Gout, a form of acute arthritis, can strike any joint but most commonly occurs in the big toe. It results from a buildup of uric acid, which crystallizes and deposits itself into the joint. Symptoms include pain, redness, swelling and tenderness. What you eat takes center stage in preventing gout attacks and promoting healing. You might also required medications as well.
How Diet Influences Gout
Uric acid forms when purines, a type of chemical that naturally occurs in the body and many types of food breaks down during the digestive process. Uric acid is not harmful in and of itself but when excess amounts form or your body cannot flush it out of your system properly, you run the risk of suffering a gout attack. A diet low in certain purine-rich items forms a cornerstone of an anti-gout diet, along with some other helpful measures.
Limiting Meat Intake
Meat represents one of the richest sources of purines. Red meats in particular, such as beef and lamb, appear to cause the most problems. A study published in a 2004 volume of the New England Journal of Medicine found that men who had the highest intake of red meat were 40 percent more likely to suffer gout attacks than the men who consumed the least. The Mayo Clinic advises that your daily intake of meat not exceed 4 to 6 oz., regardless of the type you choose to consume.
Considerations for other Purine-Rich Foods
Purine-rich seafood also appears to increase the risk of gout attacks. The same New England Journal of Medicine study found that men who had the highest seafood intake were 50 percent more likely to suffer a gout attack than men who consumed the least. While all seafood contains purines, the richest sources include all types of shellfish, sardines, herring, mackerel and sardines. However, purine-rich vegetables do not appear to trigger gout. This means that foods such as mushrooms, spinach, beans, peas, lentils and cauliflower might not pose a risk for a gout attack.
Beverage Suggestions
The Mayo Clinic advises you to drink plenty of water to flush extra uric acid from the body. Limit your intake of alcohol because it interferes with the removal of excess uric acid. The clinic notes that beer might be a particular problem. If you are not having an attack, small amounts of wine will probably not hurt. Dr. Andrew Weil, well-known physician and alternative medicine expert, recommends eliminating coffee and other caffeinated beverages because they might raise the amount of uric acid in the body.
Other Dietary Considerations
The Mayo Clinic notes that low-fat or fat-free dairy products might help ease gout. High intake of sugar might influence uric acid levels directly but the clinic notes some debate exists over the validity of this claim, but avoiding sugar cannot hurt for general health.
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