Gout is a form of arthritis that inflames the joints and causes significant pain. Controlling flare-ups means eliminating foods that produce higher levels of uric acid in the body. Treating gout with diet requires knowledge of foods to avoid and foods that help. According to Cedars Sinai Hospital, gout is one of the oldest known conditions that was once considered "the disease of kings," because of the belief that it stemmed from food and drink overindulgence.
Cause
Gout is caused by abnormally high levels of uric acid in the body that are byproducts of purine metabolism. Purines are found in all of the blood cells and body tissues and in most food and are necessary for blood vessel health. Some foods are particularly high in purine levels Uric acid crystals that form from puirine metabolism are "needle-like" and cause gout when they settle in the joint tissues. According to the National Institutes of Health, many forms of the disease are caused by hereditary defects in purine metabolism, meaning the body fails to excrete uric acid. Certain medications known as thiazide diuretics -- water pills -- can also lead to gouty arthritis. Kidney dysfunction is another contributor. Risk factors that trigger underlying causes of gout include a high purine diet, male gender and family history of the disease.
Prevention/Solution
According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, some cases of gout can be treated with diet alone. Recommendations include consuming no more than three ounces of meat per meal, eating carbohydrates to help lower uric acid levels and avoidance of alcohol. High fat foods should be eliminated. Fruit and vegetables, excluding avocados, are helpful for controlling attacks. Dried peas and beans, spinach, asparagus mushrooms and cauliflower should be limited to two servings per week. Dairy fat should be avoided in lieu of low fat and skim products. Fish that are high in purine are herring, mackerel and salmon. Eating organ meats can also trigger an attack of gout. A study, "Consumption of Bing Sweet Cherries Lowers Circulating Concentrations of Inflammation Markers in Healthy Men and Women" published in the "Journal of Nutrition," April 2006, found benefit from Bing sweet cherries for reducing inflammation that could also be helpful for controlling gout symptoms.
Identification
Blood tests can determine if uric acid levels are elevated in the bloodstream. A physician makes a definite diagnosis by aspirating fluid from a swollen joint and sending it to the lab for analysis. The long-term consequences of repeated gout attacks make it important to identify the cause of joint pain and inflammation and manage the disease by following a gout diet and using medications recommended by your healthcare provider.
Expert Insight
Consuming foods to treat gout is also beneficial for weight loss that in turn reduces other disease risk factors. Losing weight also helps control uric acid levels in the body. Treating gout with diet can also reduce risk of complications from taking medications known as NSAIDS --- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- that increase the risk of heart attack and gastrointestinal bleeding, especially when used long term. The potential ill effects of gout treatment with medications is reviewed in the NY Times article "Gout-Chronic, Treatment-Medications," by Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
Warning
Treating gout with diet and medication when needed can prevent complications. When the disease is untreated, the next attack can be worse. The American Academy of Family Physicians warns that repeated attacks can lead to complications that include tophi -- deposits of uric acid under the skin -- kidney stones, kidney dysfunction and permanent damage to the joints.
