Diet for gout patients

Gout is a painful form of rheumatic disease caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. While an imbalance in the excretion of uric acid in the kidneys can cause gout, certain foods high in purines can also trigger the disease. If you have been diagnosed with gout, follow these dietary tips from nutritionists:

Avoid alcoholic beverages completely

You should completely avoid alcoholic beverages such as wine when you have gout. Alcohol causes the kidneys to excrete alcohol instead of uric acid, increasing the uric acid level in the blood leading to gout attacks. Beer is high in purines and therefore has a strong association with gout. The alcohol and yeast content in beer can also be gout triggers.

Limit soft drinks and canned juices

You should also limit your intake of sodas and fruit juices, which are sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that corn syrup increases the risk of gout.

Do not eat animal protein

Animal protein is high in purines, a precursor to gout. It can also cause you to excrete too much uric acid, which causes gout. So you should limit your intake of beef, pork, and lamb. Eating a lot of seafood is also associated with a higher risk of gout. In addition, eating too much animal protein can also lead to cancer.

Eat more plant protein

Plant proteins like beans can be great for you if you have gout. They are low in purines and making them a major part of your diet will help you avoid the purines in animal proteins.

Sunflower seeds and flaxseeds are two of the plant protein sources that are lowest in purines.

Choose low-fat milk

Too much saturated fat in your diet can reduce your body's ability to eliminate uric acid. So you need to cut down on saturated fats like full-fat dairy products. Choose low-fat dairy products like skimmed milk and low-fat yogurt, as they have been linked to lower uric acid levels.

Eat lots of cherries

Eating lots of cherries can inhibit enzymes that cause inflammation, as well as reduce uric acid levels in the body. Researchers at the Boston University Medical Center conducted a study and found that eating at least 10 cherries a day helps protect against gout attacks.

According to SKDS