What Is A Low Purine Diet
Purines are chemicals that are naturally found in certain foods and drinks. When your body breaks down these chemicals, uric acid is the byproduct. A low-purine diet reduces the foods and drinks with the highest purine content to reduce uric acid. It also encourages some select foods that may reduce uric acid levels in your body.
Ideal Drink Options For People With Gout
Gout is a condition that is associated with high levels of uric acid in the blood, which forms crystals that accumulate around the joints, leading to sudden and severe pain and swelling. People with gout have a high risk of kidney stones.
Drinks or foods high in purines can increase the risk of gout since these substances break down to uric acid during digestion.
Some ideal drink options for people with gout include:
What Foods Should You Avoid
If youre susceptible to sudden gout attacks, avoid the main culprits high-purine foods.
These are foods that contain more than 200 mg of purines per 3.5 ounces .
You should also avoid high-fructose foods, as well as moderately-high-purine foods, which contain 150200 mg of purines per 3.5 ounces. These may trigger a gout attack.
Here are a few major high-purine foods, moderately-high-purine foods and high-fructose foods to avoid (
- meats: These include liver, kidneys, sweetbreads and brain
- meats: Examples include pheasant, veal and venison
- Fish: Herring, trout, mackerel, tuna, sardines, anchovies, haddock and more
- seafood: Scallops, crab, shrimp and roe
- Sugary beverages: Especially fruit juices and sugary sodas
- Added sugars: Honey, agave nectar and high-fructose corn syrup
- Yeasts: Nutritional yeast, brewers yeast and other yeast supplements
Additionally, refined carbs like white bread, cakes and cookies should be avoided. Although they are not high in purines or fructose, they are low in nutrients and may raise your uric acid levels (
Summary: If you have gout, you should avoid foods like organ meats, game meats, fish and seafood, sugary beverages, refined carbs, added sugars and yeast.
Recommended Reading: Almonds Good For Gout
Gout Can Be Diagnosed With A Simple Blood Test
A blood test can measure your uric acid level, but that’s not enough to diagnose gout. Even people without gout can have high uric acid. And people with a flare can have temporarily normal or low levels.
To find out if you have gout, your health care provider will draw fluid from an inflamed joint with a needle and look for uric acid crystals. The shape, color, and appearance of the crystals can help diagnose gout.
Cherries And Foods With Vitamin C
Some foods like cherries and fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C have been shown to lower the level of uric acid in your blood, which can have a positive effect on gout. Some examples of foods high in vitamin C are:
- Oranges
- Bell peppers
- Pineapples
There is mixed evidence about whether cherries, and foods with high vitamin C can help prevent gout. Eating these foods will not treat gout the way that medicines can. In some cases, they may help improve your condition in some way.
You May Like: Almonds And Gout
Sneaky Gout Triggers: Yeast Extract Msg Fructose Sauces
Yeast extract and MSGâYeast extract plus other additives is basically MSG . MSG powder contains purines that immediately metabolizes to uric acid. Although there is proof linking yeast to purine content via alcoholic beverages, only a few sources warn yeast extract as a high-risk gout trigger.
MSG and yeast extract are flavor-enhancers in several products such as processed meat, canned food, bouillon, sauces, soup mixes, gravies, and salad dressings. Since the ingredient percentages are not typically listed or shared, it is very risky for people with chronic gout .
Manufactures will camouflage MSG by listing these these sub-ingredients instead of yeast extract, protein isolate, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed yeast, and soy extracts.
MSG is not only associated with gout. It is also linked to other health problems and allergies. Known side effects from MSG overconsumption are heart palpitations, headaches, numbness and drowsiness.
Fructose â Even though there is plenty of evidence that fructose causes the body to produce purines, most major sources did not account for it as a major gout trigger. Research from 2016 linked fructose consumption to increased uric acid levels which leads to gout flares.
Sauces â Popular sauces that may cause or contain purines are fish sauce, worcestershire sauce , oyster sauce, barbecue sauce , and Maggi seasoning .
The Link Between Gout And Alcohol
The link between gout and alcohol has long been assumed with doctors advising their gout patients to stay away from the beverage. Drinking alcohol regularly can cause some serious repercussions to gout sufferers, especially those who drink beer.
Due to indulgent lifestyles becoming more common, the number of gout cases over the years have increased too.
Beer
If beer is your alcohol of choice, consider lowering your intake as soon as possible.
Its been strongly associated with gout attacks as not only does it contain alcohol but it also has the highest level of purines than any other alcoholic beveragesomething that your doctor told you is the probable cause of your gout. Its also very high in brewers yeast which is known to worsen gout pain.
