What Should I Avoid If I Have Gout

Weight Management And Exercise

The Arthritis Foundation emphasize how important it is for people with gout to manage their weight.

Obesity is a risk factor for developing gout. If a person with gout has excess weight, losing a few pounds can help them:

• reduce pressure on painful joints
• lower the risk of heart disease
• build up strength and flexibility
• To achieve this, the person should ask their doctor about:
• a suitable diet to help them manage their weight
• an exercise plan

Anyone who smokes should also ask their doctor to help them with a plan to quit.

The Mediterranean diet contains plants, grains, and healthful fats. It may help people manage their weight while eating healthfully.

How To Use Fruit If You Have Gout

The answer is very simple. All you have to do is to decrease theamounts of bad fruits that can increase the level of uric acid or contribute toits effect in any other way. These fruits include kiwi, peaches, mango, andapricots.

Gout and fruit are more than just great to match if you are eating fruits I recommend. The best examples are cherries, berries, apples, pineapple, and even bananas. The best way is to eat all of these fruits in raw form, it is the most productive method of intake.

Yes, you can also drink juice made from these fruits or eat themin dried form but the number of benefits are limited or at least decreased.

In gout and fruit article, I must add that the bad fruits I referred earlier on can be consumed but in moderation and very small amounts.

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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.

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Ten Tips For Beating Gout

If you have gout, use these nutrition tips to lower your risk:

What Fish To Avoid If You Have Gout

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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.

Good And Bad Fruits For Gout

Yes, there are two groups as I have stated above when it comes to fruits. The first group fruits should be consumed. First of all, fruit is generally rich in fiber and it is one ingredient gout patients do need.

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Fiber can help you empty the bowels quicker than usual, decrease the sugar levels and all in combined, decrease the risk from a gout attack. Fruits are also rich in vitamin C which is mandatory vitamin all gout patients do need.

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Can Losing Weight Help Gout

If you are overweight, gradual weight loss can help lower uric acid levels and reduce the risk of gout attacks. However, it is important to avoid fasting or crash dieting, where you go without adequate food for long periods and lose weight rapidly. This type of dieting can actually increase uric acid levels and trigger a gout attack. A combination of balanced healthy eating and regular physical activity is the best way to lose weight safely. Talk to your doctor or see a dietitian for advice.

Vegetables Like Beetroot And Gout

Most vegetables fall into the low-purine category, so vegetables are not usually on the list of foods to avoid with gout. However, there are a few vegetables containing a moderate amount of purines that people with gout should be aware of.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, moderate-purine vegetables include:

• Asparagus
• Cauliflower
• Mushrooms

Simply because these vegetables contain moderate amounts of purines does not mean that people with gout should avoid them altogether. According to Mayo Clinic, the purines in vegetables do not increase the risk of gout or recurring gout attacks.

Similar to purines, oxalates are another type of natural substance that increases the uric acid content in the body. Vegetable sources of oxalates include rhubarb, turnips, beets and okra. This is why there is speculation of a negative association between beetroot and gout. Since beets contain oxalates, beetroot and gout may not not be a good combination. The same is true of okra. Though it has many health benefits, it is not true that okra is good for gout.

If you have gout, you may choose to consume or avoid vegetables that contain purines and oxalates.

Read more:List of Foods That Raise Uric Acid

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Do I Need To Stop Drinking Alcohol With Gout

Yes, its a good idea to cut out alcohol. Alcohol molecules in your body tend to increase uric acid levels, so drinking can push you over the edge and into a flare-up. If youre newly diagnosed and start taking medication, try cutting out alcohol at first. Your doctor may allow you to add a small amount back into your diet over time as your uric acid levels come down. But even then, its best to avoid beer and liquor and stick to safer choices such as red wine, Dr. Burg says.

All myths aside, the best advice for people with gout is to eat fresh, unprocessed foods. Choose complex carbohydrates over refined carbs from packaged or processed foods. And always drink plenty of water because dehydration is a risk factor for an acute attack.

What Is The Best Thing To Drink If You Have Gout

With this in mind, you should try to cut out beer and stick to wine since it still does provide some health benefit if drank moderately.

Studies have shown that people who drank less than two wines per day got some protective effect though not statistically significant. This is because people who only drink wine tend to have healthier lifestyles compared to those who drink just beer. They eat healthily, exercise regularly, and smoke less compared to beer and liquor drinkers.

