Gout Prevention

Content

• Learn More About Arthritis
• Health And Nutrition Bites
• About Veritas Health
• What Can I Do To Prevent This In The Future?
• Avoid Medications That Trigger Gout
• Gout Topics

Follow a well-balanced diet to lose excess body weight; do not follow a high-protein, low-carb weight loss diet, as this can worsen gout conditions. Rapid weight loss and fasting actually can increase the amount of uric acid in your body. Check in with them to manage progress and health issues. Your family doctor may recommend that you follow a low-purine diet.

Learn More About Arthritis

A group of drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors, including febuxostat and allopurinol, can help prevent future gout flare-ups. They work by causing the body to produce less uric acid. Remember, the development of gout is also influenced by other chronic diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, heart failure and obesity.

Managing these levels may help relieve or prevent symptoms. Some foods can help lower uric acid levels, while others can increase it. Eating tart cherries – or drinking tart cherry juice -- may lower your risk of gout attacks. The red-purple pigments in the fruit – called anthocyanins – have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and are thought to provide protection. You may love liver and onions, but eating it may trigger a flare. Organ meats are particularly high in purines, which can increase your uric acid levels and spur a gout attack.

Health And Nutrition Bites

Dr Tambar is board certified in both rheumatology and internal medicine. He also holds Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Diagnostic and Interventional certifications from the American College of Rheumatology and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Don’t take any medications or supplements to treat your gout without checking with your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you. Dr. Siddharth Tambar, MD is a board certified rheumatologist at Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Try using a food tracker app to monitor what you’re eating and help you lose weight.

Are pineapples good for gout?

Adding pineapple to your daily diet may help prevent gout flare-ups and reduce the intensity of your gout symptoms. Aim for one serving of pineapple, which is equal to one cup of fresh pineapple chunks. Avoid sugary drinks containing pineapple, or pineapple desserts. Pineapple is delicious when eaten fresh.

While these don’t need to be avoided completely, portion size is important – a moderate intakeshould not increase the risks of gout. Speak to your GP before starting new supplements or altering your diet to manage gout. Following a gout diet can help you limit your body's uric acid production and increase its elimination. Increase protein by including more plant-based sources, such as beans and legumes. Alcohol interferes with the elimination of uric acid from your body.

About Veritas Health

Fructose is a naturally occurring form of sugar found in some foods, such as fruit. Research has shown that fructose, including high fructose corn syrup added to some foods and beverages, can increase serum uric acid levels. In women who drank 1 to 3 cups of coffee daily, the risk of gout was 22% lower, and in those who drank 4 or more cups daily the risk was 57% lower, compared with no coffee consumption. From this review, the researchers concluded that drinking 4 or more cups of coffee per day lowers uric acid levels and decreases the incidence of gout. If the amount of purines in the body is more than it can process, uric acid builds up in the blood, in a condition called hyperuricemia.

This includes all the most common meats like beef, chicken, pork and lamb. Beer seems to be the worst, followed by hard liquors such as spirits. Interestingly, moderate wine consumption is not linked with any risk . Information online about gout treatment can be particularly confusing, and even contradictory at times.

What Can I Do To Prevent This In The Future?

Take your medicines as prescribed and follow the other guidelines your healthcare provider has given you. Alcohol itself is not high in purines, but it can make gout worse. For another, alcohol causes the body to produce more purines and therefore more uric acid.

The following is a list of the top 6 foods to avoid with gout, explaining what we know and how it applies to you. Your doctor may decide to treat you with something else that doesn’t increase your risk of gout. If you’re suffering from an attack of gout, try some OTC pain medications. Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen to help reduce the pain of a gout flare-up so you can get through it.

Supplements and other remedies may interfere with medication. Vitamin C, broccoli, and cherry juice are touted — but not proven — to help gout. Foods with yeasts and yeast extracts are high in purines and should not be included in your diet if you have gout. Because of this, it is recommended to avoid some alcohol, such as beer, altogether and consume others, like wine, only in moderation. Sodas and sugary drinks are considered empty-calorie foods, because they contain no beneficial nutrients while contributing a lot of calories to your diet. Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks or soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks.

Doctors who specialize in gout and other forms of arthritis are called rheumatologists. To find a provider near you, visit the database of rheumatologistsexternal icon on the American College of Rheumatology website. Once a rheumatologist has diagnosed and effectively treated your gout, a primary care provider can usually track your condition and help you manage your gout. The Gout Education Society notes that insulin resistance can lead to gout and having too-high levels of uric acid in your blood can lead to insulin resistance. The group reports that 26% of people with gout have Type 2 diabetes. We’ve seen that vitamin C may help lower uric acid levels, but many people don’t get all of the vitamins they need from diet alone.