Worst Foods & Beverages For Gout
- At the top of the list of what to avoid is booze. Beer and liquor readily convert to uric acid and they slow down its elimination. Studies have shown mixed results about whether wine is OK in moderation.
- Drinking sugary beverages, such as sodas sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, fruit juices or other sugar-containing drinks, is associated with gout. Notable exception: cherries, especially tart cherries, may be beneficial for gout.
- Go light on red meats, particularly organ meats like liver, tongue and sweetbreads, which are all high in purines. Also avoid or minimize the amount of bacon, venison and veal you eat.
- Maybe surprising: Turkey and goose are very high in purines. Chicken and duck are better bets.
- Some seafoods also are high in purines, including anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, crabs, lobsters, oysters and shrimp.
- Some vegetables are on the watch list, too: Consider cutting back on mushrooms, asparagus and spinach but veggies of any kind are much less likely to trigger a gout flare than alcohol or organ meats.
What Are Purines And Why Are They Bad
Many people are not familiar with the term purine. Without getting into the dirty details of biochemistry, purines are one of two groups of structures found in DNA and RNA. The two purines are called adenine and guanine. The second group is called pyrimidines however, these have no effect on gout.
You may be wondering, if purines are part of our DNA, then why are they bad? While purines are necessary, they can cause trouble when they are metabolized. They major by-product of purine breakdown is uric acid, which circulates in the blood and can accumulate in the joints. As the crystals get larger, they can make movement difficult and painful.
In short, the more purines you consume, the more uric acid forms. And the more uric acid there is in your joints, the more painful your arthritis symptoms may be. Gout usually causes swelling in the big toe joints along with the knees, elbows, and hands.
Organ Meats Are Extremely High In Purines And Should Also Be Avoided
Organ meats, known as Offal, contain by far the most purines of any food in the human diet.
The most common forms of offal in the Western diet include liver , brain, heart, kidneys, and a mixture called Pâté.
Below is the purine content of a handful of foods. Note this is just an example Ive selected, and you can find much more extensive lists on Goutpal or here.
Purine Content of Food :
Consider that values listed are per 100 grams, so portion sizes must be taken into account Meat portions we eat tend to be heaviest.
Previous studies have not differentiated between intake of conventional meat and offal, so recommendations have to be the same. Given the strong link between meat intake and gout which is based on purine content alone offal should definitely be avoided too.
Somewhat contradictory to the purine-gout theory, consumption of purine-rich vegetables is not associated with an increased risk of gout .
Researchers speculate this could be due to a lower bioavailability of purines in vegetabes, as well as other nutrients which may offset the harmful effects of their purines.
Summary: Organ meats are some of the highest purine foods and should be completely avoided if you suffer gout attacks.
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What Causes High Levels Of Uric Acid
Some of the causes of uric acid accumulation can be:
1. Consuming purine rich food items 2. Obesity 7. Psoriasis 8. Drinking too much alcohol
If untreated, high uric acid levels may eventually lead to health issues like kidney problems, heart diseases, joint and tissue damage, high blood pressure and difficulty in controlling diabetes. To treat the condition you need to be careful with your diet. Heres how you can do that.
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What Are The Advantages Of A Low
- Reducing uric acid. People who are disposed to hyperuricemia may be able to manage their condition with diet to prevent complications such as gout and kidney stones from developing. People who have already been diagnosed with gout or kidney stones may be able to prevent new uric acid crystals from forming in their joints or kidneys or at least slow the process down.
- Reducing weight. Avoiding high-purine foods such as red meats and sweets may help you reduce weight as a secondary benefit. Gout is highly associated with excess weight gain and related metabolic syndromes such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Weight loss statistically lowers your risk of developing gout, and it helps relieve symptoms of gout by taking stress off your joints.
- Reducing medication. Diet is not as effective as medication for managing gout, and its not supposed to replace it. But paying attention to your diet may help minimize your need for medications.
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List Of 19 Foods High In Purines For Gout Sufferers To Avoid
Being in many various types of food, purines are broken down in order to produce uric acid, which is a substance in our body. Nonetheless, when you eat too many foods high in purines, you will run the risk of raising the uric acid levels, which can lead to health problems such as kidney disease or gout. To stay healthy, it is very important for you to identify these ingredients as well as limit their intake in the diet.
In the framework of this writing, AllRemedies.com will introduce to you list of 19 foods high in purines which can help you avoid consuming them and thus prevent gout. Continue reading this article to understand more!
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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.
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Does Fructose Cause Gout
Fructose is a sugar that is found in fruits and vegetables. It is also found in high levels in foods sweetened with corn syrup, such as bread, cereal, soft drinks and fruit juices. An American study found that men who drank five to six servings of fructose-sweetened soft drinks per week were more likely to have gout. However there is no research showing that fructose actually causes gout. Cutting down the amount of food artificially sweetened with high fructose corn syrup may be beneficial for your overall health. However naturally occurring fructose in fruit and vegetables also provides general health benefits and should not be completely avoided without advice from your doctor or dietitian.
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.
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What Is Uric Acid
Uric acid is a waste byproduct of purine breakdown in the body. Purines are naturally produced in the body, as well as found in some foods. As purines are broken down, uric acid is created. Normally uric acid is either reabsorbed in the body or excreted via the urine and feces.
