Gout is a type of arthritis that affects the joints somewhat differently than other types of arthritis. Uric acid is a substance that normally gets flushed out of the body through urine. In gout sufferers, uric acid builds up in the body and forms urate crystals that pool up at the joints and cause inflammation, redness, stiffness and pain. Diet can be used to control gout and prevent flare-ups from happening.
History
Gout was first associated with the diet over 2,000 years ago when it was coined the "disease of kings" as it was commong for wealthy people who had access to rich foods and alcohol. In 1861, a relationship between uric acid and gout formation was discovered by American physician John Gunn. A diet was then created that involved the avoidance of alcohol and high-fat dairy. More become known about uric acid and gout over the years, and in the 1960s and 1970s, the diet was revised to where it still is today.
Features
Purines are substances that are found in a multitude of foods. When these foods are consumed, the purines get converted to uric acid and gout attacks can take place. With a gout diet, foods that are high in purine content are avoided. Examples of high purine foods are anchovies, red meat, poultry, livers, sweetbreads, kidneys, yeast, mushrooms, legumes, asparagus, shellfish and alcohol.
Function
When following a diet for gout, you can use a trial and error method. This is done by eliminating foods that are high in purines and reducing foods that are moderate in purines. After doing this, you can see how your body reacts to certain foods. If you do not experience flare-ups from various high and moderate purine foods, you can experiment with adding them back into your diet. This can enable you to have some of your favorite foods without the diet being too limiting.
Benefits
Benefits of a gout diet include the reduction in symptoms that are associated with it and the prevention of further joint damage that has started to take place. By helping avoid flare-ups, a gout diet can also improve your overall quality of life and improve your mobility.
Considerations
A gout diet involves avoiding foods that are high in purines, but if you are otherwise healthy and you do not suffer from gout, you need not apply the rules to your daily life. If you do have gout, you should discuss these dietary changes with your physician since the diet typically involves a reduction in protein from meat and fish. He might recommend adding supplements like iron, vitamin B-12, iodine, calcium and zinc to your diet. When you avoid eating meat, these nutrients are often lost.
Potential
According to the Mayo Clinic, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, purple grapes, blueberries, vitamin C supplements and caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee are alternative treatments that have been studied to lower uric acid levels.
