Good Diet For Gout Patients

What Happens At Your Appointment

The GP may ask about your diet and if you drink alcohol.

They may refer you to see a specialist and arrange a blood test and scan. Sometimes a thin needle is used to take a sample of fluid from inside the affected joint, to test it.

The blood test will find out how much of a chemical called uric acid there is in your blood.

Having too much uric acid in your blood can lead to crystals forming around your joints, which causes pain.

What Foods Are Good For Gout

Dietary management of gout focuses on reducing the amount of uric acid in the system and attaining and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Foods that may help keep gout in check are

• Fresh fruits and vegetables such as berries, oranges, bell pepper and pineapple
• Low-fat dairy products, such as yogurt and skimmed milk
• Nuts including nut butters such as almond butter and peanut butter
• Whole grains
• Potatoes, rice, whole-grain bread and pasta
• Eggs
• Oils such as olive oil
• Flax and other seeds

How Does Alcohol Affect People With Gout

Alcohol disrupts the removal of uric acid from the body. Its thought that high levels of purine in alcoholic beverages lead to this disruption.

Normally, purines would break down into uric acid and get flushed out of the body through urine. However, this process is interrupted when uric acid levels get too high. Crystals form around the joints, and gout develops.

To prevent further gout attacks, stick to these guidelines:

• avoid alcohol when having an attack
• limit wine consumption
• avoid beer

Keep in mind that you should avoid alcohol altogether unless your doctor says otherwise. Gout-friendly recipes take these alcohol restrictions into account as well.

Don’t Miss: What To Eat To Relieve Gout

What Can You Drink If You Have Gout

Foods arenât the only thing that can affect uric acid. What you drink matters, too.

Itâs a good idea to drink lots of fluids — 8 to 16 cups a day. At least half of what you drink should be water. Vitamin C also can help lower uric acid, but studies also show that the high fructose in OJ may boost uric acid levels, so drink it in moderation. Caffeinated coffee can cut uric acid, too, as long as you donât overdo it.

Donâts

Stay away from sugary drinks like soda and fruit juice. You also may need to limit or avoid alcohol as well. Talk with your doctor to find out whatâs right for you.

While a healthy diet can help control how much uric acid is in your system, you may still need medicine to prevent future attacks. Talk with your doctor about all your treatment options.

The Danger Of The Atkins Diet

Remember that losing weight too quickly may also trigger a gout attack. Gout sufferers are more prone to wild uric acid fluctuations than regular folk when losing weight since it causes the body to burn muscle over fat. If you suffer from gout and need to lose weight you need to make sure you lose it gradually like 1-2 pounds a week. Remember from my ebook to eat the majority of your daily calories in complex carbohydrates limiting protein and fat intake.

Fat can trap uric acid in your kidneys causing worse health issues down the road. Drinking plenty of water on a daily basis will help your body rid of excess uric acid. High protein diets like the Atkins diet increases the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, gout, osteoporosis and renal disease.

So is it worth it at the end to ruin your health for the sake of a few pounds? These high protein diets like Paleo and Atkins remove the importance of eating fibre and nutrients found in complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, pastas and rice, considered necessary for maintaining good health. I mean come on! You cant be eating bacon on a daily basis! That is so stupid!

You May Like: Signs Of Gout In Your Foot

Gout And Diet: Foods And Drinks To Avoid

What causes gout, what are purines and are there any natural food remedies for the condition? Dietitian Emer Delaney explains which foods to eat and avoid.

Gout is an arthritic condition that can cause sudden, severe joint pain. If you are experiencing symptoms of gout, the NHS recommends that you see a doctor for treatment during an attack and to help prevent further attacks.

We asked Emer Delaney, a dietitian who has worked in some of Londons top teaching hospitals, to explain how diet and lifestyle can affect the condition.

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.

Recommended Reading: Are Pickles Bad For Gout

Gout Diet: Foods To Eat With Gout

Healthy Eating When Considering Gout

Is there such a thing as a gout diet? Not really. But there are certain foods you should eatand others you should avoid such as those high in purinesto help prevent both gout in general and gout attacks.

If youre at risk for gout or youre concerned about getting it, its a good idea to watch what you eat. And if youve already been diagnosed with gout and youre looking for ways to help prevent gout attacks, you should pay attention to your diet, too. This article covers what foods to eatand not eatto help prevent gout and gout attacks.

Before starting a new diet, you should talk to your doctor. He or she might talk about how a poor diet may make you more at risk for gout or a gout attack if you have high levels of uric acid to begin with. Your doctor can also suggest ways to improve your diet.

• 5 Lifestyle Tips for Gout

Foods to Eat to Help Prevent Gout and Gout AttacksIts thought that some foods can help lower uric acid levels, thus reducing your risk of gout or a gout attack.

Below are some of the most well-studied foods that may help prevent gout. They may also help prevent gout attacks.

Dairy: Eating low-fat dairy products, such as low-fat yogurt, can significantly decrease your risk of getting gout. One 2004 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that incorporating more dairy in your diet is linked to a reduced risk of gout.3

Foods high in purines include:

If You Have Gout A Painful Type Of Arthritis You May Be Trying To Limit Purines In Your Diet Heres What You Need To Know To Get Started

Has your doctor suggested that you or someone you love go on a low-purine diet to help with the painful symptoms of gout? If so, its important to understand what a low-purine diet is, and how it may help manage gout as part of your overall gout treatment plan.

Gout is a type of arthritis that develops when high levels of a chemical called uric acid in the blood cause uric acid crystals to build up in a joint. This can lead to inflammation and pain, often in the big toe, as well as other joints. Gout attacks, or flares, are often extremely and suddenly painful and debilitating.

