Gout - 5 Natural Treatments To Relieve The Discomfort.

If you awaken from a sound sleep to excruciating joint pain in your big toe, you may be experiencing one of several gout symptoms.  Gout is on the rise in America, affecting millions of people each year. In fact, the latest research, from 10 years ago, found that the rates of gout doubled in 20 years prior. More than eight million Americans have gout.

Many believe this dramatic increase is due to poor diets, obesity and a lack of exercise, although genetics is also thought to play a role.

Too much uric acid in the body can also cause kidney stones and in more severe cases lead to kidney failure due to the blockage caused by uric acid crystals.  In addition, if the root cause of gout is not addressed, you may be at a greater risk of developing certain types of cancer and heart disease.

Statistically, men are far more likely to get gout than women. However, it is becoming more common in women, particularly after menopause.

3 Foods That Could Be Making Your Joints Hurt.

When joints stiffen and swell, the pain can make everything—from picking up a pen to taking a walk to cooking dinner—completely and utterly miserable. If you don't know the feeling, chances are you know someone who does—about 1 in 5 adults in the United States have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While there's no way to make sure your painful joints disappear forever, research shows that certain foods—those dubbed "anti-inflammatory" like olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish—can help. And others can hurt.

If you're eating these culprits day in and day out, you could be increasing the odds of a flare-up.