got easier and even became routine. After just a few weeks I began to see and feel the changes. I truly look forward to what I eat and have plenty of time to craft the perfect meal combinations that would not only taste good but most importantly nourish my body.
My wife now joins me in this weekly rejuvenation.
Super Food: Chia Seeds
I began adding Chia seeds to my meals to supplement my fiber intake. These seeds are odorless, tasteless and can be added to almost any food. The benefits they provide are aligned with reducing high blood sugar levels as well as helping to produce more complete bowel movements. They truly are amazing little natural cleansers! One small serving daily significantly improves digestion allowing your body to more effectively absorb the nutrients from your food, vitamin and mineral supplements. I give this tiny pseudograin quite a bit of credit aiding in my recovery.
Magnesium Supplements
I learned to maximize my body’s metabolism by taking Magnesium. It is important to supplement with the correct form of magnesium. I learned this after months of taking the wrong one. As my body became healthier and able to utilize energy more efficiently the supplements I took had to be of the highest quality.
Magnesium Glycinate is what I focussed on taking which includes the amino acid glycine. This has anti-inflammatory properties and is considered one of the best forms of magnesium to take. I found the Mg Magnesium Plus Zinc formula with D3 for better absorption and has been working great for me. I am able to take this even on my fasting days without any issues.
Methylated Multi Vitamins
In addition I added a high quality multivitamin supplement which also took many iterations before I found the right one. Gary Brecka talks about methylation in this video: Methylation Explained | The Best Kept Optimal Health Secret Part 2 with Gary Brecka which is the process our body takes to break down a ‘raw’ material and convert it into useful compounds. In the event this process does not work properly in the body there are supplements that have been clinically methylated which allows them to be more impactful and easier for the body to assimilate.
I began taking the Pure Therapro Rx Methyl Multi without Iron as my multivitamin of choice. I don’t take any other supplements and have discovered that focusing on the quality is better than the quantity on my journey towards restoring my health.
A Healthy Lifestyle
I now exercise 4 days a week and remain active on the other days. I am always mindful of the food I consume but do NOT deny myself enjoying sweets or alcohol. I simply partake less and not as frequently as I used to.
As I stated before, this is a lifestyle change which I had to make in order to regain my life. I now understand how to maintain my health and have the courage to refrain from overconsumption.
This is not medical advice and I encourage everyone reading this to do their own research. This is my true success story and I hope it inspires people to begin exploring their own path to recovery from gout.
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