What Foods To Avoid With Gout And Why

Content

• Complex Carbohydrates Can Keep Gout Away
• Instead Of Meat, Try Vegetable Sources Of Protein Or Dairy Products
• Living With Gout
• Ten Tips For Beating Gout
• Symptoms Of High Uric Acid

It is also an antioxidant, which means it may lower blood pressure and improve kidney function—both of which can help prevent gout. Managing gout means making lifestyle changes, such as eating fewer foods high in purines. Limiting those with the highest amounts may help control gout attacks.

Complex Carbohydrates Can Keep Gout Away

In addition, people who eat more whole grains compared to refined grains tend to have lower risk for obesity. Certain types of foods can reduce gout symptoms by lowering inflammation, being low in purines, or helping with weight control according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control . Most fruits and vegetables are low in purines, O’Connor says. A small handful of almonds or walnuts is a good meat substitute for those at risk for gout pain, says O’Connor.

It is a good idea to avoid all foods that contain high-fructose corn syrup when trying to prevent gout attacks. In addition to increasing your consumption of these five foods and drinks, be sure to continue to watch your intake of the foods that can contribute to gout attacks. Avoid red meat, beer, organ meats, and high fructose products like soda, candy, and fast food.

Instead Of Meat, Try Vegetable Sources Of Protein Or Dairy Products

Studies have shown that a high glycemic index results in higher uric acid levels. In fact, lowering your overall carb intake can increase uric acid levels. The key is to switch out at least some of your refined carbs for whole grains, i.e. start making sandwiches on whole wheat instead of white bread. However, if you continually have gout attacks – despite cutting out alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks – then I’m not convinced a large amount of fruits are safe for you. In a large study of over 46,000 men, researches found that two or more sugar-sweetened soft drinks a day was associated with an 85% increased risk of gout .

Health

Foods that you eat, and don't eat, can impact your gout by increasing or decreasing your blood uric acid levels. Beer and distilled liquors are associated with an increased risk of gout and recurring attacks. Moderate consumption of wine doesn't appear to increase the risk of gout attacks. Avoid alcohol during gout attacks, and limit alcohol, especially beer, between attacks. One study including 724 people found that drinking wine, beer or liquor increased the risk of gout attacks.

Chronic lead exposure and lead-contaminated alcohol are risk factors for gout due to the harmful effect of lead on kidney function. Gout is partly genetic, contributing to about 60% of variability in uric acid level. The SLC2A9, SLC22A12, and ABCG2 genes have been found to be commonly associated with gout and variations in them can approximately double the risk. Loss-of-function mutations in SLC2A9 and SLC22A12 causes low blood uric acid levels by reducing urate absorption and unopposed urate secretion. Dietary causes account for about 12% of gout, and include a strong association with the consumption of alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages, meat, and seafood. Among foods richest in purines yielding high amounts of uric acid are dried anchovies, shrimp, organ meat, dried mushrooms, seaweed, and beer yeast.

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. And unlike fruit juice and other sugar-sweetened drinks, whole fruits are nutritious and generally good for health. If you must have something sweet, diet soft drinks were not associated with gout and appear to be safe . Just know that several artificial sweeteners are thought to upset gut bacteria, and are not necessarily a healthier choice.

People with gout are more likely to have diabetes, and people with diabetes are more likely to have gout. This may be because people with diabetes tend to have high levels of uric acid, and people with gout tend to have high levels of inflammation that is linked to diabetes. Get physically active.Experts recommend that adults engage in 150 minutes per week of at least moderate physical activity.

Not only is gout painful, but it can affect a person’s quality of life. Here are some of the ways gout can affect a person’s life. Purines metabolized → Uric Acid released as by-product → Urate Crystals form in joints.

Reaching or maintaining a healthy weight can relieve pain, improve function, and slow the progression of arthritis. Beer is high in a type of purine that is easy for your body to absorb, and hard liquor has been shown to elevate gout risk too. Some studies find wine drinking raises your risk, but others have found that moderate wine drinking does not. 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. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

What are the 10 foods that trigger gout?

High-Purine Foods Include:Alcoholic beverages (all types)
Some fish, seafood and shellfish, including anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels, codfish, scallops, trout and haddock.
Some meats, such as bacon, turkey, veal, venison and organ meats like liver.

Eating foods that are rich in purines , a substance that breaks down into urate. Some people may have frequent flares, while others may not have another flare for years. However, over time, if left untreated, your flares may last longer and happen more often. Weight loss can help decrease the amount of stress on your joints. Regular exercise can help you lose weight if you are overweight, or maintain your weight if you are at a normal weight. Talk to your healthcare provider before you begin an exercise program.

Ten Tips For Beating Gout

The rest is found naturally in your body’s tissues, and your genes play a big role in determining how much uric acid your body creates. It’s extremely unlikely, say experts, to manage gout strictly through diet changes — that’s why medication is crucial. Scallops are okay for an occasional indulgence, but you should cut back on them—and all types of meat and seafood—during a flare-up, says Sandon. These animal foods are rich in purines, which your body breaks down into uric acid. Being at a healthy weight may also be less taxing on your joints, thereby slowing the progression of joint damage.

However, one study found that vitamin C supplements had no effect on gout . Although a gout-friendly diet eliminates many foods, there are still plenty of low-purine foods you can enjoy. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.

Some seafood also has high purine content, particularly sardines, scallops, anchovies and herring. Beer-lovers should consider scaling down their intake as well. Some animal products contain high levels of natural substances called purines.

Again, accumulation of these types of products leading to higher quantities of uric acid can also cause a gout attack. The study also found that each additional weekly serving of seafood was associated with a 7 percent increase in risk. Protein, purine-rich vegetables and moderate wine drinking were found not as harmful to gout sufferers as once believed. In addition, the study found that low-fat dairy products, specifically skim milk and low-fat yogurt, may actually decrease the risk or provide some protection against gouty arthritis. Drinking adequate water along with a diet low in alcohol and purine-rich foods and high in vitamin C can lower blood uric acid levels and lessen the frequency and severity of attacks. Obesity is also a risk factor for developing gout, so weight loss can help to lower your risk.