When there are more purines in the body than it can process, uric acid builds up in the bloodstream. This is called hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia can cause gout and/or kidney stones in some people, while others have no signs or symptoms at all.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
Treatment for gout often includes medications, diet modification, and lifestyle changes, such as managing weight and quitting smoking. The foods you eat can have a direct impact on gout flares.
During a gout attack, modifying your diet may help decrease the length of the flare. Continuing to follow a gout-friendly diet, specifically a low-purine diet, may help prevent the risk of future gout attacks up to five fold.
What Are The Best Foods To Eat When You Have Gout
While eating particular foods wont be enough to make gout go away, studies suggest that certain foods and drinks may help reduce uric acid in your body. For example:
- Milk. Some early research suggests that drinking skim milk may help reduce uric acid and gout flare-ups. It speeds up the excretion of uric acid in your urine and also reduces your bodys inflammatory response to uric acid crystals in your joints.
- Cherries. Scientists are currently researching the benefits of cherries and cherry juice for managing gout symptoms, and early results are promising. Cherries have known anti-inflammatory properties, and they may also help reduce uric acid in your body.
- Coffee. You may have heard that coffee is acidic, but the type of acid in coffee is very different from uric acid. In fact, drinking coffee daily can reduce your uric acid levels by several means. It slows the breakdown of purine into uric acid and speeds the rate of excretion.
- Water. People who drink five to eight glasses of water a day are less likely to experience gout symptoms. This makes sense since your kidneys use water to excrete uric acid in your urine. Water is also good for kidney health. Impaired kidney function is one factor that can contribute to gout.
However, many healthcare providers prefer to focus on general dietary guidelines rather than particular foods. They suggest that you:
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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.
What Should You Avoid With High Uric Acid
You should always skip food items that are high in purine to reduce your uric acid levels. This will help in lowering the chances of a gout attack. Try to avoid the following foods:
1. Beer and other grain liquors like whiskey and vodka. 2. Avoid red meat, lamb, and pork. 3. Seafood items like shrimp, lobster, and sardines. 4. Products which have high fructose levels like soda, certain juices, candy, ice cream, and fast food.
A healthy diet can ensure the levels of uric acid remain stabilized in your system however, you may still need certain medications to control high levels. You can consult your doctor about your treatment options if you suffer from this condition.
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The Gout Diet: Best And Worst Foods
Control your gout flare-ups
Gout is a type of arthritis that causes painful joint swelling and inflammation. It happens when too much uric acid builds up in the blood, which forms crystals in the joints. Ouch!Uric acid exists when we break down a chemical called purine. Although purine occurs naturally in the body, its also found in certain foods. So a gout diet should limit purine-rich foods to avoid uric acid highs and lower the risk of flare-ups.
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.
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Foods High In Purines
It is recommended to completely avoid intake of high-purine foods during gout attacks and otherwise limit them considerably to manage the condition in the future. Foods high in purine include:
- Organ meats: gizzards, hearts, kidneys, liver, sweetbreads, lungs, spleen.
- Seafood: oysters, mussels, scallops, shrimp, crab, lobster, fish roe and caviar.
- Oily fish: anchovies, sardines, herring, haddock, mackerel, tuna, salmon.
- Meat: game , pork, beef, veal, mutton, lamb, goose, turkey.
- Cold meats: bacon, ham, sausage, salami and other cold meats made from those above.
- Other: yeast, sodas, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, high-sugar syrups, pastry, baked goods, sweets.
A lot of foods high in purines are nutritionally dense and full of benefits for health . However, if you have gout, then the side effects may outweigh the benefits and you may see yourself needing to limit intake considerably, if not exclude certain foods completely, at least for a while. Do consider your individual response to different foods in order to make the best decision for you.
What Is Syndrome X
Syndrome X is the most common cause of inability to lose weight. It mostly occurs in people with excess abdominal fat. Syndrome X also goes by the names metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance basically means that the hormone insulin, which is made by your pancreas has become less effective at controlling your blood sugar. This makes you prone to symptoms of unstable blood sugar, such as fatigue, sugar cravings and feeling unwell if you havent eaten for several hours.
Syndrome X reduces the ability of the body to excrete uric acid. This makes a person more prone to suffering a gout attack. Your doctor can order a blood test for you to check your uric acid level.
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Drinks You Should Avoid On Gout
Its so easy to forget that what we drink is an important part of our diet. Drinks can contribute important hydration and nutrients. However, its easy for calories and additional additives like fructose to slip by and all too quickly add up.
Alcohol
Excessive alcohol use should be avoided, well in everyone. However, people with gout should be even more careful with how much they alcohol they consume.
The American College of Rheumatology recommends no more than 2 drinks daily for men and no more than 1 drink daily for women with the disease. Its also recommended to completely eliminate alcohol during active flares .
Beer and hard alcohol seem to much bigger culprits than wine at aggravating the disease .
Diet Tip: If you are affected by gout and still want to enjoy an adult beverage, a controlled amount of wine is the best choice for minimizing negative health effects.
Sugary Drinks
Almost any non-diet drink contains a significant amount of added sugar, often in the form of fructose. Not only does added fructose contribute to uric acid build up, it also contributes negatively to making the other chronic diseases worse. Added sugar is one of the biggest enemies of the obesity epidemic, and comorbid conditions that go along with it.
This includes any soda thats not diet along with most fruit juices and energy drinks.
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