What Foods Can Cause Gout To Flare Up

Follow A Healthful Pattern

Vegetables, cherries, high vitamin C foods such as citrus, and plant oils, including olive, sunflower and soy have all been associated with a lower risk of gout.

Since this gout-specific research has not been completed on all common foods, and because an emerging theme is that most plant foods are protective, a more comprehensive gout-prevention strategy may be to emphasize a plant-based pattern of eating, rather than a focus on individual foods.

In fact, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, a commonly prescribed diet pattern that provides this emphasis, has been associated with a lower risk of gout. This diet pattern includes a strong emphasis on fruits and vegetables, daily inclusion of legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, limited portions of meat, chicken and fish, and a low intake of sodium and sweetened beverages.

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.

Foods To Avoid If You Have Gout

Many things can cause a gout flare up including stress and certain medicines. But food is also a known trigger. Being aware of the types of food that can activate gout can help you avoid having a flare up. A diet that includes purine-rich food can raise the uric acid levels in your blood. If you eat one of these types of foods, or many of them at the same time, you may experience a gout flare up. All foods that have protein also have purines.

What foods are high in purine? Here is a list of foods to stay away from if you want to avoid gout:

If youre looking for good food choices that may actually help protect you from gout, pick fruitsespecially citrus fruitscoffee, dairy foods that are low in fat, and food with complex carbohydrates.

If chronic gout has made it impossible for you to work or perform daily activities, call us at 402-933-5405 to discuss whether youre eligible for social security benefits.

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What Foods Can Cause Gout Flare Ups

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What Role Do Purines Play

An estimated 70% of uric acid in the blood is made inside the body. This means that even by following a strict low-purine diet, it will only be possible to lower uric acid levels by 30% at the most. But not all foods are the same: Our bodies absorb purines differently from different foods, so it might not make sense to avoid all foods that contain purines especially if you already eat a balanced diet. There are no high-quality studies on the effectiveness of strict low-purine diets. Besides, they can be quite difficult to stick to.

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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.

Tips For Preventing A Gout Flare

Do you feel unexplained, intense pain in your big toe? Does even the weight of your sheets against your toe cause pain? If so, you may be one of the 8 million Americans who suffer from gout. While this form of arthritis often seems to come and go at random, here at Podiatry Hotline, we understand the root causes of gout and can help you prevent future flare-ups.

Arthritis often impacts us as we age, and gout is no different. The condition typically develops in men between the ages of 30-50 and in postmenopausal women. While gout is a form of arthritis, its aggravated when the level of uric acid in your blood rises above normal levels and the acid starts to crystalize in your joint. These acid crystals bring severe pain, inflammation, and a decrease in your range of motion.

Gout can impact just about any joint in your body, but it seems to affect the big toe joint most often. In many cases of gout flare-ups, the toe gets so sore and sensitive that shoes and even socks get hard to wear. Many of our Mission Viejo, California patients tell us that even the pressure of their sheets and blankets is enough to cause sharp pain.

While you cant necessarily eliminate gout from your life, there are things you can do to reduce the amount of uric acid in your blood and, therefore, decrease your risk for gout pain and inflammation. To help you overcome this painful condition, weve gathered our five top tips for preventing gout flare-ups, all of which you can try from home.

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How Will Gout Affect Me

Attacks can vary from person to person. Some people only have an attack every few years, while others have attacks every few months.

Without medication attacks tend to happen more often and other joints can become affected.

Having high urate levels and gout for a long time can lead to other health problems, including:

• narrowing of the arteries which can lead to an increased risk of stroke or heart attacks or other heart problems
• osteoarthritis, which occurs when the urate crystals and hard tophi cause joint damage.
• an increased risk of developing kidney disease or worsening of the condition if you already have it
• kidney stones
• an increased risk of some cancers, especially prostate cancer
• mental health problems, including depression
• underactive thyroid
• erectile dysfunction in men.

If you take medication to lower your urate levels, and have a healthy diet and lifestyle, most of the damage and complications caused by gout can be stopped.

Treatments for gout are incredibly successful. There are two main parts to treating gout, which are:

• treating the acute attack

Foods To Avoid With Gout

Exercise, Fitness & Nutrition Expert | Lark Health

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause pain in the feet and joints. It results from the buildup of uric acid in the joints, which can feel painful if it progresses as reported by MedlinePlus.

Uric acid is a breakdown product of purines, which are compounds that are found in some foods.

Anti-inflammatory and pain medications are common for treating gout, but what you eat can affect symptoms, too. In general, losing extra pounds and avoiding certain high-purine foods may help prevent flare-ups.

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Are Tomatoes Recommended For Gout

Many sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Harvard Health recommend a diet high in colored vegetables and fruits, including nightshades like tomatoes. These foods contain nutrients like carotenoids called beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, lycopene, and Vitamin C, all of which could help reduce inflammation and improve joint function.

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When To See A Doctor

Gout attacks can occur suddenly and usually happen in one joint at a time, such as the big toe.

Other commonly affected joints include other toes, the ankle, and the knee.

Symptoms of a flare are typically very noticeable and include:

• Intense pain
• Limited range of motion

If you experience any of the above, contact a physician as soon as possible.

Without proper treatment, these symptoms can lead to worsening pain, more frequent episodes, or permanent joint damage.

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Vegetables Cooked In Animal Products

Similar to how you might think okra is good for gout simply because it is a vegetable, you might assume animal products are good for gout because they are sources of protein. However, there is a reason why many animal products fall into the list of foods to avoid with gout: they are high in purines and animal fat. While some animal products are allowed such as low-fat dairy products, poultry and some seafood many high-fat animal products are to be avoided on a diet to reduce gout.

