Advice From The Thais - No Wings! prevents Gout attacks

by Russell
(Bangkok)

HI, I got my first symptoms of gout before I was 18 YO. I have been suffering with it all my adult life. My attacks ranged from completely debilitating to mild. There have been times in my life where I have gone for extremely long periods where I have been lucky to have 2 good weeks out of every 6. I have taken every NASAID known to man, and possibly even some that aren't. By the bucketfull too, It is a wonder I have a stomach left. I have been blood tested more times than an Olympic Athlete. Then one day, out of the blue, my Thai daughter asked me if I ate chicken. Yes of course, I ate lots of chicken because I thought the white meat would be better than red. My daughter said her Thai girlfriend had gout and her thai doctors told her not to eat chicken. I had studied gout all my life and never heard this mentioned in conventional western medicine, certainly not specifically. Then not long after, in thailand, I got my next gout attack and hobbled off to the pharmacy where the Thai chemist asked me if I ate chicken. Yes, said I, again. He told me not to eat anything with wings on it. Which includes Duck, Goose, Quail, Etc. He also gave beer a mention, but we already know about that. Anyway, I started asking every Thai friend I had. Sure enough, everyone of them was saying that Chicken is Gout Enemy No 1 to a Thai. Chicken stock and processed chicken I found to be the worst. Now for the first time since my early 20's (I am 56 now) I have stopped taking NASAIDS altogether. Over the past 5 years or so I have stopped eating chicken, (and drinking beer, almost) and for the first time in my adult life, whilst not living entirely gout free, my attacks are down to a couple of mild ones per year. Even the tophi I had in a couple of areas reduced in size, especially the 'nob' on my left elbow. I have proven this to be true time and time again, when I have weakened and pigged out on some Fried or Roast Chicken or Duck. Yep, sure enough a gout attack quickly follows. Of course all the other normal 'rules' apply, like plenty of water etc., but if you are at a loss after trying giving up just about every food there is. Try giving up chicken. And this most certainly means Chicken Stock, alot of Asian Meals and stir fries use chicken stock too. It worked for me when all else had failed.