Foods To Avoid With Gout

Content

• Health Information Sponsored
• Medical Links
• Weight Management And Exercise
• Eat Plenty Of Fruits
• What Foods Do I Avoid To Manage Gout?
• Diets That Can Help Lower Cholesterol
• How To Get Rid Of Gout With Your Diet

Anecdotal evidence suggests avoiding dark part of salmon, and de-veining prawns/shrimp before eating. Additional theories propose that excessive alcohol may also reduce the body’s ability to excrete uric acid. Others state that alcohol – especially beer – increases the chemical breakdown of purine-containing ATP nucleotides, which is a precursor of uric acid production . Researchers found that regular alcohol use was associated with three times greater risk of gout in women compared to those who have less than 2 standard drinks per week. For men, regular drinkers had double the risk of non-drinkers . It is well-established that frequent alcohol intake dramatically increases risk of gout .

Not everyone needs to follow a rigid diet to treat gout, but avoiding foods that are high in purines may help. Check with your doctor or dietitian to see if you should follow this diet. This site is for educational purposes only; no information is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The information is produced and reviewed by over 200 medical professionals with the goal of providing trusted, uniquely informative information for people with painful health conditions. 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.

Health Information Sponsored

It was originally known as a “rich man’s disease” because it was associated with rich foods and alcohol, which were generally unavailable to the lower classes. Information about symptoms, health and lifestyle habits will help determine the type of arthritis you have. Here's what you might eat during a typical day on a gout diet. There is some evidence that coffee may contribute to helping to lower the total levels of uric acid. 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. It’s also recommended to completely eliminate alcohol during active flares .

Excess uric acid can produce uric acid crystals, which then build up in soft tissues and joints, causing the painful symptoms of gout. Dietary management focuses on reducing the amount of uric acid in the system and attaining and maintaining a healthy bodyweight. Alcoholic beverages have been shown to increase uric acid production in the body. Alcohol is one of the key things to avoid to reduce the risk of a flare-up. Though wine tends to be lower in purines than beer, keep in mind that any alcohol intake can trigger an attack. Soft drinks and fruit juice are not good for the diet of those with gout due to the added sugars and sweeteners.

Medical Links

If you desire to lose weight, a slow and steady approach is best for your health, as you'll be more likely to maintain this healthy lifestyle change over the long run. In fact, the opposite seems to be true, with a vegetable-rich diet being associated with a lower risk of gout compared with the lower consumption of vegetables. A 2017 study looked at gout incidence in people who followed either a Western diet or the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet. The researcher found the DASH diet was associated with a lower risk of gout, whereas the Western diet was associated with a higher risk of gout. For example, a 12-ounce can of cola contains about 150 calories and 40 grams, or about 9.5 teaspoons, of added sugars.

Eating cherries or cherry extract may help you control gout flares. A large study of more than 600 people with recurring gout looked at how cherries influence gout frequency. People who reported eating cherries or cherry extract were significantly less likely to experience gout over the following two days.

Changing your diet may help lower your risk of having future attacks of gout. Doctors recommend that overweight people who have gout reach and stay at a healthy body weight by getting moderate exercise daily and regulating their fat and caloric intake. In addition to medical treatment, you can manage your gout with self-management strategies. Self-management is what you do day to day to manage your condition and stay healthy, like making healthy lifestyle choices.

What is the main cause of gout?

Gout is caused by a condition known as hyperuricemia, where there is too much uric acid in the body. The body makes uric acid when it breaks down purines, which are found in your body and the foods you eat.

People who have trouble metabolizing purines, such as people diagnosed with hyperuricemia or gout, are advised to limit consumption of high-purine foods and drinks. Purines are found in the cells of all living things, including humans, animals, and plants, so there is no way to eliminate them from a diet. A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology in 2016 found that people who followed the DASH diet for 30 days lowered their uric acid levels 0.35 mg/dL on average. The higher the starting uric acid level, the greater the decline. Gout is a type ofarthritiswhich occurs when high levels of uric acid create crystals that get caught and accumulate in the joints. It is usually sudden with severe pain, redness and tenderness in the joint.

Eat Plenty Of Fruits

By watching purine-rich food intake, eating more vegetables and less unprocessed foods, watching your weight, and exercising more, gout can be managed effectively. Limiting the consumption of these foods and drinks may help treat hyperuricemia and reduce the risk of gout flare-ups. Women are at higher risk after menopause, as their uric acid levels get close to the amount men produce.

Are blueberries bad for gout?

You may want to try adding some of the following foods to your diet: Dark berries. These include blueberries, blackberries, and cherries. These berries contain chemicals that may lower uric acid.

Maintaining a balanced diet, low in uric acid, is critical for lowering the risk of a gout attack. Learn which foods and beverages you should eat and which ones to avoid. These episodes are often referred to as ‘flares’ or ‘attacks’ that happen when uric acid levels become too high in the body. A flare happens when uric acid settles into affected joint spaces and forms crystals that cause both inflammation and pain. Foods that contain fructose, such as sugar-sweetened soft drinks and even fruit juice, might increase the risk of gout.

What Can I Do On My Own To Prevent Gout Attacks?

Gout is a painful condition that occurs when urate crystals build up in the tissues in and around your joints. Treating gout requires the care of a physician, but you can make some dietary changes that may help reduce your chances of a painful attack. “The metabolism of compounds called purines raises the level of uric acid in the bloodstream. When uric acid levels rise, sodium urate crystals can develop in joints like the knees and toes, causing pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, and swelling. There is some evidence that eating cherries is associated with a reduced risk of gout attacks.