In one study, they found that patients who consumed a 12-ounce serving of beer per day were almost two times more likely to have gout compared to those who dont drink alcohol.
Another extensive study found that two to four beers a week increased ones chances of developing gout by 25 percent. The more beer they drank, the more likely they were to suffer from a gout attack. Too much alcohol increases uric acid production and makes it difficult for the body to get rid of.
Hard Liquors
Hard liquors have the same effect though not as severe. Spirits like vodka and whiskey raise the risk for a gout attack but only half as much as beer.
Wine drinkers are not safe either.
Recommended Reading: Are Oranges Good For Gout
What Are Symptoms Of Gout
Symptoms of gout can start quickly, over a few hours, and can last about three to 10 days.
When symptoms of gout worsen it is called a gout attack or flare. Symptoms of gout attacks include:
- Sudden episodes of severe joint pain
- Redness, swelling, tenderness, and heat in the joint is common
- Usually affects a single joint, but inflammation can occur in several joints at the same time
- Commonly occurs in the big toe, and also in lesser toe joints, ankles, and knees
- Flares start more often during the night and early morning than during the day, though attacks can occur any time
- Pain and inflammation peak within 12 to 24 hours and usually go away completely within a few days to several weeks, even if not treated
Flares are usually followed by periods of remission where patients have no symptoms that can last weeks, months, or years.
Achieve A Healthy Weight
Obesity may be a primary consideration to reduce levels of uric acid in the blood. Insulin resistance is commonly seen in those who are obese and it may be involved in the development of gout. Insulin resistance has been shown to decrease the amount of uric acid that is cleared in the urine. A condition known as the ‘metabolic syndrome’ is a cluster of symptoms which includes insulin resistance, along with tummy obesity, high blood pressure and abnormal blood fats – for example, high cholesterol. This condition is strongly associated with high uric acid levels, which can be improved with slow, gradual weight loss.
Weight loss has been shown to improve insulin resistance and therefore reduce uric acid levels in the blood. However, it is important to avoid strict diets such as low-carbohydrate and high-protein diets. These may increase consumption of purines, a compound that breaks down into uric acid. Additionally, rapid weight loss through strict dieting can result in breakdown of tissue. This can temporarily cause a rise in uric acid levels. A gradual, safe weight loss of 1-2 lbs a week can help to achieve an optimal body weight.
Don’t Miss: Is Pickle Juice Good For Gout
Be Careful About Protein Consumption
In addition to prescribing medication, your doctor will also recommend dietary changes when you’re diagnosed with gout. Most notably, you’ll have to reduce your intake of foods high in purines, as these foods cause an increase in uric acid. Protein sources of purines include beef, pork, shellfish, anchovies, mackerel and organ meats such as liver and kidneys. Other foods to remove from your diet include asparagus and mushrooms.
Foods With A High Glycemic Index
The glycemic index measures how specific foods affect blood sugar levels.
Some carbohydrate foods with a higher GI score can spike blood sugar and contribute to weight gain â a risk factor for gout.
A found that eating lower GI foods lowered uric acid, which may help prevent gout flares.
People can help to manage gout by avoiding or limiting the following high GI foods:
- refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, pasta, and rice
- cakes, biscuits, cookies, pancakes, and sweet treats
- higher GI vegetables and fruits, such as potatoes, bananas, and watermelon
- low-fiber, high-sugar breakfast cereals, such as puffed rice, cornflakes, and frosted flakes
You May Like: Onions Bad For Gout
What Foods Should You Eat
Although a gout-friendly diet eliminates many foods, there are still plenty of low-purine foods you can enjoy.
Foods are considered low-purine when they have less than 100 mg of purines per 3.5 ounces .
Here are some low-purine foods that are generally safe for people with gout (20,
- Fruits: All fruits are generally fine for gout. Cherries may even help prevent attacks by lowering uric acid levels and reducing inflammation (
- Vegetables: All vegetables are fine, including potatoes, peas, mushrooms, eggplants and dark green leafy vegetables.
- Legumes: All legumes are fine, including lentils, beans, soybeans and tofu.
- Nuts: All nuts and seeds.
- Whole grains: These include oats, brown rice and barley.
- Dairy products: All dairy is safe, but low-fat dairy appears to be especially beneficial (
- Beverages:Coffee, tea and green tea.
- Herbs and spices: All herbs and spices.
- Plant-based oils: Including canola, coconut, olive and flax oils.
