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(BPT) - Many people love to travel, celebrate and indulge in favorite foods during the winter months. However, overdoing it can have a big impact on your health, especially if you have a chronic condition like gout.
Think gout is uncommon? Think again. Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and is caused by an accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Gout is extremely painful and tied to several other serious health conditions. During the winter months, it's important to prioritize your health so gout and other conditions are properly managed.
"More than 9 million Americans have gout and the numbers are increasing," said Dr. N. Lawrence Edwards, a rheumatologist and chairman of the Gout Education Society. "There are many misconceptions about gout, such as it is a condition that results from unhealthy diet. The truth is gout is a hereditary disease, meaning it runs in families."
There is no cure for gout, but lifestyle changes and some medications can reduce and even eliminate the painful flares and reverse the damage gout has caused to joints and cartilage. Edwards suggests these five ways to manage gout and feel your best:
Visit your doctor every 6 months
Whether it's the end of the year before health benefits expire or the beginning of the year as new benefits kick in, schedule a routine doctor’s appointment to either confirm a gout diagnosis or ensure a proper treatment plan.
Once a gout diagnosis is confirmed, uric acid levels should be tested every six months, with a goal of keeping levels to 6.0 mg/dL or lower, depending on what the doctor recommends. Most experts agree that lowering uric acid levels is the best way to prevent future gout flares, as well as other health conditions associated with gout, such as kidney stones or kidney disease, diabetes, heart attack, stroke and more.
Take medications as prescribed
Amid travel plans and gatherings with family and friends, be sure to take daily uric acid-lowering medications as prescribed by the doctor. These will help keep gout flares at bay so you can enjoy activities and make positive memories.
Keep in mind, while gout is a lifelong condition, it can be controlled by sticking with a proper treatment plan. Work with your doctor to determine the right medication, dietary guidelines and lifestyle modifications.
Follow a healthy diet
During the winter, it’s common to indulge in extra treats, including purine-rich foods like red meats and alcohol, sweets and other processed foods that have been known to trigger gout flares. While it’s okay to eat these foods in moderation — especially if uric acid levels are under control — sticking to a healthy diet can help stave off a gout flare.
While certain foods have been known to trigger gout flares, there is no regimented “gout diet.” However, some doctors have recommended the Mediterranean diet to help with managing gout or the DASH diet (which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) that focuses on fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
Stay hydrated
As you're out and about celebrating, keep in mind alcoholic and caffeinated beverages can be dehydrating. What's more, fruit juices and sodas are high in sugars, so remember to enjoy in moderation.
Your best option is to drink at least 64 ounces of water daily. Water helps the body transport nutrients and waste, regulates body temperature and cushions joints and tissues. Research also suggests that drinking adequate water might guard against kidney stones and constipation.
Keep up with latest news
Stay up to date with the latest in gout research and treatment in order to learn more about how best to manage the disease. GoutEducation.org is an unbiased resource for information and tools to help with gout management.
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(BPT) - Travelers in search of a destination rich in tradition with exciting culinary, art and nightlife experiences will fall in love with Guadalajara, Mexico. The second-largest city in Mexico is considered the country’s cultural capital as the birthplace of iconic mariachi, tequila and charreria (Mexican rodeo). Whether it's for a quick winter getaway or a longer stay, there's something for everyone.
Here are the many attractions that keep tourists coming to Guadalajara, year after year.
1. Immerse yourself in the culture
Guadalajara's historic city center allows travelers to walk back in time. The impressive buildings include the city's landmark Guadalajara Cathedral with its distinctive neo-Gothic towers and UNESCO World Heritage Museo Cabanas. Even further back in history is the pre-Hispanic archeological site of Guachimontones, where travelers can learn about the Teuchitlan society that existed as early as 300 B.C. The site is an easy day trip from Guadalajara and features one of the few circular pyramids in the world.
For an adrenaline rush, attend a charreria competition which is Mexico’s national sport and designated to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The sport is a way of life for charros and escaramuzas as an art form that has been passed down through the generations, demanding constant training and practice to master the skills needed to show off horsemanship.
To feel the passion of locals through music, enjoy mariachi performances at places like El Parian de Tlaquepaque. The roots of mariachi stem from Guadalajara’s working class in the 1900s, and today is recognized on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Guadalajara is also known for hosting the annual International Mariachi Festival every August/September, where the best mariachi bands from around the world gather for performances and a grand parade.
2. View classic and contemporary art
Visit Museo Cabanas, Museo de los Artes and Palacio de Gobierno to view stunning murals by Jose Clemente Orozco, one of Mexico's greatest muralists. Architecture buffs can visit creations from Guadalajara native Luis Barragan, Mexico’s Pritzker Prize-winning architect, in places such as Parque Revolucion and Jardines del Bosque. For those who want to gallery hop, Colonia Americana is one of the best areas for visiting numerous art galleries with an emphasis on contemporary work.
Tlaquepaque and Tonala are two great areas to find traditional arts and crafts like blown glass, ceramics and pottery. Handicrafts are also available for purchase at San Juan De Dios Mercado, one of the largest enclosed markets in Mexico — with approximately 2,800 stands featuring ceramic, silver, blown glass, leather and palm leaf crafts.
