Uric acid is a waste product that is created during the breakdown of purines, as noted by MayoClinic.com. In most people, uric acid is eliminated by the kidneys and causes no health complications. For some people, uric acid accumulates in the body and causes gout or kidney stones. If you suffer from these conditions, your physician may suggest that you start a low-purine diet to reduce the amount of uric acid in your body. Some foods are high in purines and should be avoided in a low-purine diet.
Organ Meats
One group of food that is very high in purines is organ meat, which includes brains, hearts, livers, and kidneys from a variety of animals, as noted on Acumedico.com. The livers from an ox, a pig and a calf have between 460 to 554mg of purine in every 100g of the meat; this puts these meats among the highest in purine content. If you have problems with high uric acid levels, you should avoid organ meats in your diet.
Game Meats
Game meat also contains a high level of uric acid. This includes either wild game or game that is grown on a farm; these meats include grouse, goose, quail, pheasant, rabbit and venison, as noted on Acumedico.com. Vension contains 138mg of purines per 100g of meat; goose contains 165mg of purine. Mutton, turkey or partridge are all relatively high in purines as well, according to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. These meats should be limited in your diet if you have gout or kidney stones.
Seafood
Many types of seafood -- both shellfish and fish -- contain significant amounts of purines and should either be avoided or limited if you have problems with uric acid, as reported on Drugs.com. Shellfish, like mussels and scallops, have a high level of purines. Other types of fish like herring, sardines, haddock, anchovies and trout can contain moderately high levels of purines as well, as noted by the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. Consumption of fish eggs should be modified in these patients because of their purine content.
Yeast
Some forms of yeast are also high in purines. Both baker's and brewer's yeast have high amounts of purines in them, as reported by Acumedico.com. Baker's yeast contains 680mg per 100g and brewer's yeast contains 1810mg. Thus, brewer's yeast in beer can cause problems in people with high uric acid levels, as noted by Drugs.com. Yeast as a supplement should be only taken with the approval of your physician if you have problems with uric acid levels.
