Lowering of the blood and joint fluid ph, either gradually or suddenly, can cause the shedding of the protein coatings on urate (msu) crystals and trigger gout attacks. This can be caused by the intake of acidic and acid forming substances, or by some other means. Some known gout triggers are:
* cranberry juice (ph=2.3~2.5), tomatoes (ph=4~5), dill pickles (ph=3.2~3.7), cucumbers (ph=5~6) and carbonated drinks (ph=2~3) -- they are low in ph.
* aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), niacin (nicotinic acid) and alcohol (metabolizes to co2 thus carbonic acid) -- they are all acids.
* vigorous exercise -- it lowers the ph at the joints due to the extra production of lactic acid.
* type 2 diabetes -- due to the lack of insulin, the body is unable to burn glucose for fuel. As the consequence, the body burns fat for fuel and produces excess amount of ketones, acidic substance.
* starvation, low carb diet and rapid weight loss -- the body burns excess amount of fat and produces too much acidic ketones.
* injuries, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tenosynovitis, etc. -- they cause the deterioration of tissues at the joints and lowers their ph.
* emotional stress, serious illness, hospitalization and surgery -- the unhealthy states that degrade the joint fluids and lower their ph.
* sleep -- gout attacks occur most often at night (12-2 a.M.) because the stomach stops producing juice in sleep and causes acid tide in the body.

Keep the body ph up, it prevents gout attacks.