Foods High In Uric Acid Causing Gout

Should I Drink Lots Of Water

Dehydration may be a risk factor for gout although this is not well proven in research. Drinking 1 1.5 litres of fluids a day is recommended for general health benefits. However if you are taking diuretics or have heart or kidney problems, talk to your doctor about the right amount of fluids for you to drink.

Risk Factors Related To Gout:

1. Excess weight: If your body weight is more than the normal weight, then you are prone to develop a gout problem no matter what is your gender, this can happen to anyone who is obese.

2. Medical reasons: People with heart, kidney and high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome are prone to develop high uric acid, which further leads to gout.

3. Age: women are more prone to develop problems related to high uric acid after their menopause and men face such issues between the age of 30 to 50.

4. Gender: Men are more likely to develop high uric acids level compared to female because women have a low level of uric acid. However, females are prone to such issues after their menopause because, after menopause, the uric acid levels increase in the female body.

5. Family history: If someone in your family has a history of gout, that also puts you in a position where you are more likely to develop the same problem that your family person had, compared to others with no family history.

6. Diet: There are certain types of foods and drinks that are high in uric acid and if you consume such foods and drinks more often, you are prone to develop the risk of high uric acids. Foods that are high in purines, alcohol and fructose should be avoided at any cost or should be consumed to limit.

Keep Asking Questions Until You Get The Answer You Need

The Medical Experts are all here to answer your questions online or with a phone call.

Like white and red meat, organ meats also deliver a high amount of the uric acid. Though you can enjoy having onions or livers for dinner, it is best to cut down on this meal as well as other foods which include organ meats such as sweetbreads, tongue, tripe, and pate.

You May Like: Are Eggs Bad For Gout

Key Points About Gout

• Gout causes inflamed, painful joints due to urate crystal deposits at the joints.

• Gout can also cause urate crystal deposits that cause lumps under the skin.

• Gout can be triggered by eating foods high in purines and drinking alcohol.

• Treatment of gout is aimed at reducing pain and the risk of future flare-ups.

• Gout can be managed with medicines and lifestyle changes.

Best Diet For Gout: What To Eat What To Avoid

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.

Gout is a type of arthritis, an inflammatory condition of the joints. It affects an estimated 8.3 million people in the US alone (

Fortunately, gout can be controlled with medications, a gout-friendly diet and lifestyle changes.

This article reviews the best diet for gout and what foods to avoid, backed by research.

Recommended Reading: Are Lentils Good For Gout

Keep Your Fructose Intake To A Minimum

Fructose is a common sugar found in many products. Limit or avoid the following types of food:

• Fruit: You should only be consuming one serving of fruit at most per day. Never eat fruit as a meal, it should be a snack or the occasional only. Some fruits are better than others. Choose low sugar fruits such as berries, lemon, and lime. Stay away from dried fruit and fruit juices.

• Many sweets use fructose or high fructose corn syrup. Be sure to read the labels looking out for all forms of sugar since a high intake of sugar increases your risk for a range of health concerns like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Cant do without something sweet? Check out these healthy sugar alternatives.

• Processed Foods: Even foods you may think are healthy like those breakfast cereals or breakfast bars that always advertise how many vitamins and minerals they are fortified with are full of sugar. Low-fat and non-fat options are almost always packed full of sugar and excess sodium to make them taste better once that fat has been removed.

• Honey: Although far healthier than sugar, honey contains some fructose, and processed versions of honey are often more high fructose corn syrup than actual honey. If you do eat honey, only eat raw or manuka honey, but keep it to a minimum if you have gout or are prone to gout.

Purines And Uric Acid Production

In addition to the factors of your body producing too much uric acid, and not eliminating enough of itwe have the issue of purines. Purines are chemical substances in all foods, and once eaten they get converted to uric acid inside the body. This is different from your body, on its own, simply producing too much uric acid like we talked about above. Purine consumption in food can be controlled.

Purines are a part of the cell structure of every plant, animal and human being. When human beings eat plant or animal sources of food, the by-product of the metabolic break-down of purine substances produces uric acid.

Uric acid in and of itself is utilized by the body as an antioxidant, helping to protect blood vessel linings and other tissues from oxidative damage.

When the amount of uric acid in the blood becomes overly abundant, it can crystallize in one of many joints, usually far from the vital organs in the feet and hands for example. This is a painful event and is the simple explanation of a gout attack.

However, this does not happen to all people with elevated uric acid levels, i.e. hyperuricemiaat least not right away.

