Of feasts and feet
In celebrating the Christmas season, we overindulged and virtually gulped every food in sight. That is an exaggeration but very close to what I am trying to imply. The turkey, ham or lechon was so delicious that we had seconds. And when there is lechon, there is “dinuguan” on the side. As a result, we experienced pains in the joints.
Filipinos are fond of menudo which contains liver. We also love chicken parts like the legs, and some grab the lechon feet for take home and with intention to make paksiw out of it. Then we like to serve spaghetti and use corned beef as the meat ingredient.
During the traditional “Simbang Gabi” (Dawn Masses) I noticed several parishioners limping. Too much spaghetti perhaps as you went party hopping.
According to web definitions, gout is a type of painful arthritis that can affect one or more joints and typically occur in the feet.
Gout attacks are caused when uric acid crystallizes and builds up in the joints. Uric acid, which serves as an anti-oxidant and protects the lining of our blood vessels, is created during the breakdown of an organic substance found in food called Purine. High Purine foods include alcoholic beverages, shellfish, anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels, codfish, trout and haddock; red meat including turkey, and organ meat like liver.
Gout is traditionally treated with anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers.
Recommended foods for those with gout problems include berries, fruits particularly citrus and pineapple and vegetables, garlic, nuts, cereal, corn, pinto beans and wheat; supplements like amino acid, omega 3 fatty acid, multi vitamins, garlic tablets and fiber. Drink lots of water to serve as your detoxification. Good luck with your new diet.
On another matter, but still related with food, some government offices celebrated Christmas with ostentatious parties. It would have been prudent had their celebration been simpler and less expensive. Many of our citizens, especially our Maranao brothers and sisters and typhoon victims—not to mention those living in poverty, cannot even afford to buy a decent Noche Buena dinner. I remember in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda, several public and private offices opted toward austerity and used the money saved to help the victims. The spirit of Christmas should not be forgotten.