Purine is a protein that occurs naturally in foods and in your body. Uric acid forms when your body breaks down foods containing purine. The kidneys normally regulate the amount of uric acid in the blood but sometimes these levels become too high and this can cause deposits of uric acid crystals to form in joints, producing a condition called gout. Gout is a form of arthritis and is characterized by joint pain and swelling. In addition to gout medication, your doctor may recommend dietary changes to reduce the occurrence of gout attacks. This diet restricts foods high in purine that may raise uric acid levels.
Animal Protein
All animal protein contains purine. Wild fowl such as goose, duck and partridge are high in purine. Organ meats from any animal are high in purine and include liver, kidney, heart, brain and sweetbreads. Veal and venison contain high purine levels, as do mincemeat pies if made with meat. Other poultry such as turkey and chicken contain moderate levels of purine. Non-organ red meats including beef, pork and lamb contain moderate amounts of purine. On a low purine diet, your intake of meat should be limited to 4 to 6 ounces daily, according to the MayoClinic.com. Eggs contain low levels of purine and should be limited to three or four a week.
Vegetables, Fungi and Nuts
Baker's or brewer's yeast, taken in the form of a supplement, is high in purine. Mushrooms contain moderate amounts of purine. Vegetables with moderate amounts include spinach, green peas, asparagus and cauliflower. Additionally beans, peas and lentils all have moderate amounts of purine. Any vegetable not previously listed will contain low levels of purine. Nuts and nut butters, like peanut butter, contain low amounts of purine.
Seafood
Many seafoods are high in purine including anchovies, shrimp, scallops, mussels, herring, mackerel, codfish and sardines. Fish eggs, also called roe or caviar, are high in purine. Fish and seafood not previously listed contain moderate amounts of purine. This includes tuna, salmon and lobster.
Soups and Sauces
Any extract made from meat is high in purine including broth, consomme and bouillon. Gravy will also be high in purine. For a low purine soup, choose one that is not made with a beef or chicken broth.
Grains
A number of grains contain moderate amounts of purine. This includes oats and oatmeal cereals, wheat germ and bran. Any cereal or bread marketed as whole grain will also have moderate purine levels. However, your doctor or dietitian may suggest that you continue eating whole grain foods as the benefits may outweigh any risk from the purine content. Breads, cereals and pasta made with refined white flour will be low in purine.
Considerations
Researchers from Harvard found that despite the purine content of dairy foods, consuming them might decrease uric acid levels. Published in "Arthritis & Rheumatism" in 2007, the study found those who drank milk one or more times a day or ate yogurt every other day had lower serum uric acid levels. To help your body eliminate uric acid, be sure to drink 8 to 16 cups of water per day. Alcohol, especially beer, has been associated with gout attacks according to MayoClinic.com. Alcohol interferes with your body's ability to eliminate uric acid.
