Not only can your Thanksgiving foods make you sleepy, they can also cause acute intense pain in your feet - specifically the big toe joint. Its likely not bunion pain but rather from a medical condition called a gouty attack. Gout is an inflammatory joint problem where painful sharp needle-like crystals form inside the joint - causing redness, swelling and pain.

Thanksgiving foods contribute to gouty attacks because they are high in a substance called purines, that your body breaks down into uric acid, which may ultimately become deposited in your joints. People with gout will tell you the pain is severe which is often limited to a few days with medical treatment. However, ongoing gouty attacks can lead to big toe joint arthritis .

While there is no surefire way to prevent a gouty attack, limiting or avoiding foods that are purine-rich is a sensible approach, especially if you have experienced gout in the past.

1. Limit Or Avoid Turkey

Yes, the thanksgiving turkey is high in purines. Its not just the turkey, but all animal meats are purine-dense. White meat chicken probably the best alternative, if you choose meat. Organ meats (example, liver) are the highest purine concentration. Beef is in between. Consider tofu.

2. Choose Wine Over Beer

All alcohol can be gout inducing and it is better to avoid it altogether. If you choose to have a drink, keep it light and pass on beer as its worse than wine and spirits, in terms of gout.

3. Dont Forget To Eat Salad

Salads are a good healthy way to combat the influx of high purine containing foods that you may eat. Salads with low purine vegetables are the best, such as with tomatoes and carrots. Purine-rich veggies that should be excluded are asparagus, artichokes and spinach. Mushrooms are a fungus (not plant or vegetable) and its not clear if they pose an increased gout risk, but are still on the radar.

4. No Shellfish

Most people whove had a gouty attack generally steer clear from shellfish. Shrimp is the most well known for being a gout inducer but scallops and mussels are also high in purines.

5. Stay Hydrated

Because your body will likely face an onslaught of purine rich foods during the holidays, its important to drink plenty of water to help flush the uric acid from your system.

A gouty attack doesnt generally occur instantaneously after eating a purine rich Thanksgiving meal, but can set in rather quickly, especially if youve had gout in the past. Its not uncommon to get an attack that night or the following day. The pain from a gouty attack can be severe and the first thing is to not panic. The toe generally becomes hot and bright red and many people mistake it for a bunion and think they need immediate bunion surgery - which is not the case. The challenge for doctors may be to distinguish it from an infection. Of course with any medical issue, you should always default to getting a proper diagnosis and care.

With an acute gouty attack, its generally recommended to limit activity and elevate the foot. Anti-inflammatory medications can reduce pain and inflammation, for those without kidney issues. A doctor can prescribe medications potent medications to rapidly decrease inflammation in an acute setting. Additionally, should you be diagnosed with gout then medications that decrease the amount of uric acid that your body produces may be indicated.

Nonetheless, the best way to treat a gout attack is to avoid it in the first place. So, this Thanksgiving take it easy on those purine rich foods.

Dr. Neal Blitz, creator of the Bunionplasty, is a reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon in New York and Beverly Hills. dubbed The Bunion King by MDNews and has been featured on ABC, Good Morning America Health, National Geographic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and many more. Patients routinely travel from all over the world for bunion surgery and foot surgery with Dr. Blitz. To learn more visit www.bunionsurgeryny.com