Six Foods To Avoid With Gout And The Joint Pain Associated With Gout

Content

• Tips For A Healthy Gout Diet
• Mindbodygreen
• Diagnosed With Gout? Foods Low Or Moderate In Purine Are A Key Part Of Avoiding Painful Attacks
• Mind & Body
• Food Purine Levels

Early studies suggest that coffee may decrease the risk of gout. Tart cherry juice may help decrease uric acid levels and inflammation in gout. Research is limited, with often small numbers of study participants and short-term follow-up. Some vegetables and plant foods, such as peas, beans, lentils, spinach, mushrooms, oats, and cauliflower, are high in purines. However, several studies have shown that they do not increase the risk of gout.

Tips For A Healthy Gout Diet

The disease should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor or a team of doctors who specialize in care of gout patients. This is important because the signs and symptoms of gout are not specific and can look like signs and symptoms of other inflammatory diseases. 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.

Research suggests including plant-based foods such as whole grains, nuts, beans and peas, fruits, and vegetables may help reduce uric acid in the blood. That means skipping the liver and onions at the dinner, as well as sweetbreads, tongue, tripe, and other organ meats. Meats such as poultry, pork, and lamb are lower in purines, but experts advise keeping portions small.

Mindbodygreen

Other factors such as stress, family history, lack of physical exercise and sleep apnoea also affect gout. For the best treatment of gout it is recommended to consult with a physician who will help you to develop a treatment plan for your needs, as it is important to deal with all factors. By understanding what to avoid and why may help you to prevent and overcome a gout attack.

One of the most widely accepted and recommended dietary approaches in managing gout is to reduce purine intake from foods. By choosing to eat low-purine foods instead of those higher in purines, you can help prevent your blood uric acid levels from getting too high. 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.

It’s also beneficial for gout sufferers, because shedding excess pounds relieves excess pressure on joints. 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. Prevent tophi and kidney stones from forming as a result of chronic high levels of uric acid. Having a diet high in purines, which the body breaks down into uric acid. Purine-rich foods include red meat, organ meat, and some kinds of seafood, such as anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout, and tuna.

What foods trigger gout?

Foods and drinks that often trigger gout attacks include organ meats, game meats, some types of fish, fruit juice, sugary sodas and alcohol. On the other hand, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soy products and low-fat dairy products may help prevent gout attacks by lowering uric acid levels.

Your doctor may allow you to add a small amount back into your diet over time as your uric acid levels come down. But even then, it’s best to avoid beer and liquor and stick to safer choices such as red wine. Patients with gout who follow the recommended dietary guidelines can significantly lower their uric acid levels and decrease the number and severity of gout attacks.

If you're prone to gout disease, your diet plays a key role in keeping your joints pain-free. Learn which foods to avoid—plus what to eat to prevent a flare. Fish, poultry, and other meat should be eaten in moderation to avoid gout attacks. Some nutritionists recommend four to six ounces a day of these foods.

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A gout attack is not pleasant, the pain can be so bad that sufferers may be hospitalized for days to weeks. Information about this condition online and treatment can be confusing and contradictory, consulting a physician is recommended. In addition to writing for HealthCentral, she has spent her career working at Johns Hopkins and is also an adjunct faculty instructor for Excelsior College. Carmen has over 20 years of experience in nutritional counseling, education, writing, and program management and is a certified specialist in adult weight management.