What Increases Your Chances For Gout
The following make it more likely that you will develop hyperuricemia, which causes gout:
- Being male
Don’t Miss: How Does Allopurinol Treat Gout
Treatment During A Flare
You never want to start a long-term gout treatment during an acute flare-up. Starting uric-acid lowering medications such as allopurinol, Uloric, or Krystexxa during an acute flare-up will worsen the attack and lead to more debilitating symptoms. For that reason, it’s best to get the initial flare-up under control prior to initiating chronic therapy.
Now Its Your Turn To Understand What Should You Eat During A Gout Attack
Furthermore theres now thousands of us who no suffer gout because we tackled it at its reason much longer. Instead of just tinkering with the symptoms.
Im one of them!
Remember, I got gout for exactly the same causes you have it nowadays.
An bad gut microbiome supposed that bacteria that should have been taking away another of my bodys uric acid basically wasnt.
That bacteria got diminished to the point that my kidneys had been trying to cope with the acid independently.
And they couldnt cope.
Nor can yours.
It wasnt i was suddenly providing an excessive amount of uric acid. Its that my gut seemed to be no more in a position to support my kidneys take it off from my own body.
And the transformation from gout to no gout nearly experienced like magic.
You can possibly imagine it yourself.. what it would be like to simply never have any gout ever again.
Take my word for it, its wonderful!
No flare-ups, no pain, no being laid-up in bed for days waiting for the pain to subside.
No thinking if some potential celebration will undoubtedly be messed up because Im laid up in agony with another invasion.
In the same way pleasing is the fact Ive as well drastically decreased my dangers of troubled diabetes, kidney failure, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
Shellys program lays it all out for us. No special knowledge is required. I found it easy.
Recommended Reading: Onion And Gout
Purines The Root Cause Of Hyperuricemia
A purine is an organic compound usually found in the same foods that contain protein. To break down purines the liver must produce uric acid. When there is a large presence of purines, the liver tends to produce more uric acid than the kidneys can filter out of the body. Hyperuricemia is the condition when uric acid levels are above normal levels. The excess uric acid builds up at a joint and causes inflammation and pain, which are symptoms of gouty arthritis or gout.
Processed Foods And Refined Carbs
The modern Western diet is often high in processed foods and refined carbohydrates. In addition, processed foods and refined carbohydrates have been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and weight gain.
A 2017 study looked at gout incidence in people who followed either a Western diet or the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet. The researcher found the DASH diet was associated with a lower risk of gout, whereas the Western diet was associated with a higher risk of gout.
To help prevent gout symptoms, its best to limit highly processed foods and beverages and foods high in refined carbohydrates, such as sweets, baked goods and pastries, chips, crackers, cookies, candies, soda, ice cream, white breads, and some pre-made frozen meals.
Eating highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates in moderation will not only help with your gout, but your overall health as well.
Read Also: Almond And Gout
Why Is Gout Known As The Disease Of Kings
You may be more likely to have gout because of your genes, but that’s not how gout earned its royal nickname. Historically, gout has been associated with a lifestyle full of rich foods and plenty of alcohol — the kind of diet that only kings and the wealthy could afford. While diet can trigger a flare, we now know that gout affects people regardless of their social status.
Now Its Your Turn To Understand What To Eat And Drink During Gout Attack
Right now theres now a large number of us who no suffer gout because we tackled it at its produce more. Rather than just tinkering with the outward symptoms.
Im one of them.
Remember, I got gout for the same causes you own it nowadays.
An poor gut microbiome intended that bacteria which should have been eliminating another of my bodys uric acid simply wasnt.
That bacteria acquired diminished to the point that my kidneys have been trying to cope with the acid on their own.
And they couldnt cope.
Nor can yours.
It wasnt that I was suddenly generating an excessive amount of uric acid. It agains that my gut was basically no able to aid my kidneys take it off from my body more lengthy.
Plus the change from gout to no gout practically believed like magic.
You can possibly imagine it yourself.. what it would be like to simply never have any gout ever again.
Take my word for it, its wonderful!
No flare-ups, no pain, no being laid-up in bed for days waiting for the pain to subside.
No asking yourself if some foreseeable future celebration will undoubtedly be messed up because Im laid up in agony with another episode.
Just as satisfying is the fact Ive substantially reduced my risks of suffering diabetes as well, kidney failure, heart disease and some malignancies.
Shellys program lays it all out for us. No special knowledge is required. I found it easy.
Recommended Reading: Almond Good For Gout
Who Can Benefit From A Low Purine Diet
Anyone with high uric acid levels in their blood can benefit from reducing high-purine foods. This may help to prevent gout in people with hyperuricemia who havent yet developed the disease. It may also help prevent existing gout from progressing and prevent other complications of hyperuricemia, such as kidney stones.