Does Tuna Fish Cause Gout

Gout And Fish: Purine Content In Fish And Seafoods

Purine content in fish varies depending on the type and processing. Japanese researchers measured purine content in fish and seafood common in their diet. Depending on the purine level in 100g of edible portion of the food, and risk of gout, they classified them into six classes.

An extended list of fish and seafood, including organs, with their purine content is presented below. The uric acid content is what the corresponding purine amount in the food would convert to in the body.

How Much Seafood Can I Eat

• If you are in the midst of an active gout attack, do not eat any fish or shellfish.
• If you are in-between gout attacks and working on gout prevention, you may enjoy seafood with a moderate purine level a few times per week.
• If you have taken the steps to make your body totally gout-proof, you may enjoy seafood with a high purine level a few times per month.

Bottom Line: You should steer clear of all fish and shellfish when recovering from a gout attack, but you can enjoy them occasionally once you learn how to gain control over the root cause of gout!

Minerals Good For Alleviating Your Gout Symptoms

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have the potential to reduce oxidative stress. It is also useful for treating gouty arthritis. Moreover, magnesium is another element for lowering the amount of uric acid. Almonds, kale, mustard greens, and several other foods contain magnesium. Thus, choose the right foods, which contain gout-friendly minerals.

Suggested article: Magnesium and Gout Is Magnesium Good for Gout?

Don’t Miss: Can You Get Gout In Your Finger Knuckle

Foods That Contain A High Amount Of Vitamins

How Is Gout Treated

Gout can be effectively treated and managed with medical treatment and self-management strategies. Your health care provider may recommend a medical treatment plan to

• Manage the pain of a flare. Treatment for flares consists of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, steroids, and the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine.
• Prevent future flares. Making changes to your diet and lifestyle, such as losing weight, limiting alcohol, eating less purine-rich food , may help prevent future attacks. Changing or stopping medications associated with hyperuricemia may also help.
• Prevent tophi and kidney stones from forming as a result of chronic high levels of uric acid. Tophi are hard, uric acid deposits under the skin. For people with frequent acute flares or chronic gout, doctors may recommend preventive therapy to lower uric acid levels in the blood using drugs like allopurinol, febuxostat, and pegloticase.

In addition to medical treatment, you can manage your gout with self-management strategies. Self-management is what you do day to day to manage your condition and stay healthy, like making healthy lifestyle choices. The self-management strategies described below are proven to reduce pain and disability, so you can pursue the activities important to you.

Don’t Miss: Sour Cherry Juice For Gout

Who Should Diagnose And Treat Gout

The disease should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor or a team of doctors who specialize in care of gout patients. This is important because the signs and symptoms of gout are not specific and can look like signs and symptoms of other inflammatory diseases. Doctors who specialize in gout and other forms of arthritis are called rheumatologists. To find a provider near you, visit the database of rheumatologistsexternal icon on the American College of Rheumatology website. Once a rheumatologist has diagnosed and effectively treated your gout, a primary care provider can usually track your condition and help you manage your gout.

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.

Don’t Miss: How To Alleviate Gout Pain In Big Toe

But Some Fish Can Be High In Purines So Its Important To Know Which Kind Of Seafood Is Best For Gout

Eating plenty of fish has long been associated with health benefits like a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and age-related memory problems. Now research suggests that loading up on fish may help people with gout slash their risk of a flare.

The study, published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, relied on data from the Boston University Online Gout Survey, an internet-based study that ran from 2003 to 2012. In this new analysis, researchers determined that gout patients who ate fatty fish in the previous 48 hours were 33 percent less likely than those who hadnt to have a gout attack.

The more fish people ate, the better, as increases in the number of servings were associated with a lower risk of gout flares.

