Okay folks, I'm a complete Newbie here but I do know a little something about Gout.
"I was talking with this woman last night who had started the Atkins diet several months back. After a couple of months on the diet, her left foot began to get painful and swell. She went to her doctor and was diagnosed with gout. During the examination and according to her, the doctor told her that he's seen more young people coming down with gout and they've all been doing the Atkins diet. In essence, he told her that the Atkins approach directly lead to her gout, which is what she's telling people."
I know very little about ketosis and even less about keto-acidosis but I do know that Gout is genetic and it sucks. I have it. Gout is caused by and excess of Uric Acid in the blood. Uric Acid is created by the breakdown of Purines from animal based protein (most common) and some vegetable. For those who have Gout, Uric Acid is not eliminated by the kidneys very easily and builds up. Gravity is not your friend in this case because the acid flows to the low points of the body (toe joints, ankles, between the bones of the feet, knees and sometimes hips) and crystalizes into needle like shards. The pain and swelling happen because the soft tissue of the "Gouted" area is literally being torn apart from the inside out. The pain of an attack is unbearable. It will pulverize bone and cripple a person if left untreated.
Yes Adkins will lead to Gout if the person is genetically disposed to having it, not taking medication to treat it and not drinking enough water to prevent it. I carry and try to drink a gallon of water a day.
My story: 10 months ago I was in a period of self-hatred that drove me to join a gym and hire a trainer. At that point I weighed in at 292 with a 32.4% body fat[BF] (I'm 6' tall).
Stepping into the "Way Back" machine, in 1998 I'd tried to get back in shape when I was weighing in at only 265 [BF unknown] but had recurring Gout attacks that kept me from the gym and bed-ridden. I would get in 10 to 14 good workout days then have an attack and spend the next 2 weeks limping and in agony.
I had no meal-plan at all to speak of and basically ate whatever was most handy. I didn't get very far as my formerly mentioned weight will attest.
Sometime in 2000 I got tired of the Gout cycle and was prescribed medication to treat it, (500mg of Probenecid twice daily).
There's a current myth going around about Black Cherry juice being a healing agent for Gout. I tried it but have since learned that Gout attacks are heavily dependent on hydration. Drink enough Cherry juice and it will hydrate you but it will also raise your carb intake pretty drastically.
Stepping out of the WAY past to 10 months ago, my trainer and I formed a meal-plan. 5 meals a day, 2421 total calories a day, 20% protein, 57% Carb, 23% fat. This was based on my fear of a Gout attack and my sedentary lifestyle.
I didn't follow the meal-plan very well at all (due to a lack of deep desire and my own lazyness) and again didn't get very far. I lost 10 pounds but my BF didn't change. Much sadness.
In October of 2003 my original trainer left the gym and a new one took over my "account." Coincidentally, at the same time, I met a woman at work (it's always about a woman) who REALLY inspired me to improve myself. My focus and drive to succeed shot up and off the charts. Same meal-plan but adhered to like ugly on an ape. I stopped drinking soda/pop, eating junk food and haven't eaten anything processed in months. I try to cook all my meals and work out in the gym almost daily. I go in to at least do cardio if nothing else.
Since October I've dropped 35-40 pounds (weighing in this week), my BF is 24.??%, and I've made moderate strength gains. All this without a Gout attack and I've been adding more animal based protein to my food intake.
Actually I've had one serious attack but that was because I turned my ankle playing basketball and Gout usually follows an injury to the lower extremities.
A couple of days ago my trainer and I had to create a new meal-plan because I was getting hungry too soon after eating a meal balanced with protein, carbs and fat. I don't have accurate percentages of my intake but will add them if anyone wants them.
Long story even longer, I workout like a horse, have had no noninjury Gout attacks and eat more protein than I ever thought I would.
The more I learn about Nutrition the more I want to really dig into it and reading this discussion about lo-carb vs. lo-fat diets is facinating.
I hope that my longwinded story didn't mud the waters too much, my intent was to talk about Gout.
Cheers to all of you.