Diet And Gout

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• What Is Gout?
• Get The Latest Tips On Diet, Exercise And Healthy Living
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• So, What Should You Eat If You Have Gout?

Some studies have shown that drinking skim or low-fat milk and eating foods made with them, such as cheese or yogurt, help reduce the risk of gout. In addition to keeping your weight down, exercise also helps manage stress, which may trigger gout attacks. Further, many gout sufferers are at greater risk of developing heart disease, and regular exercise is essential for heart health. Extra body fat lowers the efficiency of your kidneys, which inhibits the excretion of uric acid from the bloodstream, leading to gout and gout attacks. People who are chronically overweight are at risk of developing gout up to a decade earlier than their peers—especially if that excess weight is in your belly.

Milk and its products, particularly those of the low-fat variety, are known to reduce risks of gout development. Calcium and lactose, in particular, are associated with low concentrations of uric acid. The consumption of animals’ internal organs also has a high correlation to the occurrence of gout. Organ meats include livers, kidneys, hearts, sweetbreads, and offal. Fortunately, taking medications and following a gout diet can control severe symptoms.

What Is Gout?

Drinking alcohol increases the levels of uric acid in your blood, so you're better off cutting down or giving up liquor, wine and beer. Drink more water or other non-alcoholic beverages instead — they'll help flush the uric acid out of your system. Purines aren't dangerous or harmful to your health, but when your body breaks them down, it creates uric acid. The uric acid builds up in your blood and triggers an attack in people who are prone to gout. A diet rich in vegetables is a must for those suffering from gout.

Studies show that a higher intake of vitamin C reduces uric acid levels in the blood. Since vitamin C is present in natural sources such as fruits and vegetables, those suffering from gout may find their symptoms alleviated by eating more of them. Fortunately, there are foods you can eat to normalize your uric acid levels.

Get The Latest Tips On Diet, Exercise And Healthy Living

These purines are metabolized by the body as part of the digestive process. Eat more whole grains and fruits and vegetables and fewer simple, refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, cakes and candy. Prediabetes is a condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes within several years, but making certain lifestyle choices can usually prevent type 2 diabetes. Caffeine can interfere with sleep, so it is best to avoid consuming caffeinated coffee and other caffeinated beverages within six hours of bedtime. Sources of added sugars tend to be low in nutrients and high in calories. They can include sugar-sweetened beverages, ice cream, cakes, pies, candy, other desserts, and sugar-sweetened cereal and flavored oatmeal and yogurt.

Also "lean meat, like chicken and turkey, is okay. Leafy greens and vegetable protein like soy are also a good source," says Singh. "Moderation is the key and avoiding the [high-purine] foods is the most important thing." Most of us feel overwhelmed when it comes to healthy eating, especially if we have a medical issue.

Despite being high in protein, dairy foods like cheese, milk, and yogurt are low in purines. The healthy influence is stronger when you choose low-fat dairy options, such as 1% milk and low-fat cottage cheese. Eating dairy helps your body eliminate uric acid, as shown in several trials. The most helpful carbs are found in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Sweet potatoes, beans, apples, and popcorn can all be served in wholesome and delicious ways as part of a healthy gout diet.

But where does this uric acid that causes all this trouble come from? Then there’s the fact that only about 1/3 of uric acid in the body comes from dietary purines; the other 2/3 is produced by the body itself. In other words, no matter how many purines you eat or don’t eat, the majority of uric acid is coming from somewhere else anyway. The root cause of gout is too much uric acid in the blood . Uric acid is actually one of the body’s primary antioxidants, but as always, it’s possible to get too much of a good thing. When there’s too much uric acid in the blood, it crystallizes, and the resulting solid crystals wind up in and around the joints .

Vegetables

Fructose intake has been strongly linked with gout, and these beverages add the greatest amounts of fructose to the diet. It is unclear if the increase in gout is caused directly by fructose or indirectly through another mechanism such as obesity. Cherries are rich in antioxidants and have been linked to lower levels of uric acid.

Is Bacon okay for gout?

Meat: Though no longer part of a common diet in the United States, organ meats, such as liver, sweetbreads, and brains, are most dangerous for those with gout. High purine content: Bacon, turkey, veal, venison.

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. Limiting artificially sweetened drinks, such as soft drinks and juices that contain high-fructose corn syrup, can also be beneficial for your overall health, which may help your gout. In one study, men who drank 5 to 6 servings of fructose-sweetened soft drinks per week were more likely to have gout. If soft drinks are your drink of choice, try gradually switching to a flavored sparkling water instead (just be sure it’s not artificially sweetened). Gout is a form of arthritis marked by sudden attacks of painful, inflamed joints.

Once you’re comfortable with that adjustment, eliminate one more. Losing excess weight has been proven to lower uric acid levels and decrease the risk of developing gout. It’s also beneficial for gout sufferers, because shedding excess pounds relieves excess pressure on joints. Cacao chocolate lowers uric acid levels and has anti-inflammatory properties. It is also an antioxidant, which means it may lower blood pressure and improve kidney function—both of which can help prevent gout.

So, What Should You Eat If You Have Gout?

Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which provide complex carbohydrates. Avoid foods and beverages with high-fructose corn syrup, and limit consumption of naturally sweet fruit juices. Patients with gout are often told to avoid certain foods that might trigger a gout attack. Some of these triggers have not been substantiated by the medical literature, but anecedotal evidence shows that they exist. Stabilize and lower your blood sugar and insulin levels by reducing carbohydrate intake, especially refined carbohydrate intake.

Are Nuts bad for gout?

A gout-friendly diet should include two tablespoons of nuts and seeds every day. Good sources of low-purine nuts and seeds include walnuts, almonds, flaxseeds and cashew nuts.

Black beans have been used as a treatment for gout in Taiwan for decades, but there is no research to back up this treatment. Black beans have the same antioxidant chemical that many berries have, but further research is needed. Some sources will tell you that refined carbohydrates are safe for gout sufferers, but this isn’t necessarily true. While refined carbs—like white bread, pasta, white rice, and sweet desserts made with white flour—are low in purine, they have a high glycemic index.

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Be sure to call your family doctor and discuss your gout symptoms. By working with your primary care physicianyou can create a plan to minimize the frequency and severity of your gout attacks. A study from the NCBI showed that whole grains are linked to lower systemic inflammation, and that can reduce episodes of pain from gout. In addition, people who eat more whole grains compared to refined grains tend to have lower risk for obesity. An effective gout diet is largely vegetarian, but that means you’ll need other sources of protein.

Answers To Gout Diet Myths

Studies have shown that the consumption of alcoholic drinks, especially beer, can cause the development and/or worsening of gout. The reason for this is that alcohol has a very high purine content, and beverages such as beer are rich in brewer’s yeast which increase the risk of a gout attack. Keeping your uric acid levels in check can protect your body from kidney malfunction, gout and many other conditions. Watch your meat, seafood and alcohol intake, and try to fill your diet with as many vegetables, fruits and seeds as you can.

This is a highly contentious area, because several studies have linked higher fruit intake with less incidence of gout. High sugar drinks may not be the only stimulant of gout flare ups. Soft drinks and fruit juices tend to have the greatest amount of added sugar, and therefore the greatest amount of added fructose.