| The 18th Century Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus said | | | | helpful in gout treatment because it's an antioxidant |
| that a diet of only strawberries had cured his gout. | | | | and because it may inhibit xanthine oxidase and thus |
| As a botanist he presumably knew a lot about fruits | | | | reduce uric acid production, is one of the flavonols |
| and flowers. Since you can find photos of a painting | | | | and is notably found in onions and apples (it's mainly in |
| of him he was probably a well known expert in his | | | | apples' skin). Also it's found in grapefruits, and some |
| time. He lived until he was 71, quite old for that very | | | | green leafy vegetables. There is some quercetin in |
| gout-aware century. But he couldn't have known | | | | strawberries too. |
| about Vitamin C because it was discovered in the | | | | Strawberries are towards the top of the high Vitamin |
| 1930's. | | | | C foods list (amount 59 mg per 100 grams) and they |
| If this really happened, remember that single-foods | | | | are also high in flavonoids. Their flavonoids' profile |
| diets such as just eating strawberries are crash diets. | | | | (the anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols and so on) is |
| These can bring on gout attacks, so copying Linnaeus | | | | comparable to cherries, but not precisely the same. |
| is definitely not recommended. | | | | For proanthocyanidins amounts, strawberries wack |
| What was it in the strawberries that did it? For a | | | | cherries. |
| start strawberries have a high Vitamin C content. At | | | | But strawberries value as a gout food doesn't end at |
| least three studies have reported that Vitamin C will | | | | this. Let's look at other dietary factors that are |
| reduce uric acid levels or is protective against gout. In | | | | beneficial for gout. |
| the last study, not by a great deal, but by enough | | | | Total flavonoids to Vitamin C: 68%. High. Good.pH: |
| (10-15% of an excess level), to make it a useful aide | | | | Strawberries are moderately alkaline. Good. |
| to reducing uric acid. | | | | Purines: Low. Good. |
| And one of the ways to take it in its best forms is | | | | Glycemic Index: Moderate. Good. |
| that flavonoids are added. This is not exactly news | | | | ORAC score (antioxidant capacity): Amongst the |
| because many Vitamin C products have added | | | | highest of the top Vitamin C foods. Good. |
| flavonoids from citrus fruits. But the problem with | | | | Water: about 91%. Good. |
| many Vitamin C products is that experts have said | | | | Are there testimonials to strawberries in gout |
| that an equal (or nearly equal) amount of flavonoids | | | | treatment? I have seen a few. I seem to remember |
| should be with the Vitamin C. There is then more of | | | | one where the fellow said he went to the |
| a therapeutic effect. I have found only one | | | | refridgerator for a bowl of strawberries whenever he |
| supplement (and I examined about 10 Vitamin C | | | | felt a gout attack coming on, and the feeling went |
| preparations) that does this. Most have 10%-20% of | | | | away after eating them. The kind of story you read |
| flavonoids to the Vitamin C content. | | | | about cherries, cherry juice and dried cherries. |
| And it's always said that Vitamin C is best taken | | | | That famous British summer dish... strawberries and |
| naturally, from foods and juices. So there's at least | | | | cream, (cream is low purine, low GI and fairly low |
| one thing the world's nutritional experts agree about. | | | | carb), anyone? Yes, and an extra serving too if |
| There are, it's thought, maybe 4,000 flavonoids, but | | | | there's any leftovers please. |
| only five, plus the proanthocyanidins, have so far | | | | NB. The contents of this article contain medical |
| been analysed in foods. The five sub classes of | | | | information not medical advice. Please always discuss |
| flavonoids are: anthocyanidins (aka anthocyanins), | | | | remedies with your doctor or other health care |
| flavon-3-ols, flavanones, flavones, and flavonols. | | | | professional, before implementing any treatment. |
| Quercetin, the dietary supplement reported to be | | | | |