Purines constitute part of the nucleoprotein of the cell, and are naturally found in a number of food items. During digestion, purines are metabolized into a substance called uric acid. Uric acid crystals accumulate in the blood and settle in the joints, leading to a type of arthritis known as gout. When you are suffering from a gout attack, or have a condition that causes you to have high blood levels of uric acid, your doctor may suggest you limit the amount of purine in your diet.
High-Purine Foods
Foods high in purine contain 100 to 1,000mg of purine per 100g of food, according to the author's of "Krause's Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy." Most people consume between 600 and 1,000mg of purine a day. When restricting intake, you need to limit your daily purine intake to 100 to 150mg a day. High-purine foods include anchovies, bouillon, brains, broth, consomme, gravy, heart, herring, kidneys, mackerel, meat extracts, mussels, partridge, roe, sardines, scallops, sweetbreads and yeast. Avoid foods high in purine if you have gout or high blood levels of uric acid.
Moderate-Purine Foods
Moderate-purine foods contain 9 to 100mg of purine per 100g serving of food. Foods with a moderate amounts of purine include fish, poultry, meat, shellfish, asparagus, dried beans, lentils, mushrooms, dried peas and spinach. When on a purine-restricted diet, limit your intake of moderate-purine foods to two servings a day. A serving size is equal to 2 to 3 oz. of meat and 1/2 cup of cooked vegetables. It is important to note that changing your diet may not completely alleviate your gout symptoms, says the FamilyDoctor.org. Medication may also be necessary.
Low-Purine Foods
Foods low in purine contain only negligible amounts of the substance. These foods are not restricted on a low-purine diet. Foods with negligible amounts of purine include bread and all bread products, crackers, butter, margarine, cake, cookies, carbonated beverages, cereal, cheese, chocolate, coffee, condiments, fruit, herbs, ice cream, milk, pasta and noodles, nuts, olives, oil, eggs, rice, all vegetables except those mentioned in to have moderate amounts of purines, sugar and sweets.
A healthy diet that promotes a healthy weight is most often recommended for treatment of gout. However, losing weight too quickly can increase uric acid accumulation. To prevent the gout arthritis aim for a slow 1/2 to 1 lb. weekly weight loss.
References
- "Krause's Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy"; L. Kathleen Mahan, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., Sylvia Escott-Stump. M.A. R.D.; 1996
- Family Doctor: Low-Purine Diet
