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If you’re reading this article, then chances are you (or a loved one) are suffering from a painful ailment known as Gout.
And I’m pretty sure you’ll agree that living with Gout sucks…
But please don’t worry too much.
Unlike Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout is believed to be “curable”.
In other words, you can wave goodbye to Gout forever with the right lifestyle choices/medication/supplements.
(Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have to live with it for the rest of their lives, so please spare a thought for them.)
Whilst there are many supplements which may help relieve Gout, the most promising one has to be probiotics.
Why Probiotics Are Good For Gout
You’re making a great decision by using probiotics for Gout.
Before we cover the best probiotics, here are a few reasons why probiotics are great for Gout – proof you’re about to make a smart purchase!
Probiotics may lower obesity
Research suggests that being obese can make you up to 7x more likely to suffer from Gout!
(Compared to those with a normal BMI.)
And those who are overweight will have more inflammation, which can make Gout more irritating.
So, a great way to lower your risk of Gout, and to make Gout more bearable is to shed some pounds.
A study on mice revealed the strong connection between gut bacteria and obesity, which went like this…
Gut bacteria were taken from a group of women who were twin sisters. One of the twins was obese and the other was lean.
The gut bacteria were then transferred into germ-free mice.
(I.e. the mice had no other bacteria in their gut, to make the study fair.)
The mice which received gut bacteria from the obese women… became obese.
And the mice which received gut bacteria from the lean women… stayed lean!
Now, what’s amazing about this result is that both groups of mice ate exactly the same amount of food.
In other words, it was the quality of bacteria in their guts which determined their weight.
So by supplementing with probiotics, you’re more likely to maintain a healthy weight, which will make Gout less problematic.
(Related reading: 5 Best Cutting Supplements)
Probiotics may reduce hyperuricemia
To see why this is important, let’s quickly run over what exactly causes Gout…
When you eat foods that contain purines, your body produces uric acid as a breakdown product.
(A bit like how sweat is a breakdown product from exercise.)
But eating too many of these foods leads to high levels of uric acid in your blood, which is known as hyperuricemia.
This can lead to the accumulation of crystals (tophi) around your joints, i.e. Gout.
So to help heal Gout, your goal should be to reduce hyperuricemia.
Well, you’ll be pleased to know that research supports the use of probiotics to reduce hyperuricemia.
For example, a 5-week study on rats with hyperuricemia had some of them eat a regular diet, and some of them eat a regular diet with probiotics.
The results showed that those which had the probiotics had their hyperuricemia reversed!
Probiotics may lower inflammation
One of the hallmark symptoms of Gout – joint pain – is caused by the inflammatory response to the crystals around your joints.
So with this in mind, a great way to reduce your Gout symptoms is to reduce inflammation.
Research suggests that probiotics help lower inflammation by regulating your immune cells.
(I.e. They stop your immune cells from overreacting.)
This is exactly what happens in Gout, so probiotics are a great shout.
(Related reading: Best Fish Oil Supplements For Inflammation)
Best Budget Probiotics for Gout: Doctor’s Best Digestive Health Probiotics
Overview
A cost-effective probiotic supplement from a reputable company.
Ideal for those on a lower budget.
Why I like it
For its price, this is a great probiotic supplement making it a top value buy.
Another solid feature is that the bacteria used in this supplement (called LactoSpore) allow good bacteria to flourish in your gut, and help prevent the growth of bad bacteria.
This will help reduce inflammation, which should help improve Gout symptoms.
I’m also a big, big fan of Doctor’s Best as a supplement company.
They’re one of the most trustworthy brands out there in quite a shady industry.
Potential drawbacks
As expected, these probiotics are on the “weaker” end of the strength scale.
(Probiotic strength is measure in CFUs aka Colony-Forming Units. These contain only 2 Billion CFU which is pretty low compared to other probiotics.)
Apart from that, there isn’t much more you can ask for in a budget range probiotic.
Check price and read more reviews of Doctor’s Best Digestive Health Probiotics on Amazon.
Best Mid-Range Probiotics for Gout: Dr Mercola Complete Probiotics
Overview
A decent strength probiotic supplement that’s mixed with prebiotics.
I’ve been using these for my own health for nearly a year now and you have my word that it’s a great supplement.
Why I like it
Dr Mercola Complete Probiotics contain fructooligosaccharides, which are a type of prebiotic.
Prebiotics are a food source for the probiotics, so that they can multiply and divide, which is important for the effectiveness of the capsules.
Another great feature is that each capsule contains a whopping 10 different bacteria strains.
Since each strain provides a different benefit, these capsules will improve your health in many different ways.
Also, it’s great that these capsules are packaged with a desiccant (as shown below.)
The desiccant absorbs the moisture within the bottle, which ensures the environment for the probiotics is optimal.
Potential drawbacks
It would be nice if Dr Mercola used less other ingredients in the capsules as less is generally better.
Check price and read more reviews of Dr Mercola Complete Probiotics on Amazon.
Best Premium Probiotics for Gout: SEDDS Super GI Probiotics
Overview
SEDDS Super GI Probiotics tick all of the boxes of a premium supplement:
- Top quality
- High-strength
- Pretty darn expensive
This really is the Rolls Royce of probiotic supplements.
Why I like it
The fantastic reviews shows that this is a trusted probiotic supplement, and many other people are having great results from using it.
Also, each capsule contains a whopping 112.5 Billion CFUs, making it one of the strongest probiotics on the market.
(To give you some perspective, this makes it more than 55x stronger than the budget selection!)
The diversity of bacteria strains within each capsule is fantastic too.
For example, this supplement contains:
- Bifidobacterium Breve
- Lactobacillus Paracasei
- Lactobacillus Plantarum
- Bifidobacterium Longum
- Bifidobacterium Infantis
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus
- Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
- Streptococcus Thermophilus
Each of these strains will help optimize your health in different ways and make Gout less troublesome.
Potential drawbacks
The fairly obvious drawback of a premium supplement like SEDDS Super GI Probiotics is its price.
So if you’re short on money, you’re probably more suited to using one of the other probiotics recommended.
Check price and read more reviews of SEDDS Super GI Probiotics on Amazon.
Conclusion
A top-quality probiotic will help you:
- Fight obesity
- Lower inflammation
- Reduce hyperuricemia
And by reading this article, you’re aware that these benefits are even more important for Gout sufferers.
We’ve also covered the 3 best probiotics for Gout at different prices, but if you’re still on the fence, then check out my favorite all-rounder, Dr Mercola Complete Probiotics, on Amazon.
Hope this helps!
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