Content
Cherries—just a few a day have been proven to reduce your risk of a gout attack. Merola JF, Wu S, Han J, Choi HK, Qureshi AA. Psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and risk of gout in US men and women. If treated right away, gout is nothing to be too worried about. Untreated, however, it can lead to advanced gout and tophi, which are deposits of sodium urate monohydrate crystals around a joint that causes a swollen growth under the skin. Tips for Athletes Who Want to Avoid Plantar Fasciitis Do you suffer from pain and inflammation of the heel?
Worldhealth Videos
Drinking plenty of water may aid in digestion and lower uric acid concentrations in the blood. While all plants and meats contain purines, certain foods contain higher concentrations. In addition, certain other foods may affect the body’s production and metabolism of purines. Purines that enter the body via food are called exogenous purines. These purines are metabolized by the body as part of the digestive process.
One study found that soybeans, soymilk, and soy powder increased uric acid in the blood significantly. However, larger population studies have recently told a different story. Several have reported that not only are soy products harmless for gout patients, but also people who eat more soy tend to have a reduced gout risk. It’s recommended that people with hyperuricemia or gout avoid or limit eating foods that are high in purines to help reduce the purine load in the body.
What You Can And Should Eat
I hate pricking my finger but knowing my uric acid levels is worth it. When I first saw my Rheumatologist about two months prior, my uric acid level was 8.4 mg/dL. With the diet and medication quickly, my uric acid levels were within the safe range. But even with taking allopurinol every morning, not following the diet caused my uric acid levels to go up. For men, a uric acid level below 7 mg/dL is considered safe.
For the most part, I try to follow the recommendations of the Mayo Clinic. In the last three years, I have managed only to have one bad gout attack. This year I did start seeing a Rheumatologist for help with Gout and Rheumatoid arthritis.
Genetics, Not Diet, Is The Likely Cause Of Gout
Purines are organic compounds that are primarily naturally produced in the body, with about 20% of purines being derived from diet. While they may get a bad reputation from their role in gout, purines make up two of the four building blocks of DNA and RNA . When cells in your body die and the DNA within these cells break down, purines are released into the body. Some of those purines will be used in the formation of new cells, but a majority are sent to the liver. In the liver, they are broken down into uric acid, which is carried in the bloodstream to the kidneys in order to be processed, filtered, and ultimately excreted through urine.
Talk with your health care provider if you have additional questions about managing gout. Seafood�Seafood often has high levels of purine, but Mayo Clinic notes that the benefits of eating seafood generally outweigh the risk of gout attacks. Still, you might want to avoid anchovies, shellfish and sardines. 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.
Diagnosing Gout
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 don’t make it a regular part of your diet. Acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus and other fruits, beans and dairy products do not necessarily lead to higher uric acid levels. People often assume they do simply because of the word “acid,” but acidic foods and uric acid are not one and the same. Patients often ask me about desserts, as well as entrees with rich sauces.
When eaten in moderation, desserts and other rich foods do not affect gout flare-ups. Rich foods may not cause flare-ups directly, but they can cause weight gain. Always read product labels to be sure the item doesn’t contain fructose or corn syrup. Also, try to limit the number of times you eat out per week to ensure you aren’t loading up on unwanted fructose. Since following a healthy, balanced diet is one of your best defenses against gout, you also want to limit the amount of fat in your diet.
Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Avoid alcohol, especially beer and hard liquor such as whiskey and gin. There are several things you can do as part of an eating plan for gout.
No comments:
Post a Comment