Alcohol Is The Biggest Risk Factor For Gout
It is well-established that frequent alcohol intake dramatically increases risk of gout .
The Framingham Heart Study of over 4,500 participants provides some perspective.
Researchers found that regular alcohol use was associated with three times greater risk of gout in women compared to those who have less than 2 standard drinks per week. For men, regular drinkers had double the risk of non-drinkers .
Beer seems to be the worst, followed by hard liquors such as spirits. Interestingly, moderate wine consumption is not linked with any risk .
The reason why alcohol increases uric acid levels is still not well-understood. Some forms, particularly beer, can be high in purines but they are certainly not the richest source of purines in our diet.
Additional theories propose that excessive alcohol may also reduce the bodys ability to excrete uric acid. Others state that alcohol especially beer increases the chemical breakdown of purine-containing ATP nucleotides, which is a precursor of uric acid production .
Summary: Regular alcohol intake severely raises uric acid levels in the blood. It doubles, if not triples your risk of gout.
Risky Foods To Avoid With Gout
Home » Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health » 6 Risky Foods To Avoid With Gout
A gout attack is not pleasant.
The pain is so bad that sufferers are often hospitalised for days, if not weeks.
More importantly, gout is typically indicative of other more serious health issues behind the scenes Like a window into the state of an individuals metabolic health.
Unfortunately the occurrence, or recurrence of gout is only getting worse.
Rates are on the rise from China to the UK, and it is now the most common inflammatory arthritis in the US .
Information online about gout treatment can be particularly confusing, and even contradictory at times.
This is because we dont yet completely understand the mechanism behind gout But we do have a lot of big clues.
The following is a list of the top 6 foods to avoid with gout, explaining what we know and how it applies to you.
Contents
Organ Meats Are Extremely High In Purines And Should Also Be Avoided
Organ meats, known as Offal, contain by far the most purines of any food in the human diet.
The most common forms of offal in the Western diet include liver , brain, heart, kidneys, and a mixture called Pâté.
Below is the purine content of a handful of foods. Note this is just an example Ive selected, and you can find much more extensive lists on Goutpal or here.
Purine Content of Food :
Consider that values listed are per 100 grams, so portion sizes must be taken into account Meat portions we eat tend to be heaviest.
Previous studies have not differentiated between intake of conventional meat and offal, so recommendations have to be the same. Given the strong link between meat intake and gout which is based on purine content alone offal should definitely be avoided too.
Somewhat contradictory to the purine-gout theory, consumption of purine-rich vegetables is not associated with an increased risk of gout .
Researchers speculate this could be due to a lower bioavailability of purines in vegetabes, as well as other nutrients which may offset the harmful effects of their purines.
Summary: Organ meats are some of the highest purine foods and should be completely avoided if you suffer gout attacks.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Gout
Gout flares start suddenly and can last days or weeks. These flares are followed by long periods of remissionweeks, months, or yearswithout symptoms before another flare begins. Gout usually occurs in only one joint at a time. It is often found in the big toe. Along with the big toe, joints that are commonly affected are the lesser toe joints, the ankle, and the knee.
Symptoms in the affected joint may include:
- Pain, usually intense
Nutritional Value Of Pork
Pork is an excellent source of thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and phosphorus. It also contains zinc and potassium. Loin cuts like pork tenderloin, sirloin pork chop, and sirloin pork roast are all excellent sources of lean protein. These cuts can be part of a healthy gout diet. Lean protein is also a good choice for people looking to lose or maintain weight for gout-related health reasons.
But pork can also be a significant source of unhealthy saturated fats and cholesterol. This is particularly true of fattier and highly processed cuts like pork belly, ribs, and sausages. Consuming these cuts makes it easy to exceed The American Heart Associations recommended daily intake of saturated fat . Processed meats are also known human carcinogens.
Pork is also a calorie-dense choice that can make maintaining a healthy weight challenging without proper portion control. Excess weight and obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for gout and gout attacks.
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The Dash Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension Diet
The DASH diet is designed for lowering high blood pressure and can also help with maintaining overall health. On top of managing blood pressure, weight and the risk of some diseases, the DASH diet is also great for those with gout.
The DASH diet prioritises whole grains, vegetables and fruit as the main part of a healthy diet, with importance also placed on low-fat dairy, lean meats, fish, and plant-based proteins like nuts, seeds, and legumes in smaller portions. Those on a DASH diet are recommended to stick to small amounts of plant oils and minimise animal-based fats.
Following a healthy diet is just about the best thing you can do for your health, but it is also true that highly restrictive diets can be hard to stick to. Unhealthy foods like sweets, puddings, alcohol and sugary drinks are discouraged, but having small amounts of them purely for pleasure rather than health is usually okay.
Some people with gout find it helpful to keep a food diary to work out if there are particular triggers for flare-ups and help manage their condition naturally.