3. Get your mouth watering
Sample the large variety of Guadalajara's flavors and dishes — from one-of-a-kind street food and casual restaurants to innovative fine dining. Unique to the area is the torta ahogada ("drowned sandwich"), Guadalajara’s signature sandwich and most popular street food. Made with a bread called birote which can only be found in Jalisco due to climate and altitude, the torta ahogada traditionally includes pork and is covered in a red sauce made of tomatoes and chili peppers. Another popular Jalisco recipe is birria, a spicy stew made with goat or lamb, cooked slowly with spices and served with minced onions, cilantro and lime.
4. Embrace the nightlife
For local bars and nightclubs featuring cocktails, music and dancing, the Colonia Americana neighborhood is a local favorite. Guadalajara has become one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly tourist destinations in Mexico due to the many anti-discrimination laws and efforts, LGBTQ+ events and LGBTQ+ shows and performances. The city is recognized for its larger number of LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs in the country, with the majority in Zona Centro along Avenida Prisciliano Sanchez where there's everything from cozy lounges to large dance clubs.
5. Explore Tequila
Jalisco is home to nine “Magical Towns” as designated by Mexico’s federal government. One of them is Tequila, the birthplace of the popular spirit. To explore the history and process of tequila making and agave harvesting, the town and its UNESCO World Heritage blue agave fields are the perfect day trip. Travelers can stop at the National Museum of Tequila or Centro Cultural Juan Beckmann Gallardo, enjoy distillery tours and tastings, observe a jimador (agave farmer) demonstration and view the blue ocean of agave via horseback or a tequila train.
Learn more about your next great vacation in Guadalajara at VisitGuadalajara.com.
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(BPT) - Winter is a great time to take a trip and get away from it all while still enjoying the hallmarks of the season. If you’re looking for a place to relax and indulge yourself, consider Destination Kohler.
Located just two hours from Chicago and within an hour’s driving distance from two Wisconsin-based airports, Kohler, Wisconsin, has much to offer visitors from the Midwest and beyond. Check out seven ways you can enjoy a Midwest winter at Destination Kohler.
1. Five-star, five-diamond lodging
Do you want a beautiful respite from the hustle and bustle of every day with all the amenities? During your visit to Kohler, Wisconsin, stay at the American Club, a five-diamond, five-star resort hotel with storybook charm and deep historical roots tied to the company, the Kohler community and the state of Wisconsin.
At the American Club, you’ll have shuttle service throughout Destination Kohler, access to the Sports Core Health & Racquet Club and, from spring through fall, the ability to book advanced tee times on Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run. In your room, enjoy morning coffee, afternoon tea, Wi-Fi, video game systems, down comforters and so many more amenities.
2. Relaxing spa experience
Destination Kohler also features an acclaimed spa that offers a complete menu of invigorating and luxurious ways to pamper your body and soul. The Kohler Waters Spa creates a relaxing and rejuvenating experience where guests can discover the natural, restorative power of earth’s mineral-rich waters.
Enjoy innovative hydrotherapy services, nourishing treatments, relaxation pools and curated culinary offerings. Before you head home, head to the spa boutique and continue the experience at home with Kohler Waters Spa products.
3. A variety of dining experiences
No matter what you’re craving, you can indulge in a vast range of culinary experiences at Destination Kohler’s seven restaurants, including the Four Star Immigrant Room, the Wisconsin Room, and the Horse & Plow at the American Club.
Venture beyond the hotel to River Wildlife, where you can enjoy fresh, seasonal Midwestern fare at a rustic log cabin at the edge of a lush hardwood forest. Or take a break from shopping at the Taverne on Woodlake for an imaginative take on comfort and cuisine.
4. Shopping and indulgence
Take a stroll through the Shops at Woodlake, an open-air collection of more than 20 boutique shops at the lake’s edge. Whether you want to pick up a new outfit, find a souvenir to remember your visit or buy a gift for friends back home, you’ll find everything you need at one of these specialty shops.
One of the must-stops at the Shops at Woodlake is Kohler Chocolates, where chocolatiers create their handcrafted chocolates and other delicacies on-site. Visitors can choose from a full menu of coffees and teas, gelatos, a box of their famous Terrapins, one of their other confectionaries, or a bottle of the decadent Kohler brandy infused with Dark Chocolate or Chocolate Mint.
5. Exciting activities
For those who like to stay active during vacation, Kohler’s Winter Wonderland and Sports Core have something for everyone. Take in the beauty of winter while ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or fat tire biking. Unleash your inner athlete by playing hockey, curling, tennis and pickleball, as well as indoor swimming, cycling and golfing.
6. Get inspired at the design center
Learn about innovative product design, technology, creative achievement and American history at the Kohler Design Center. This three-level building is open 365 days a year and houses designer rooms filled with inspirational ideas for the kitchen and bath, current and iconic Kohler product designs and a museum that provides a historic snapshot of Kohler’s past.
7. Take in local architecture
Kohler Village was the first planned community in the United States designed by the Olmsted Brothers — known for several notable projects like Central Park in New York City — and later the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The village merges remarkable architectural styles that produce an engaging and provocative self-guided, leisurely tour to entertain novices and aficionados alike.
Don’t wait to book your trip and enjoy the winter in a relaxing and inviting destination. To learn more about booking your trip, visit DestinationKohler.com.
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