Foods To Avoid On A Low Purine Diet

Low-purine diets are typically recommended to patients suffering from gout, a common type of inflammatory arthritis most prevalent in men over age 40, stemming from too much uric acid in the body. Kidneys excrete uric acid that's formed when the body breaks down purines, which are nucleic acids found in the body and in foods, and gout occurs when excess uric acid creates deposits of sharp urate crystals around the joints, causing painful swelling and tenderness, according to MayoClinic.com.

Red Meat and Organ Meat

Animal proteins such as poultry, and processed meats such as salami and hot dogs, contain moderate purine levels. Organ meats, beef, pork and lamb contain the highest concentrations of purines. According to a study published in the March 2004 issue of the "New England Journal of Medicine," each additional daily serving of these items that the male study participants consumed was associated with a 21 percent increase in gout risk, so these foods should be restricted or avoided.

Seafood

All types of seafood, including tuna, dark fish, shrimp, lobster, scallops, herring and anchovies, have moderate to high purines and should be restricted, but herring and anchovies should be particularly avoided because of their high purine levels. Adding an extra weekly serving of any seafood was associated with a 7 percent increase in risk for developing gout in men, according to the 2004 study in the "New England Journal of Medicine."

Moderate Purine Plants

Moderate purine plants, such as peas, beans, lentils, oatmeal, spinach, mushrooms and cauliflower, may also need to be restricted or avoided, although these purine sources did not appear to be linked with gout attacks in men, according to the 2004 "New England Journal of Medicine" study.

Alcohol

While alcohol in general is associated with an increased risk for gout, beer especially should be avoided as it was found to increase the risk of gout in men the most, likely because of its particularly high purine levels relative to other alcoholic drinks, according to an April 2004 study published in the journal "Lancet."

Yeast and Soup Stock

Baker's and Brewer's yeast, as well as soup stocks containing bouillon, should be avoided in a low-purine diet, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.