Purines are naturally produced in your body. However, you can also get them from eating specific foods such as organ meats, herring, anchovies, and some fruits and vegetables. An excess consumption of purines can put you at risk for developing gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when uric acid levels in your blood become too high and gather around your joints. When your body breaks down purines, uric acid is produced. It is important to reduce your intake of purines to prevent or control symptoms of high uric acid in your blood. Emphasizing foods low in purines can be a good idea, notes MayoClinic.com.
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Meat Alternatives
A study published in November 2010 in the "Journal of the Science and Food Agriculture" reports that meat alternatives can be sources of low-purine foods. Meat alternatives are similar to meat in taste, flavor or texture, but they are composed of vegetarian- based proteins. According to this study, these products may be made from soybean protein, wheat protein, or egg white protein. The study concludes that meat alternatives can be suitable for people who must consume a low-purine diet.
Whole Grains
Whole grains may be good sources of low-purine nutrition. The intake of whole grains may prevent and help control symptoms of high uric acid that are associated with gout, notes MayoClinic.com. These whole grains can include whole-wheat bread, whole-wheat pasta, oatmeal and barley; they should replace refined grains, found in white bread, cookies and cakes.
Root Vegetables
The University of Maryland Medical Center supports the intake of root vegetables, including potatoes and yams, to reduce the symptoms of gout that occur when there is excess purine in your blood. These vegetables are lower in purine content than others, such as mushrooms, asparagus, and spinach, which are moderate in purine content. Other sources of root vegetables include squash, rutabaga and pumpkin.
