Gout is a type of arthritis that can affect anyone and involves painful inflammation of the joints, particularly the joints of the big toes. Attacks of gout occur when too much uric acid, a metabolite of purines, builds up in the blood and leads to the formation of urate crystals in the joints. If you experience gout attacks, consult a health care professional for treatment. Eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, drink plenty of fluids and avoid foods high in purines to help prevent or limit gout attacks.
Organ Meats
Do not eat organ meats such as liver, kidney and heart if you are prone to gout. Red meat and other sources of animal protein contain purines as well, and should be limited if you are trying to manage gout. According to MayoClinic.com, people with gout should limit animal protein intake to no more than four to six ounces daily.
Seafood
Seafood, including shrimp, lobster, anchovies, scallops, herring, sardines and other fatty fish, are high in purines. According to a study published in 2004 in the "New England Journal of Medicine," high seafood intake is associated with a high risk of gout attacks.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol, particularly beer, can increase your risk of gout attacks, according to MayoClinic.com. A study published in 2004 in the journal "Lancet" followed a group of men for 12 years and found that men who drank 12 ounces of beer or more daily had a greater risk of developing gout than those who did not drink or drank different types of alcohol.
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