Read Also: Best Natural Supplements For Gout

Eat A Mostly Alkaline Diet

To keep acidity to a minimum in your body, a mostly alkaline diet is best. It is important to note, however, that despite some foods causing acidity in the body, such as dairy and even coffee, they actually have a uric acid lowering effect. The easiest way to make sure your diet is more alkaline is to eat mostly vegetables. A cup a day each of leafy greens , colorful vegetables , and sulfuric vegetables .

Extra veggies can also be beneficial. If you eat 3-4 bowls of veggies every day and after 30 days compare your uric acid levels, you will be surprised.

Including foods rich in omega 3 is very helpful too as omega 3 lowers inflammation in the body. You may struggle to eat fish if you are prone to gout, but eating a serving of fish like wild sockeye salmon once a week can help. You can also include foods like walnuts, flax seeds , hemp seeds, and chia seeds in your diet.

Do Certain Foods Cause Gout

There are many misconceptions about diet and gout. For example it is commonly thought that foods such as citrus foods cause gout. There is no evidence that this is true. However several studies have shown that people with gout are more likely to eat certain foods. These foods tend to contain high levels of purines, a substance that can be made into uric acid in the body. Purine-rich foods include:

• meat particularly red meat and offal, such as liver, kidneys and heart
• seafood particularly shellfish, scallops, mussels, herring, mackerel, sardines and anchovies
• foods containing yeast such as Vegemite and beer.

Also Check: How Can I Prevent Gout

You Can’t Avoid All Purines

There are too many sources of purines to eliminate them all from your diet. You will stay healthier overall if you eat some foods with purines. Remember that vegetable purines have never been shown to promote gout attacks, and that low-fat dairy products are protein sources that lower your risk of gout pain. People with gout can still enjoy meat in moderation, but should limit meat, fish, and poultry to 4 to 6 ounces a day.

Fruit Fructose And Gout

Fructose is what gives some fruits their natural sweetness. Researchers report a correlation between foods high in fructose and gout symptoms, which can include chronic pain. These fruits include apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, prunes, and dates. Its okay to eat these fruits if you have gout as long as you do so in moderation. Limit yourself to one to two cups per day. More importantly, avoid soda or soft drinks and juices that are sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. Drink water or real fruit juices instead .

Don’t Miss: Is Eggplant Bad For Gout

Signs And Symptoms Of Gout

Any joint can be affected by gout, but it usually affects joints towards the ends of the limbs, such as the toes, ankles, knees and fingers.

Signs and symptoms of gout include:

• severe pain in one or more joints
• the joint feeling hot and very tender
• swelling in and around the affected joint
• red, shiny skin over the affected joint

Symptoms develop rapidly over a few hours and typically last three to 10 days. After this time the pain should pass and the joint should return to normal.

Almost everyone with gout will experience further attacks at some point, usually within a year.

Read more about the complications of gout.

Our Diet And Lifestyle Directly Impacts The Health Of Our Cells How Much Control Do We Actually Have Over 70% Of Our Uric Acid Production

uric acidpurinesgout controlIS THERE REALLY SUCH A THINGS AS A “GOUT SAFE FOOD AND A GOUT SAFE DIET?” purine list below‘trigger foods’Cellular repairGOUT SUFFERERS CANNOT DO IT ALONE!uric acid dissolving productsGC® Gout CareFlamasil®Body Boost Vitamins®Friendly Fighters Probiotics®WITHOUT the fear of a GOUT ATTACK!

Recommended Reading: Will Gout Go Away If I Stop Drinking

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.

How Your Diet Could Be Behind Your Gout

It may surprise you to hear that gout is a type of arthritis. However, unlike other joint conditions that develop from cartilage degeneration, this form occurs because of high levels of uric acid in your body.

Uric acid is a naturally occurring substance. Your body makes it when it digests purines, which come from specific foods. When you have high levels of uric acid, it builds up in your system and forms sharp crystals in your joints or surrounding tissue, causing gout symptoms.

Nearly 50% of gout cases affect the big toe, but you can also experience problems in joints such as your wrists, fingers, heels, and knees.

At AllCare Foot & Ankle Center, Dr. Michael V. Tran specializes in bone and soft tissue problems in the feet and ankles. Here, he explains why it could be time to rethink your diet if you have recurring gout attacks.

