There is a renewed interest in vitamin C (ascorbic acid), but in reality the “C” never goes out of style. You hear more about it in cold and flu season, or in relation to treatment of wounds, cold sores and other herpetic infections, protocols to treat urinary tract infections (UTI) among others. It is hard not to mention vitamin C containing skin products, tonics, creams, serums. They promise refreshed and healthier skin by boosting collagen production and cell renewal. In the time of pandemic there is constant talk and ongoing debates (at times supported by science)about possible treatments, supplements and other methods to improve immunity and survival success of those afflicted with Covid19 virus, or those trying to fend it off. The science and clinicians looked again at the vitamin C and ascorbic acid infusions were utilized to treat Covid19, mostly based on prior data of administration in severe infections.

I recently enjoyed a quiet evening at home, with a light dinner of shrimp cocktail with a side of canapes with fresh garden lettuce and herbs (more in DocOnFood). I could not prevent thinking of my many patients who call me with complain of gouty swollen big toe, and after a few rounds of questions they finally admit that they had a gout attack provoked by a leisurely meal of seafood, shrimp included. Shrimp are loaded in purines that when digested by humans produce a lot of uric acid which is responsible for gout and gout flares. We do not have uricase, the enzyme that helps to reduce uric acid to soluble allantoin, which then can be excreted by kidneys. There is many reasons why any of us can be afflicted by gout, but the more common reasons are male sex, certain medicines, like diuretics, metabolic dearangements and obestiy among others. So what is the connection between shrimp and cherries one might ask?There is quite an interest expressed by my patients in natural remedies to prevent and fight gout attacks. Even my dentist shared with me story that will weave well into this post: one day she woke up with a nasty gout attack in the foot, she barely drove to grocery store, got a bag of cherries that she consumed on way to work when her attack was much eased, possibly due to cherries. Cherries have a uric acid lowering effect, according to some animal studies, along with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action of anthocyanin abundant in the fruit.

They are “little lions” released by nature to greet the spring. They are one of first sure signs of that season: the yellow flowers look stunning against still brown and grey background. The leaves, when young, are more lime-green with not yet that characteristic for this plant color saturation of overgrown shrub that one sees along the roads and other locations.