Uric acid is a chemical derived from the metabolism of purines. Purines make up part of the cell's nucleoprotein and are found in most foods. Some people have high levels of uric acid in their blood; this is known as hyperuricemia. High levels of blood uric acid can cause gout or kidney disease, according to Medline Plus. If you have hyperuricemia, your doctor may suggest you limit your intake of foods that increase uric acid.
High Purine Foods
Foods high in purine can increase uric acid in the blood. When you have too much uric acid in your blood, it crystallizes and settles into your joints, causing pain and swelling. This is known as a type of arthritis called gout. Avoiding foods high in purine may help prevent a gout attack. High-purine foods contain 100 to 1,000 mg of purine per 100-g serving. Examples of high-purine foods to avoid if you have high levels of uric acid in the blood include anchovies, bouillon, brains, broth, consomme, goose, gravy, heart, herring, kidneys, mackerel, meat extracts, mincemeat, mussels, partridge, roe, sardines, scallops, sweetbreads and yeast.
Moderate Purine Foods
Your kidneys are responsible for clearing uric acid from your blood. High levels of uric acid can increase your risk of uric acid kidney stones, according to Medline Plus. To decrease the uric acid in your blood and urine, you may need to limit your intake of foods with moderate amounts of purines. Moderate-purine foods contain nine to 100 mg of purine per 100-g serving. Fish, poultry, meat and shellfish contain moderate amounts of purine. Intake of these meats should be limited to 4 to 6 oz. per day, according to MayoClinic.com. Some vegetables also contain moderate amounts of purine and include asparagus, dried beans, lentils, mushrooms, dried peas and spinach. Intake of these vegetables should be limited to one 1/2-cup serving per day.
Low Purine Foods
The diet to prevent uric acid buildup is a plant-based diet. Eating low-purine foods can limit uric acid in the blood helping to prevent both gout and uric acid kidney stones. Examples of low-purine foods you can safely eat with hyperuricemia include eggs, bread, cereals, cheese, fruit, milk, pasta, rice and all vegetables excluding the ones with moderate amounts of purines. Drinking fluids also helps your body eliminate the uric acid. MayoClinic.com recommends 64 to 128 oz. of fluid per day.
Alcohol
Alcohol does not contain purines, but it can affect the uric acid in your blood. The ethanol in alcohol prevents your body from clearing uric acid, according to MayoClinic.com. If you have high levels of uric acid in the blood you should limit your intake of alcohol. MayoClinic.com suggests alcohol intake should be limited to 5 to 10 oz. of wine per day.
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
- Medline Plus: Uric Acid: Blood
- Medline Plus: Uric Acid: Urine
- MayoClinic.com: Gout Diet