Also Check: Does Lemon Juice Help Gout

Special Dietary Considerations For Gout

People who are diagnosed with hyperuricemia are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and consider the following:

• Moderate consumption of vegetables known to be high in purines, such as peas, asparagus, and oatmeal, does not seem to raise uric acid levels in the blood.8 Researchers suggest this variation may be due to their high fiber content.7
• Low fat or no-fat dairy products7,9 are low in purines and have an inverse relationship with hyperuricemia.
• Drinking plenty of water may aid in digestion and lower uric acid concentrations in the blood.
• Coffee and tea will not elevate uric acid levelsin fact, coffee may help lower uric acid levels.7,10
• Many people believe unsweetened tart cherries help prevent hyperuricemia and gout flares, and some research supports this idea.7,11–13
• Limited research suggests dietary supplements of vitamin C and folate may help treat or prevent hyperuricemia.10

In addition to lowering uric acid levels and reducing the risk of gout, a whole-foods, plant-based diet may lower overall levels of inflammation and reduce the risk of developing other types of arthritis.14,15 Healthy food choices may also decrease symptoms related to existing, chronic arthritis conditions.16–19

Read more about An Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Arthritis

What Can Increase Your Risk

A high level of uric acid in the blood is the main factor that increases your risk of developing gout. However, it’s still uncertain why some people with a high level of uric acid in the blood develop gout, while others with an equally high level don’t.

Other factors that may increase your risk of developing gout are outlined below.

You May Like: Is Prednisone Good For Gout

Can I Drink Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of a gout attack as it can raise the level of uric acid in your blood. While it is possible to control gout attacks without completely cutting out alcohol, try to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink and avoid binge drinking . Talk to your doctor or read the Australian government guidelines on recommended alcohol intake.

What To Do During An Attack

You should:

• take any medication you’ve been prescribed as early as possible after you notice an attack this should start to have an effect within two or three days
• rest and raise the limb
• avoid knocking or damaging the affected joint
• keep the joint cool remove surrounding clothing and apply an ice pack, such as a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel
• ensure you’re well hydrated

Apply the ice pack to your joint for around 20 minutes. Don’t apply ice directly to your skin and don’t apply it for more than 20 minutes at a time because this could damage the skin.

If necessary, you can keep reapplying an ice pack to your skin during an attack, but you should wait until your skin has returned to a normal temperature first.

Also Check: Gout Natural Remedies Celery Seeds

How Is Gout Affected By Diet

Gout is a type of arthritis that is associated with elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. High levels of uric acid can cause crystals to form in the joints, causing pain and swelling. Uric acid is a normal waste product formed from the breakdown of food, particularly compounds called purines. It is believed that lowering uric acid levels through small changes in your diet may help reduce the chance of future gout attacks.

A healthy, balanced diet may help reduce the risk of gout attacks.

What Increases Your Chances For Gout

The following make it more likely that you will develop hyperuricemia, which causes gout:

• Being male

Read Also: Can You Have Gout Without Pain

Understand High Uric Acid Cause And Natural Treatment I Gout Diet

• Excess uric acid in the body can lead to many health problems including type 2 diabetes, gout, and erectile dysfunction. Learn uric acid causes and symptoms so that you can do something about it.

• Gout is one of the most common health problems caused by high uric acid levels. Learn the natural treatment of gout through diet.

If you have some joint pain or any other troubles you may be wondering, can uric acid cause it? It is possible. Excess uric acid can cause many problems in the body. In this article, you will learn about what causes high uric acid and uric acid treatment.

Risk Factors For Developing Gout

• Diet: Your diet can raise the levels of uric acid in your blood and increase your risk for developing gout, so a diet high in purines, fructose, and alcohol increase your risk of gout. Fructose is the sugar found in fruit and studies have found that products sweetened with fructose increase the risk for gout.
• Obesity: Research has found an increased prevalence of gout among people who are obese and overweight than individuals who fell within a normal body weight, independent of sex or race.
• Gender: Gout is more likely to affect men because women tend to have lower levels of uric acid. After menopause, the uric acid levels rise for women to be more similar to men, and their risk for gout increases.
• Medical conditions: Some health conditions are associated with an increased risk for gout, such as kidney disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and high blood pressure.
• Family history: There is a hereditary trend with gout, meaning you are more likely to develop gout if other members of your family have been diagnosed with it.
• Age: Men usually develop gout between the ages of 30 to 50 and women have a higher risk for gout after menopause.

The most common cause for gout is when the bodys ability to excrete uric acid is impaired leading to the build of uric acid. Removal of uric acid can be slowed by hereditary factors, metabolic disease, kidney disease, and other conditions affecting the health of the kidneys.

Read Also: Foods That May Cause Gout