Gout is a type of arthritis that can be related to your diet. The symptoms of gout are caused by deposits of uric acid crystals in various joints, as noted on MayoClinic.com. To control outbreaks of gout, you should make some changes in your diet by limiting or eliminating foods that contain high levels of purines. Purines increase the production of uric acid in the body.
Meats
Many meats contain moderate to high levels of purine. Turkey, veal and game meats like venison, goose, and partridge all have high levels of purines, according to ArthritisToday.org. You should originally eliminate these foods from your diet; over time, you may be able to reintroduce some of the high-purine foods occasionally if they do not cause flare-ups. Other meats that have moderate purine levels include chicken, beef, pork and ham. You should eat these meats less often to manage your symptoms.
Organ Meats
Organ meats like brains, liver, kidneys and sweetbreads contain high amounts of purines and can lead to high levels of uric acid in the body, as noted on the web site PromptPrimaryCare.com. You should avoid these foods while creating your meal plan.
Certain Fish
Many types of fish -- both seafood and shellfish -- can have moderate to high levels of purines, as noted on ArthritisToday.org. Consumption of shellfish like shrimp, crab and lobster should be monitored because these foods have moderate levels of purines. Seafood like sardines, anchovies, haddock, trout and codfish all are high in purines; these fish should be avoided.
Dried Beans
Since many meat protein sources contain high levels of purine and fat, you may have to include more plant-based proteins in your diet to obtain the amount of protein that you need, according to MayoClinic.com. Including more dried beans and legumes will be important for your health, but these foods do contain moderate amounts of purines, as noted by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. You should monitor your symptoms after eating each specific type of dried beans to determine if that food is one that you should eliminate or continue to eat.
Beer and Wine
Alcoholic beverages can increase the amount of uric acid in the blood because alcohol can prevent the elimination of uric acid from the body, as noted on MayoClinic.com. Beer also contains brewer's yeast, which contains high levels of purines, according to PromptPrimaryCare.com. You should limit your alcoholic beverage intake and drink plenty of other types of fluids to help remove the uric acid from the body, as noted by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
