Drinking water to help lower uric acid: Water is a healthy natural way to reduce uric acid levels in the bloodstream. Read on to discover why it’s so beneficial for gout and how much you should drink.
How Much Water to Drink to Lower Uric Acid?
I would say drink 2 to 3 liters of water a day. More if you live in hotter, more humid areas, and during summer: say up to 4 liters.
The best way to think about it is that 2 liters is equivalent to 8 x 8-ounce glasses, 3 liters to 12 x 8-ounce glasses, and 4 liters to 16 x 8-ounce glasses.
If this seems like a lot then it’s meant to be. But it isn’t as much trouble as you think if you drink it evenly throughout the day.
To get the best benefit from water you shouldn’t drink it in three or four ‘sessions,’ but rather smaller amounts frequently during the day.
Let’s look at why drinking plenty of water is so beneficial for a gout sufferer, both during an attack to help get quick relief and in gout prevention…
Water and Uric Acid
First off, a dehydrated body is far more prone to gout than a body that is healthily hydrated. Unfortunately, many of us nowadays are continually dehydrated to some extent.
Secondly, someone with gout can reduce the amount of uric acid crystallizing in their joints by drinking plenty of water. This can help in gout pain relief.
Thirdly, large volumes of water can help your kidneys flush excess uric acid out of your body far more effectively. The result is decreased or lowered uric acid levels in your blood, which means a much reduced risk of a gout attack.
You see, it’s really important not only to take plenty of water during an attack, but to continue taking water even after the attack has abated. By doing this you help to lower uric acid and so reduce the risk of another gout attack.
Because, here’s the thing; recurring gout episodes can eventually lead to some serious damage over time. These are things like kidney damage, kidney stones, high blood pressure and permanent joint damage. And more recent studies have even linked gout to heart disease, heart attacks, stroke and premature death.
So now you can see why a minimum of 2 liters of water a day is so important for a gout sufferer to help lower uric acid over the longer term, not just during an attack.
Note: As well as the water you drink you’ll also be getting water from other beverages and even some foods: things like fruits, vegetables, dairy products, soups, etc., that provide, on average, about 20% of our total fluid intake.
