🧬What is Uric Acid (Urate)?
Uric acid, (synonymous with urate) is most commonly known for its role in gout & kidney stones, but also plays a huge role in the chaos of metabolic dysfunction. Clinical research has suggested that urate is a key component of many metabolic diseases: hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes, metabolism dysfunction- associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and kidney disease.
Purines, alcohol, and fructose are the main drivers of uric acid levels in the body. Fructose, arguably, poses the greatest challenge as this sugar is riddled in majority of foods in the Standard American Diet and is highly addictive and a dose- dependent toxin. Now, when people hear the word “fructose” they immediately question fruit, as fructose is naturally found in fruits— I emphasize, fruits are an integral part of a healthy diet. This also doesn’t mean that every purine-rich food or alcoholic beverage has the same impact on your physiology. The key lies in understanding the nuances of nutrition and applying it to individual biochemistry.
Uric Acid’s role in metabolic dysfunction?
Inflammation: When uric acid is elevated, this can trigger an inflammatory response in your body, impairing insulin, thereby increasing susceptibility to insulin resistance.
Oxidative Stress: Uric acid promotes oxidate stress which leads to tissue cell damage, and eventually destruction of endothelial cells, if left unchecked. This can contribute to both high blood pressure & heart disease.
Fat Accumulation: High uric acid levels may lead to the accumulation of visceral fat, thereby increasing your risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cell adiposity.
Kidney Function: Uric acid can impair the kidney’s ability to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure effectively, thereby contributing to metabolic dysfunction.
and more…
🛎️ George’s Guidance:
It is well documented that managing uric acid levels is vital to both preventing and treating metabolic diseases. Encourage your integrative healthcare practitioner to check uric acid in your routine checkup— in Ontario, this test is covered, and if not, it costs around $5.