As for beer, you should know that most of the stuff you buy from the store probably contains harmful ingredients not reported on the label. This is because alcohol companies have lobbied the industry for years, giving them the ability to use unsafe ingredients in their formula without including them in the label.

For example, theres Newcastle beer contains coloring made from ammonia which is cancer-causing. Then theres Corona beer which contains GMO corn syrup. Its an evil substance similar to high fructose corn syrup which is metabolically risky for you. The fructose is absorbed immediately and goes directly to your liver. Any gout sufferer who has done his research will know that liver and digestive health are important factors in managing gout symptoms.

If you can, try to stay away from American beers since theyre filled with GMO and go for organic beers instead. Theyre brewed locally using organic ingredients and wont have as bad effects as more popular beers do.

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Things To Cut Down On

Meat and seafood

High intakes of red meat and seafood are associated with a greater risk of gout because of their high purine content and impact on uric acid production.

Foods that contain yeast, such as Vegemite and Marmite, are also high in purine.

Sugars

Fructose is a simple sugar found in honey, fruit, some vegetables and sweeteners. Fructose increases purine metabolism, raising blood uric acid levels.

Avoid sweeteners high in fructose such as honey, brown sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, golden syrup and palm sugar. Check your tolerance for fruits, vegetables and other foods high in fructose.

Uric acid levels tend to be higher in people who regularly consume sugar-sweetened drinks. Those drinking one to two sugar-sweetened soft drinks a day are almost twice as likely to have gout as those who drink only one a month.

When it comes to whole fruit, results are not clear. While one study found a higher risk of gout with higher fruit intakes, another found a lower risk. The opposing results are partly confounded by the variation in fructose content of different fruits.

Alcohol

The effect of specific alcoholic beverages on blood uric acid levels varies. Beer is high in purine and increases uric acid more than spirits, while moderate wine intake appears neutral.

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.

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Gout is a form of arthritis that results in painful crystals of uric acid forming in one or more joints. In many cases, gout is associated with overconsumption of certain foods including alcohol, meats and seafood. Gout can be effectively treated with a combination of medications and dietary guidelines limiting foods that produce high levels of uric acid.

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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Instead Of Gravies And Sauces Use Vegetable Broth Or Dairy

Since they are made with the fat and drippings from meat and poultry, gravies and sauces made from beef, pork, and poultry should be avoided because they contain high amounts of purine. Try making sauces with vegetable broth or tomato sauce. Dairy-based sauces, such as a low-fat cream sauce, are also safe alternatives.

A Caution About Vegetables

As good as vegetables are in general, some are high in purines, including asparagus, spinach, cauliflower, peas, and mushrooms. However, high-purine vegetables dont seem to aggravate gout the same way that high-purine animal-based foods do, Sandon says, adding that, as long as its a vegetable source, you can eat it. One further precaution when balancing foods and gout: Some dried beans, particularly fava and garbanzo, are high in purines, and you may find you need to avoid them.

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How Does Drinking Alcohol Affect Gout

Alcoholic drinks tend to be high in purines and consuming more than the recommended amount can increase the risk of a gout attack. It is therefore recommended to limit alcohol intake, avoid binge drinking and avoid all alcohol if you have painful gout or are having a gout attack. Try limiting alcohol to a maximum of 14 units per week for both men and women and 1-2 units per day with a minimum of two alcohol-free days a week. Beer, stout, port and fortified wines tend to be higher in purines and should be restricted. Moderate consumption of wine is not associated with a significant increased risk.

Do I Need To Stop Eating Meat If I Have Gout

No, but practice moderation, Dr. Burg reiterates. Avoid organ meats such as liver because they have higher levels of purines, which can cause flare-ups. Moderate intake of lean meats such as chicken and turkey should not affect your condition. Seafood such as shrimp and lobster tends to be higher in purines, though, so dont make it a regular part of your diet.

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Where Can I Get Advice About My Diet

An accredited practising dietitian can provide you with personalised advice to give you the confidence to eat in a way that is best for you. APDs are university-qualified experts in nutrition and dietetics and are committed to the Dietitians Association of Australias Code of Professional Conduct, continuing professional development and providing quality services.

What If Changing Your Diet Isnt Enough

Some people manage to get their uric acid levels under control by changing their diet. But many people will need to take medication. Most of the uric acid in your body is made inside your body, so changing your diet only has a limited effect. Treatment with medication is considered if the gout attacks are frequent or if you have complications like kidney stones or tophi.

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