Worst: Sweet And Sour Pork
Theres a reason the word sweet is in the name of this dish. It typically serves up 16 teaspoons of sugar, about the same amount in 3 chocolate bars. If that isnt bad enough, the syrupy sauce coats chunks of deep-fried pork. Even if you split this entree with someone, youre still likely to get more than 800 calories and 48 grams of fat.
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Minestrone For Hubs Gout Recovery
09/03/2016by Shannon Lim-de Rooy |
There is nothing nicer at the end of a long day than a bowl of homemade vegetable soup.
Norbert has been ailing by gout attack these past 3 weeks, which has only started to disappear into the 4th week. During his days working at the university bar, he must have over-drank his lifetime quota of beer . Gout is a kind of arthritis, with sudden attack of swelling, burning pain of the joint. His affected toe was hot, swollen and so tender that even the weight of the bedsheet is intolerable. Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack.
Avocado with chili on wholegrain rye crispbread for his lunch almost everyday
To reduce the uric acid in the body, he has to limit intake of foods high in purines, such as meat, legumes, beans and seafood.. The food low in purines are vegetables, egg and fruits. Basically be an occasional meat eater, or in his own words eating grass. I followed along with his grass diet for these 3 weeks, as it was rather similar to my fruit and veggie cleanse 2 years ago, except rice and wholegrain wheat is acceptable . Even though I eat mostly vegetables now, my body does better with meat protein in the cold weather. But together with my own food intolerances, I was fast running out of dinner ideas that are suitable for us both.
Vegetable Fritata. Yup we have tons of eggs and fruits
High Purine Foods To Avoid If You Have Gout
Written by Health experts, this article is fact-checked by nutritionists and based on scientific evidence.
Our team is comprised of unbiased licensed nutritionists, dieticians and health professionals. All articles posted are factually true and present both sides of the coin.
This article is backed by scientific facts. Click on the numbers to see the peer-reviewed scientific journals that we used for reference.
If youre looking to reduce your production of uric acid, youll want to specifically limit foods that are high in purines. This is because these foods will cause your body to produce more uric acid, which in turn could lead to another gout attack. Talking with your doctor about the best way to treat and manage your gout is a great idea, and this list will give you some insight on what to keep off your plate.
1. Sunflower SeedsSunflower seeds would make a great snack, if it werent for their high content of purines. Keep in mind that a serving of sunflower seeds is only a third of what is listed below, so youll be getting a third of the purines if you kept your serving size in check, but it is still adding to your cumulative total, which can cause problems if other mid-range purine foods are also eaten. Serving Size , Purines
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How To Consume Tofu
The best part is that you can consume tofu as much as you like, in any form. It can be seen in various meals such as cooked dishes, salads and so much more. There is no issue and you can eat all types.
Make sure that when consuming a meal containing various ingredients, all ingredients are low on purines and none of them can contribute to the gout flare!
I must add that soy sauce is bad for gout and therefore, it must be avoided. Although average with purines, there is too much of hypoxanthine, a single purine that is problematic when mixed with gout.
All I can add at this point is that tofu and gout are connected in a pleasant way. You can consume tofu in unlimited amounts and you can enjoy this meal all day long. If possible, use tofu as one of the main protein sources in your diet.
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First Foods That Can Help
- There are actually several types of foods that may help protect against gout attacks. These include low-fat dairy foods, complex carbohydrates, coffee, and fruits, especially citrus fruits. You should also be sure to get 12 to 16 cups of fluid daily.
- You don’t necessarily have to drink only wateryou can choose non-sweetened juice, tea, and coffee too.
- Any kind of fluid that keeps that blood flowing and urine flowing is a good choice, says Lona Sandon, PhD, RDN, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Next up: The foods to avoid. Read on for a list of potentially problematic eats.
Scallops are okay for an occasional indulgence, but you should cut back on themand all types of meat and seafoodduring a flare-up, says Sandon. These animal foods are rich in purines, which your body breaks down into uric acid.
You have a little more freedom in your food choices when your gout is at bay, but its still a good idea to keep meat and seafood intake to a minimum4 to 6 ounces daily at most.
All meat is not created equal when it comes to purine content: White meat is generally better than red.
But it is okay to eat some types of red meat once in a while. Youre a bit better off if your occasional indulgence is beef or pork rather than lamb, says Dr. Zashin.
And lamb chops are a better choice than leg meat.
Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, and sweetbreads, are a major no-no.
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Prawns V Shrimp: Whats The Difference
In North America, shrimp is used more commonly, while prawn refers to species that are larger or found in fresh water. Commonwealth countries and Ireland tend to use prawn more frequently.
Prawns and shrimp come from different branches of the crustacean family tree. Shrimp are members of the pleocyemata suborder, while prawns are part of the dendrobranchiata suborder. They have various differences in anatomy.