Vegetables cooked in animal products may have higher purine content, which can lead to more uric acid in the body. According to Cleveland Clinic, high uric acid levels can also be attributed to genetics. If the increased risk of gout is hereditary, they still recommend adopting a healthy diet.

Avoid cooking vegetables in the following animal products:

• High-fat butter
• Gravy
• Fish sauce

For example, mashed potatoes and gravy are a popular combination. While potatoes themselves are compliant on a gout-reducing diet, potatoes doused in gravy are not. Many people also consume vegetables cooked in butter or grease, which are both discouraged. If you have gout, season your vegetables with herbs, spices and other low-fat sources of flavor.

According to Mayo Clinic, high-fat animal products are limited because of their saturated fat content. While fats are important for overall health, people with gout should stick to sources of healthy dietary fats and avoid consuming too much saturated fat.

Eating To Prevent Gout

Gout is a painful form of arthritis caused by an excess of uric acid. This is a waste product made by the body. It builds up in the body and forms crystals that collect in the joints, causing a gout attack. Alcohol and certain foods can trigger a gout attack. Below are some guidelines for changing your diet to help you manage gout. Your healthcare provider can work with you to determine the best eating plan for you. You can learn which foods affect your gout more than others. Reactions to different foods can vary from person to person. Know that diet is only one part of managing gout. Take your medicines as prescribed and follow the other guidelines your healthcare provider has given you.

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The Cause Of Gout Is More Than Just Diet

While diet is critical, dont overlook other important factors that affect gout. These include family history, sleep apnoea, and lack of physical exercise to name a few.

Further discussion of best treatment for gout is outside the scope of this article. But there are foods thought to be protective namely dairy, cherries, and coffee, in decreasing order of evidence.

And as much as I prefer focusing on what you should eat to prevent health scares, there are just so many clear trigger foods for gout.

Its important to deal with these factors first and foremost.

About Joe Leech, Dietitian

Joe Leech is a university-qualified dietitian from Australia.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in exercise science, followed by a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2011.

Learn more about him on the About page.

Joe Leech, Dietitian

Medications That Can Trigger Gout

Some medications can trigger gout symptoms. This includes common pain medications. Even small amounts of these drugs can impact gout. Your doctor may recommend changing these medications if you notice more gout symptoms.

Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid raises uric acid in your blood. Even low doses of aspirin can trigger gout. Research shows that this effect of aspirin is more common in women than in men.

Diuretics or water pills help to treat conditions such as high blood pressure and edema or swelling in the legs. These medications work by getting rid of excess water and salt from the body. However, they can also cause a side effect of too much uric acid in the body, triggering gout. Diuretic drugs include:

• chlorothiazide

may have high levels of the hormone insulin. This can cause too much uric acid in the body, triggering gout symptoms in your joints.

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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.

Consider Limiting Your Beer Consumption

Alcohol is a big risk factor for gout flare-ups because it’s rich in purines. Your body breaks down purines into uric acid, so the more alcohol you consume, the more purines your body produces. Studies show that alcohol is the second most common trigger for a gout attack.

While all alcohol can increase your risk of a gout attack, beer is particularly troublesome. Not only does beer contain purines, but it also contains brewers yeast two known gout triggers.

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Frequent Consumption Of Certain Fruits May Trigger Recurrent Gout Attacks

High sugar drinks may not be the only stimulant of gout flare ups.

Certain fruits which are a natural source of fructose have also been linked with gout.

This is a highly contentious area, because several studies have linked higher fruit intake with less incidence of gout. This is probably due to their high fibre content .

And unlike fruit juice and other sugar-sweetened drinks, whole fruits are nutritious and generally good for health. There is no disputing this.

However, if you continually have gout attacks despite cutting out alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks then Im not convinced a large amount of fruits are safe for you. Especially if you are overweight and eat a Western diet.

So cutting back on certain very high-fructose fruits is like a Plan D, if you will.

The link comes back to fructose, which stimulates uric acid production in a similar manner to alcohol. Fructose is naturally found in fruit and honey.

One study found that the consumption of apples or oranges the most popular fruits in this study was linked with an increased risk of gout compared to those who consume less than one serving of fruit per month. No link was found with other fruits however .

While most fruits are very low in fructose, a few are very high. Frequent consumption of these could theoretically causes problems for gout sufferers.

Foods Highest in Fructose per 200 Calories :

Note this list is ranked on a per calorie basis, not per serving.

Do Tomatoes Cause Gout

Although tomatoes are low in purine, some research suggests they may cause gout flares. In a study of more than 2,000 people diagnosed with gout, 20% said that tomatoes were a trigger, making it the fourth most common trigger food reported. Its unclear why tomato consumption causes gout flares in certain individuals.

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Limit High Purine Foods

Too much purine in the diet can increase the risk of gout flare-ups, particularly in people with a history of gout. One study which compared the recent diets of gout sufferers found those with the highest purine intake had 5 times the risk of gout flare-ups. This same study linked animal sources of purine to a higher risk of gout attacks.

So to reduce the risk of gout flare-ups, consider the recommendations from the American College of Rheumotology , which call for the avoidance of high purine organ meats such as sweetbreads, liver and kidney, and the restriction of beef, lamb, pork and high purine seafood, including sardines and shellfish.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics clarifies this restriction, recommending that meat, poultry and fish be limited to 4 to 6 ounces daily. Although purines are found in many plants foods, such as legumes, spinach and mushrooms, these foods are not linked to a higher risk of gout and are not restricted in the ACR or AND recommendations.