Health Concerns Regarding Elevated Uric Acid on Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Impotence, & Dementia
Hyperuricemia is increasing globally and affecting millions of Americans. Why does the body create excessive uric acid, and how can we lower its impact to prevent associated disorders?
Dear readers,
I trust this post finds you well. I couldn’t post for over a week due to my excessive workload, but today, I decided to share this important post with you.
Yesterday, I wrote a comprehensive article about the growing concern regarding uric acid accumulation in the body. In this post, I summarize the critical points.
Uric acid dissolves in the blood and is excreted through urine. However, if the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys cannot remove enough, levels can rise, leading to hyperuricemia. While uric acid is not inherently harmful, high uric acid levels can form urate crystals, causing inflammation and gout.
I noticed that excessive uric acid in the body has some adverse effects and is linked to obesity, type II diabetes, erectile dysfunction, heart disease, and dementia in the growing literature.
After a detailed literature review, I provided some practical points that I want to share here. The key points are:
The most common prevention method is to limit the intake of foods high in purines, such as too much red meat, high-fructose foods, especially sugary drinks, and some high glycemic index fruits. So, keeping track of purine-rich food intake might be helpful.
Alcohol, especially beer and spirits, can increase uric acid levels. Therefore, limiting them can be helpful. As alcohol also causes dehydration, we need to drink more water to flush out uric acid from the body.
Rapid weight loss can increase uric acid levels, so we must aim for gradual and sustainable weight loss. However, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of hyperuricemia.
There are also supplemental solutions, which I will cover in a separate story, but the most common one is potassium citrate, which can indirectly contribute to addressing the kidney stone issue by alkalinizing the urine. I also used potassium citrate when starting a ketogenic diet to optimize acidity profile, and I will cover it in a different story.
As insulin resistance can reduce the excretion of uric acid from the kidney, making the body insulin-sensitive can lower the risk of hyperuricemia.
Apart from benefits for insulin sensitivity, regular physical activity can have a positive additional impact on uric acid levels. For example, exercise can improve circulation and metabolism, which may aid in the excretion of uric acid. Besides, exercise can contribute to weight management, and maintaining a healthy weight is essential for managing uric acid levels.
Chronic stress can lead to unhealthy habits like poor diet and reduced physical activity, raising uric acid levels. The stress hormone cortisol can affect metabolism and kidney function. Therefore, managing stress through relaxation techniques, exercise, and healthy coping mechanisms can indirectly support optimal uric acid levels.
If you want to learn more about hyperuricemia, you may read the details from the original article via this friend link.
Emerging Concerns of Elevated Uric Acid on Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Impotence, & Dementia
If you have any questions, please leave a comment on this post or the original article, and I will get back to you. If you are on Medium, you may check out my stories, mainly hosted on EUPHORIA.
Thank you for reading, and I wish you the best.
Thanks for writing this important story, Dr Yildiz. I had no idea uric acid could be so problematic. I will discuss it with my physician.
I loved your concise format, which saved your readers lots of time. Yes excessive uric acid accumulation in the body is associated with many health issues. Thank you for writing this helpful piece. Your story on Medium is exceptional.