6 Ways to Reduce Uric Acid Levels

High levels of uric acid in the bloodstream can be due to a problem with the functioning of your kidneys. If your doctor tells you that your uric acid level is too high, then you should take the appropriate measures to reduce it. Ignoring this advice could lead to kidney stones and kidney failure. Don’t worry – the following remedies will help you reduce uric acid levels and get them back to normal.

Apple cider vinegar to reduce uric acid levels

Aside from being a natural cleansing agent for the body, apple cider vinegar helps to reduce uric acid as well. In addition to that, it also helps restore your body’s natural pH balance.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup of water (200 ml)

Procedure

• Firstly, mix the apple cider vinegar into a cup of water and then drink it three times a day.

Once you get used to the taste of the vinegar, you can then increase your dosage to two tablespoons of vinegar per cup of water. Don’t take more than this, however, because vinegar can reduce the amount of potassium in the body.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice has an alkaline effect on the body, thus making it excellent for helping to reduce uric acid. The vitamin C also helps to enhances its effects. You can opt to take a vitamin C supplement, or, alternatively, try the following recipe:

Ingredients

• The juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cup of water

Procedure

• Mix the lemon juice into a cup of water and then drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Berries

Cherries, blackberries, and other members of the berry family contain certain chemical properties that help to reduce uric acid fast. It’s a good idea to try the following options:

• ½ cup of cherries a day for a few weeks
• ¼ cup of cherry juice a day
• 1 cup of blackberries or strawberries a day

Baking soda

Baking soda not only helps you reduce uric acid levels, it’s also good for helping to removing kidney stones.

Ingredients

• ½ tablespoon of baking soda
• 1 cup of water

Procedure

• Firstly, dissolve the baking soda in the cup of water and then drink four cups of this mixture a day for two weeks.

This is an excellent remedy, but you shouldn’t take it for more than two weeks. Nor is it a wise choice for people who have high blood pressure. However, if you’re over 60 years old, drink only three cups of this mixture a day.

Olive oil

Most oils become harmful to your health when they’re heated or over-processed. This also destroys the vitamin E that’s responsible for controlling your level of uric acid. This doesn’t happen with olive oil, however, which remains stable while cooking. And, because it’s rich in vitamin E, it does twice the amount of good by reducing uric acid levels.

Water

Drinking plenty of water helps your body filter out the excess uric acid and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate it through the urine. This is better than taking medication, which can alter your body chemistry.

A diet low in purine

Purines are nitrogen-based compounds that turn into uric acid when broken down. Foods that are high in purines are animal proteins. The ones you should avoid include:

• Red meat
• Intestines
• Fish
• Poultry
• Beans
• Yeast
• Mushrooms
• Asparagus
• And, finally, beer

A diet rich in high-fiber foods and carbohydrates

Foods that are rich in dietary fiber can help reduce uric acid levels by facilitating their absorption and elimination from the body. Starchy carbohydrate foods, meanwhile, have low amounts of purines.

See also: Good Versus Bad Carbohydrates: Busting Myths

Some of the more fiber-rich foods include:

• Strawberries
• Apples
• Pears
• Oranges
• Whole grains

Starchy carbohydrates include:

• Rice
• Pasta
• Tapioca
• Quinoa
• Potatoes
• Oats
• Bananas

Read more: Fiber-Packed Foods that Can Help You Lose Weight

Some final recommendations

In summary, natural remedies can provide a lot of benefits, but if you want to reduce uric acid levels rapidly, remember to:

• Limit or avoid the consumption of alcohol until your uric acid levels return to normal
• Eliminate foods that are high in fructose or other artificial sweeteners
• Start an exercise routine to keep fat from building up, which facilitates the production of more uric acid
• And, finally, choose minimally processed, natural foods. The best options are fruits and vegetables.