In most people, the body produces a manageable amount of uric acid, and the kidneys eliminate any excess through the urine. In a person with gout, however, the body doesnt have good control over the amount of uric acid in the blood. The goal of gout treatment is to lower the level of uric acid back to normal so it wont cause problems, says Calvin R. Brown, Jr., MD, professor of medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University in Chicago. Depending on your specific needs, a combination of medication to manage gout and lifestyle changes, including a low-purine diet, can help you reach that target.

Its very important to get uric acid levels to a healthy level and keep them there. Without proper treatment, gout flares can become more frequent, affect more joints, and lead to bone and joint damage as well as these other significant gout complications.

Recommended Reading: How To Tell If You Have Gout In Your Elbow

What Is The Mediterranean Diet

A Mediterranean diet isnt the most complex diet out there but it is one of the best. I know several people who have been using this diet for years and they claim to feel better, dont have any issues and they will continue using it.

The diet is based on eating fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. Using olive oil is a mandatory part of the diet and I believe it is one of the main advantages. This oil can be used for all foods and offers you the advantage of boosting your good or HDL cholesterol.

Suggested articles:Legumes And Gout Are These Two Connected?

Meat is allowed in the diet. Fish and poultry are recommended 2 times per week. Eggs can be consumed once per day. Red meat is allowed as well, however, it should be consumed a few times per month. This is done to get the protein human body needs which isnt very plentiful with this diet.

If you like alcoholic beverages, the Mediterranean diet allows you 2 glasses of red wine per day, for men and 1 glass for women. All other alcoholic drinks are not allowed.

Tips For Following A Low

• Avoid or limit alcohol. Alcohol increases purine production. This leads to higher uric acid levels in your blood and urine.
• Limit meat to 3 oz. per meal.
• Limit high-fat foods. Fat holds onto uric acid in your kidneys.
• Eat enough carbs. They help your body get rid of extra uric acid.
• If youre overweight, lose weight gradually. Rapid weight loss can increase uric acid levels.
• Drink 8 to 12 cups of fluid every day to help reduce kidney stone formation.
• Dont take bakers or brewers yeast as a supplement.

Read Also: What Are The Symptoms Of Gout In The Ankle

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.

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.

You May Like: Massage For Gout In Foot

Food Loaded With Omega 3 Fatty Acids

When you hear omega 3 fatty acids, you think of fish instantly. This is particularly true. Almost every fish contains plenty of this compound. But, you can get the same from walnuts for example. Add the fact some fish can be consumed despite the fact you have gout and you get a more versatile diet.

You can consume salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel. Start with small amounts and gradually increase portions. Omega 3 fatty acids dont affect uric acid directly. It will decrease inflammation and swelling which is beneficial during the gout attack.

Suggested article: Fish And Gout 15 Types Of Fish Explained

What Foods To Avoid

Many of the foods you want to avoid are meats and seafood. Meats such as chicken, pork, beef, or lamb are usually okay in moderation however, if you find they cause symptoms you will want to avoid them altogether. Salmon, as part of a gout diet, is also usually tolerated well in moderation.

• Yeast:beer, nutritional yeast, large amounts of bread, others
• Game meats: venison, veal, bison, others
• Organ meats: liver, tongue, tripe, others
• Fish: including sardines and anchovies
• Other seafood: shellfish, roe, others
• Sugary drinks: sodas, fruit juice, others
• Sugar substances: honey, nectar, high-fructose corn syrup, others

Read Also: Does Heat Help Gout Pain

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.

Gout And Processed Meats

Gout and the Mediterranean Diet are important due to the fact the diet bans you from consuming processed meats and foods in general. You should replace them with nuts and seeds. This is another reason why this diet is so beneficial for all gout sufferers.

Suggested article: Nuts And Gout

Then we have dairy products. They are great when consumed in moderation and they are superb for gout sufferers and also those too who are at a higher risk of developing gout. Consuming dairy products in moderation can help you avoid gout development completely.

Suggested article: Gout And Milk The Complete Truth

Last but not least, the Mediterranean diet recommends that alcoholic beverages must be avoided, which is also something you should do if you have gout. Avoiding them will decrease the amount of fluids kidneys can process and the number of purines. Less fluid equals less uric acid and therefore decreases odds for a gout attack.

Suggested article: Gout And Alcohol

Recommended Reading: How Long Does Gout Pain In Toe Last

Risks And Side Effects

Although the low-purine diet is often recommended to minimize gout attacks and reduce symptoms, other medications and treatment methods may also be necessary. For example, anti-inflammatory medications are often prescribed to relieve symptoms during a flare-up and other types medications are also sometimes used to decrease uric acid production in the body.

Additionally, keep in mind that a low-purine diet may not aid in the prevention of all types of kidney stones. In fact, if you have calcium oxalate, cystine or struvite kidney stones, other dietary modifications, lifestyle changes and treatment methods may be required.

Because many of the animal proteins high in purines are also rich in other important nutrients like zinc, iron and omega-3 fatty acids, its also crucial to ensure that youre getting these vitamins and minerals from other sources in your diet.

Although you can enjoy nutrient-rich foods like beef and seafood in moderation as part of a low-purine diet, you should also consume a variety of other healthy foods like vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds to help fill in any gaps in your diet.

Foods Or Drinks That You Should Avoid

A good diet that is suitable for people with gout can help reduce symptoms and prevent recurrence of gout. There are several foods and drinks that should be avoided by gout sufferers, namely:

• Alcoholic beverages.
• Offal meat.
• Seafood .
• As well as a variety of products that contain high fructose, such as soft drinks, juices, ice cream, sweets, and fast food.
• Bread
• Oatmeal

Don’t Miss: Gout In The Foot Causes