Prawns and shrimp reside in both fresh and salt water. However, the majority of shrimp are found in salt water while most prawns live in fresh water.
Prawns are typically larger than shrimp. However, there are exceptions to the rule large varieties of shrimp and small varieties of prawns. Therefore, its hard to differentiate between the two by size alone.
There are no documented differences between the nutritional profiles of prawns and shrimp. They both provide a good source of protein, healthy fats and many vitamins and minerals, yet are low in calories. ~more
Avoid Sweets And Sodas
Unlike fruit with its natural sugar, artificial sugars are widely recognized as gout flare dangers. Consuming too many sugary sodas has been found to provoke attacks, but no association has been found with artificially sweetened sodas. Other foods loaded with high-fructose corn syrup can also bring on gout pain.
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Is Tofu Bad For Gout
Tofu is beneficial for gout suffers and it should be consumed due to high protein levels. It wont cause any risk nor will it promote a new flare. The best part is the fact you can consume as much as you want.
Tofu also prevents or better said helps you with kidney function. This is important for all gout sufferers because a better function can promote the excretion of uric acid. It is also known that gout sufferers are at a higher risk of decreased kidney function.
This is basically the complete link between tofu and gout. There are no other links or connections, direct or indirect. The bottom line is that tofu can be consumed and there are no additional points you need to know.
Soy Sauce In Gout Diet
The 2014 study in the Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin also reported on the purine content of soy sauce as well as two other soy-based seasonings, namely Japanese miso and umami broth.
The researchers didn’t find high levels of purines in these soy seasonings, but they did find that one specific purine, called hypoxanthine, made up more than half the total amount of purines in these foods . This could be a theoretical concern for people trying to manage their gout symptoms as hypoxanthine is the purine thought to be most strongly linked with elevated uric acid level, and therefore gout risk.
Fortunately though, soy seasonings only tend to be used in insignificant quantities in cooking, so the gout risk is small. Most people with gout using soy sauce as a flavoring in normal amounts do not need to be concerned about its effect on the condition.
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What Increases Your Chances For Gout
The following make it more likely that you will develop hyperuricemia, which causes gout:
- Being male
Research And Gout In Tcm
This page gout in tcm explains how it occurs from the point of view of traditional Chinese medicine: TCM Theory.
Research into gout in TCM? Lots! Click here.
In reading this page, be aware that various syndromes and organs or zang-fu organs are mentioned. Click the links to see what is meant.
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Is Chinese Food Bad For Gout
As youll see below, Chinese food is not necessarily bad for gout. But it can be and that is down to you.
If youre a Gout Foodie, you will be choosing Chinese food randomly. So start to ensure that your Chinese food choices dont make your gout worse. But ideally, you should aim to be a . Then you can select those Chinese dishes that support your uric acid target.
So continue to read why its up to you if Chinese food is bad for gout. Or skip down to read .
Cakes Cookies And Other Sweets
Given that both sugar and saturated fats are inflammatory foods, traditional treats are something those with arthritis should steer clear of. Fortunately, there are many ways to satisfy your sweet tooth, whether that be swapping out sugar for a natural alternative and/or swapping out butter and cream for low-fat yogurt or avocado. Here are some great low-sugar desserts to try.
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Best: Kung Pao Chicken
In the mood for something spicy? This entree mixes chili peppers with diced chicken and veggies. Have half an order with a cup of brown rice , and youll keep your meal under 600 calories. Peanuts also give the dish a nutrient boost. They have heart-healthy fiber, unsaturated fat, and antioxidants. But, like many Chinese dishes, this one’s high in sodium, so watch how much you have the rest of the day.
Chicken Beef And Other Meats Appear To Be Foods To Avoid With Gout
The conversion of purines to uric acid, in theory, causes gout.
Therefore high-purine foods are often suspected to trigger symptoms.
Meat, and to a lesser extent seafood, are prime suspects. This includes all the most common meats like beef, chicken, pork and lamb.
The data available somewhat confirms suspicions.
Each additional daily serving of meat or seafood is associated with a 21% or 7% increased risk of gout, respectively . This implies meat could be three times worse than seafood.
There was another similar study that found even greater risks associated with meat intake, but none for seafood. Overall this suggests seafood is far less of a concern than meat .
For those who already have gout, the impact of meat intake on symptoms is even worse. This is likely due to sharper increases in blood uric acid, as well as poorer clearance by the body .
Therefore if you have a history of gout, it is best to dramatically reduce your meat intake, and seafood as well to a lesser extent. Anecdotal evidence suggests avoiding dark part of salmon, and de-veining prawns/shrimp before eating.
You should also buy your meat direct from the butcher where possible, or at least the better quality choices in the supermarket. Sausages and low-quality ground beef may contain traces of organ meat that can cause big problems .
Summary: Frequent consumption of meat is strongly linked with gout risk. The impact of seafood appears far less severe, but there is a link.
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