High levels of uric acid in your blood can cause many serious diseases. If you suffer from gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis in adult men, it is important to reduce your intake of foods high in uric acid content. Elevated uric acid levels in pregnant women with hypertension present an increased risk of complications that could be fatal for mother and baby, according to research at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, higher than normal concentrations of uric acid in the blood can be a precursor for kidney disease.
Identification
Uric acid is created by the body, resulting in the breakdown of a substance called purine, found in foods and produced naturally by the body. Uric acid dissolves in the blood and filters through the kidneys, leaving the body in urine. Hyperuricemia is the result of blood levels reaching an excessive amount of uric acid.
Foods High in Uric Acid
Foods are considered high in uric acid if they have more than 400mg per 110g. Brewers yeast has a high content with 1,810mg per 100g. Sweetbread is also high at 1,260 mg. Fish products, which includes anchovies, herring, mackerel and sardines, have high uric acid content. For each 100g of organ meats, such as ox liver supplying 554mg, pig's liver with 515mg and sheep's spleen with 773mg, uric acid blood levels may be elevated. Other foods with high uric acid content are goose, duck, partridge, meat extracts, mincemeat and consomme.
Moderate Sources of Uric Acid
Foods containing moderately amounts of uric acid levels are 100 to 400 mg per 100g. Fish contains between 100 and 300 mg per 100g; shrimp and scallops average about 140mg, and some poultry are moderate sources. Meats include beef with around 115mg; lamb contains 182mg; pork averages about 150 mg. Some organ meats, sausage and veal contain modest amounts of uric acid. Other moderate sources are legumes, such as soybeans, white beans and lentils, and raisins and sunflower seeds.
Food Low in Uric Acid
Foods that contain less than 100mg per 100g of uric acid includes many fruits, such as apples, apricots, bananas, grapes, peaches and pears. Vegetables include mushrooms, peas, potatoes, spinach, tomato and broccoli. Dairy products, such as cheeses, yogurt and milk, and bread products with low uric acid are low-fiber, white flour or refined grain types. Pasta, macaroni and rice are also low sources.
Alcohol
Beer contains a high amount of purine, which converts to uric acid. Hard liquor, such as whiskey, vodka, gin, rum and wine, also contain uric acid.
Other Sources
Very spicy food, coffee, deep fried food and excessive tea may increase acid levels in the blood. Many drugs and medications increase uric acid in your body. Some include aspirin, diazoxide, diuretics, epinephrine and nicotinic acids. Rapid weight loss, because of treatments, such as chemotherapy, can increase uric acid in your blood. Some chronic conditions can also cause hyperuricemia, such as diabetes, leukemia, alcoholism and renal failure.
