Does lemons contain high uric acid levels?

Although lemon juice can be sour in taste, its reaction in the body is alkaline. This causes it to be valuable in the treatment of rheumatic affections such as gout, rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago, and pain in hip joints, which results from too much acid in the body. A sufficient intake of lemon juice prevents the deposit of uric acid in the tissues and thus reduces the possibility of an attack of gout.

Gout is one of the most common forms of Arthritis. A gout attack usually happens at night, and within 12 or so hours there may be severe pain and swelling in the joint. Gout usually affects only one or two joints at the same time, typically in the feet and ankles. It often occurs in the big toe, and people can notice it at night when their bedding rubs on their toe and causes extreme pain. Gout happens when crystals derived from uric acid accumulate in the joints. These crystals cause inflammation.

Without treatment, an early attack of gout usually goes away in a week. It may be months or years until the next attack. As time goes on, more joints can become affected and the disease may cause disabilities or eventually cripple the patient, according to the American College of Rheumatology. That is why it is important to get treated right away if you think you may have gout. Your doctor will order a uric acid test and may have to take fluid from the joint through a needle to look for the microscopic crystals.