Although the study authors initially hypothesized that eating omega-3 rich fish or taking an omega-3 supplement would have a protective effect, it turned out that the real thing was best: Supplements did not appear to help. That said, the authors noted that supplements might be beneficial if taken at higher doses. High-dose omega-3 supplements might even have an edge over eating fish, because certain kinds of fish contain purines, natural substances that get converted to uric acid in the body. The build-up of uric acid crystals in the joints is what triggers gout flares.

Supplements would bypass this obstacle, offering a pharmacological benefit without the gout-inducing features of purines, they wrote.

High Risk Does Not Always Mean High In Purines

High content, moderate content, high risk, and low risk are some of the ambiguous terms experts use to describe gout-causing foods and their purine content. It causes confusion because classifications based on content amounts can vary from each source. It is not uncommon to see the same type of food, like lobster, listed as high in purine by one source, but then listed as a moderate-risk by another.

Not to mention, different purine studies or tables have different data and results. A more simplified approach will taken instead of sounding like a technical report on determining purine content.

Several major health authorities consistently state the following food groups as high risk or high in purine content.

This posts contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Don’t Miss: What Can You Do For Gout In Your Knee

Medications Are Not Good For Gout Patients

Thiazide diuretics can result in gout, as they can interfere with uric acid elimination from the body. Thiazide diuretics can lower the water content in your body, and the low fluid percentage in your body will result in reduced blood pressure. Patients who regularly take diuretics may have dehydration, and their body retains a higher amount of uric acid.

Salicylates are non-steroidal drugs for relieving pain. Salicylates like aspirin will result in gout. They also prevent the flow of uric acid from your body. Those having gout symptoms must avoid taking salicylates as painkillers.

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 .

You May Like: Is Banana Good For Gout

Most Soy Should Be Fine

Soy foods like tofu, soy milk, and edamame have moderate amounts of purines. Traditionally doctors have cautioned against eating too much soy for people with gout. One study found that soybeans, soymilk, and soy powder increased uric acid in the blood significantly. However, larger population studies have recently told a different story. Several have reported that not only are soy products harmless for gout patients, but also people who eat more soy tend to have a reduced gout risk.

Does Canned Tuna Fish Cause Gout

But, remember that canned tuna consists of high levels of sodium. Although salt is low in purines, those with gout should select the foods with less salt.

So it is also essential for overall good health. Canned tuna should be consumed in limited quantity, as it has a moderately high content of purines.

Although high in purines, tuna is known to offer a number of dietary benefits. It is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is beneficial for cardiovascular health.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in tuna also help to reduce the risk of stroke, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, asthma, and some types of cancers.

You May Like: Foods That May Cause Gout

Canned Tuna Effects For Gout

There is a well-known connection between canned tuna and gout. Despite the numerous benefits of tuna, the canned variety also has high amounts of purines the most common issue associated with gout flareups. Canned tuna has almost 120mg of purines for 100g of food.

Canned tuna comes in more varieties. If you do want to have tuna every once in a while, stick to light canned tuna such as skip jack. You can have a couple of small servings a week. A serving should not exceed four ounces about the size of your palm. To help you get an idea about it, the daily intake of purines to have without triggering gout should not exceed 400mg.

What Fish Can I Eat If I Have Gout

4/5toFishgout aretogout

Keeping this in view, what fish can I eat with gout?

Cold water fish like tuna, salmon and trout can increase your uric acid levels, but the heart benefit from eating them in moderation may be greater than the gout attack risk. Mussels, scallops, squid, shrimp, oysters, crab and lobsters should only be eaten once in a while.

Also, what is the best thing to drink if you have gout? Foods and drinks that often trigger gout attacks include organ meats, game meats, some types of fish, fruit juice, sugary sodas and alcohol. On the other hand, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soy products and low-fat dairy products may help prevent gout attacks by lowering uric acid levels.

Also Know, which fish are low in purines?

Other fish moderately high in purines include:

• tuna.

What not to eat if you have gout?

