Gout in men Vitamin C lowers risk and may prevent gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when excess uric acid – a natural compound in the body – builds up in the blood. In a 20-year study of about 47,000 men, those who consumed over 1,500 mg of vitamin C per day from all sources were nearly half as likely to have gout as were men who got less than 250 mg per day.

In gout, excess uric acid forms sharp, needle-like crystalline deposits in the joints, causing inflammation and pain. Doctors believe vitamin C may help the kidneys excrete excess uric acid and may keep excess uric acid from forming.

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine

Overview of the Foot and Ankle

The human foot serves as the foundation of the body, combining mechanical complexity and structural strength. The ankle specifically serves as the shock absorber and propulsion engine of the body. The foot and ankle are designed to sustain enormous pressure while providing flexibility and resiliency.

The foot and ankle are made up of…

• 26 bones (One-quarter of the bones in the human body are in the feet);
• 33 joints;
• More than 100 muscles, tendons (fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones), and ligaments (fibrous tissues that connect bones to other bones); and
• A network of blood vessels, nerves, skin and soft tissue.

These components work together to provide the body with support, balance, and mobility. A structural flaw or malfunction in any one part can result in the development of problems elsewhere in the body.

Dr. Moulas on Building Strong Bones Part I

More and more doctors today are recommending that their patients take calcium to protect them from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, is a condition of accelerated loss of bone, is a major health problem in the United States and is responsible for well over one million fractures a year. More woman die from the complications of these fractures annually than from the combined deaths resulting from cancers of the cervix and breast. Furthermore, the gradual loss of bone may result in disfigurement, wrinkles, decreased mobility and/or calcium deposits in soft tissue (joints, kidney, arteries, etc.) leading to further complications.

Many have assumed that simply increasing dietary calcium or taking a calcium supplement will prevent bone loss. But this is not the case! Bone loss can be caused by many things, including deficiencies of other nutrients besides calcium. Nutrients like magnesium, silica, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and fluoride, to just name a few.