Uric acid is a chemical that our body manufactures by , an organic compound that appears inside our body through the food we eat. Generally, uric acid is eliminated naturally through our urine, but when we cannot expel the normal amounts of it, hyperuricemia occurs. This disease consists of suffering from too high levels of uric acid in the blood, which can cause symptoms such as the attack of gout.
People who suffer from this disease should be especially careful with the food they consume, which is why many end up having doubts and fear of consuming ingredients such as lemon, since it is often believed that its high acid content can worsen the disease. However, is lemon bad for uric acid? Below we discover if it is possible to lower uric acid with lemon and what is the exact relationship between lemon and uric acid.
Is lemon bad for uric acid?
There is a belief that lemon, one of the most beneficial foods out there, can harm cases of hyperuricemia due to its acidic compounds. However, this very popular rumor is totally false: lemon is not bad for uric acid and, in fact, there are studies that show that it is possible to lower uric acid with lemon.
Lemon is a fruit that is composed of organic acids such as citrus, malic and acetite; flavonoids such as herperidin, rutin and diosmin; vitamin C and mineral salts. The belief that its acids can increase uric acid levels is false because when we ingest the juice of this fruit, these substances (citric and malic) are quickly eliminated by our lungs in the form of carbonic acid. Therefore, only the mineral salts that, when bound to carbon, are alkalized would remain. In addition, as we have mentioned at the beginning, it is purines that are converted into uric acid and crystals of this, and not the acids of other foods.
In fact, these alkalizing properties that we talked about are what make lemon a good remedy for high levels of uric acid, since it can provide us with a large number of benefits. We reveal, below, why lemon serves to lower uric acid:
- Lemon has a purifying and disinfecting effect that accelerates the elimination of different toxins accumulated within our body, including uric acid.
- Its alkaline property helps to improve symptoms of this disease such as gout attacks, as it facilitates the expulsion of substances such as uric and oxalic acid salts through the urine.
- Its richness in acids helps prevent the formation of kidney stones by urates and, in addition, accelerates their dissolution if they have them.
So, if you were wondering if lemon is bad for uric acid, now you know it's not like that at all. On the contrary, lemon is good for gout and can be a magnificent ally to lower uric acid.
Natural Lemon Remedies for High Uric Acid
Now that we know how beneficial lemon can be to lower uric acid, we explain some home remedies with lemon to lower uric acid:
Lemon infusion with honey
Like lemon, honey is a product full of benefits for cases of hyperuricemia, since it also has alkaline properties that help eliminate excess of this substance. To use this remedy, we will only need:
- 1 lemon (juice and peels)
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 liter of mineral water
To prepare the infusion, we will only have to boil the liter of water, add the juice and the peels of a lemon and let it cook for 20 minutes. After the time, strain the drink, let it warm and add the tablespoons of honey. Drink this infusion twice a day (once fasting and once half an hour after dinner). Lemon water for uric acid is a home remedy that has been used throughout history to relieve gout pains, so don't hesitate to try it.
Lemon and apple infusion for uric acid
The apple is another wonderful fruit to combat hyperuricemia, since it also has alkaline properties that stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid and thus neutralize high levels of uric acid. To prepare this tea we will need:
- 1 glass of water
- Half lemon peels
- 1 apple
Cut an apple into pieces and cook it in a saucepan with the peels of half a lemon and a glass of water for 20 minutes. Strain the drink and take it little by little, taking small sips to favor the digestion process. Drink one cup of this tea a day.
Lemon smoothie with strawberries
Strawberries, in addition to being a delicious fruit, are a magnificent remedy for uric acid, as they have anti-inflammatory properties ideal for joint pain and diuretics, so they favor the elimination of toxins and this chemical in the body. To prepare this drink, we will need:
- 10 strawberries
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1 cup water
Boil the 10 strawberries in a glass of water and, when you notice them soft, turn off the heat and add the juice of half a lemon. Then add the mixture to a blender and crush everything until you get a creamy and homogeneous drink. Have one cup of this smoothie a day.
Other Beneficial Foods for Lowering High Uric Acid
In addition to lowering uric acid with lemon, we want to discover other very useful foods to lower excessive levels of uric acid in the blood:
- Onions: this vegetable is ideal for cases of hyperuricemia, since its richness in antioxidants gives excellent purifying properties to our body.
- Artichokes: their richness in fiber and minerals give powerful diuretic properties to our body ideal for reducing the levels of this chemical.
- Infusions with purifying and diuretic properties: among them we find rosemary tea and horsetail, two magnificent ingredients to lower uric acid levels quickly. Do not miss this article about the best infusions to lower uric acid and start remedying this annoying problem.
If thanks to this article you have discovered that lemon serves to lower uric acid, you may be interested in this other article about the relationship between chocolate and uric acid.