Foods to Avoid if You Have Gout

• Beer and grain liquors
• Red meat, lamb, and pork.
• Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, and glandular meats like the thymus or pancreas
• Seafood, especially shellfish like shrimp, lobster, mussels, anchovies, and sardines.

Also Check: How To Get Of Gout

Dont Be Scared Of Beans Legumes Vegetables

The most inconsistent recommendations are for beans, legumes and certain vegetables. No source indicated to avoid these food groups. However, many state they are high risk like some seafood.

From this particular purine table, beans, lentils and peanuts have far less purines than the other food groups mentioned previously. Therefore, they are not as high-risk for gout. Keep in mind, cured or dried food, such as beans, will have a higher purine concentration per weight because of shrinkage.

Some sources caution eating asparagus, cauliflower, peas, chickpeas, spinach and broccoli because it contains more purines than most vegetables. However, the purine amounts for asparagus, spinach and broccoli are less than half of pork or beef. Lastly, a recent study concluded purine-rich vegetables are less of a risk than animal based purines.

Got Gout And Wondering Whether You Can Still Eat Tuna

Nearly everyone loves tuna, especially canned tuna. In fact canned tuna is the second most popular seafood product in the U.S. after shrimp. And the folks in the European Union consume some 51% of the worlds total canned tuna. .

But what if youve been diagnosed with gout? Is it safe to continue eating it?

To answer that we need to look at tunas purine content

Purines and Uric Acid

Purines are chemical compounds that exist in our bodies cells and in the cells of the food we consume, with different foods having different purine concentrations. When your body metabolizes purines it produces uric acid, a powerful antioxidant that helps to neutralize free radicals that can damage your cells, proteins and DNA.

Under normal circumstances your kidneys remove excess uric acid from the bloodstream and excrete it from the body in urine, leaving healthy concentrations circulating in the bloodstream to get on with scavenging those nasty free radicals.

But, if too much uric acid is being produced in your body, or your kidneys arent excreting enough, unhealthy levels of uric acid can build-up in the bloodstream. And, as you probably already know, too-high blood uric acid levels can eventually lead to the depositation of needle-like monosodium urate crystals in the joints and associated tissue, leading to a painful gout flare.

Recommended Reading: How Long Does A Gout Flare Up Last

Sodas And Sugary Drinks

Sodas and sugary drinks are considered empty-calorie foods, because they contain no beneficial nutrients while contributing a lot of calories to your diet.

For example, a 12-ounce can of cola contains about 150 calories and 40 grams, or about 9.5 teaspoons, of added sugars. In addition, sugar-sweetened beverages have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and dental caries.

Instead Of Seafood And Shellfish Eat Fish In Moderation

Seafood and shellfish are high in purine and should be avoided to reduce the risk of gout flare. Some fish, including salmon, sole, tuna, catfish, red snapper, tilapia, flounder, and whitefish are lower in purine than other types of fish, and can be included in your diet in moderation if you are not consuming other purine-rich foods.

Read Also: How To Know If I Have Gout In My Foot

Gout Diet: Dos And Donts

Maintaining a balanced diet, low in uric acid, is critical for lowering the risk of a gout attack. Learn which foods and beverages you should eat and which ones to avoid.

1. What You Eat and Drink Matters

2. DO: Drink Water

3. DONT: Drink Beer

4. DO: Drink Milk

5. DONT: Drink Liquor

6. DO: Drink Coffee

7. DONT: Drink Soda

8. Do: Eat Citrus

9. DONT: Eat Organ Meats

10. DO: Eat Vegetable Proteins

11. DONT: Eat Certain Seafood

12. DO: Eat Cherries

Nutrition

Choose A Diet You Can Live With

If you are overweight, losing weight can protect you from gout flare-ups. However, losing weight fast can do more harm than good for gout, as rapid weight loss can raise uric acid levels in your bloodstream. Avoid fad diets and “crash” diets. Consider consulting a dietician, who can help you choose a diet plan that works for you.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Cure Gout