Gout is a painful type of arthritis caused in part by many of the foods you eat, especially those that are high in purines. These compounds are the by-products of protein digestion, in particular the digestion of red meats, animal fats, organ meats and shellfish, according to the University of Michigan Health System. A vegan diet may be one of the best to relieve gout pain, because vegans do not eat these or other animal-based foods, thus eliminating one of the chief reasons for the buildup of uric acid in the joints that causes gout. Always consult a health practitioner before making major changes in your diet.
The Role Of Purines
As purines break down in the body they produce uric acid, according to the "Concise Encyclopedia of Foods and Nutrition." When excess uric acid is not properly eliminated from the body, it precipitates as monosodium urate crystals in the kidneys and joints. These can produce urate kidney stones, and when they precipitate in the small joints they cause gout. Avoiding animal products may eliminate a major source of your gout symptoms.
What Is A Vegan?
Vegetarians fall into several categories, based on what they do and do not eat. A vegan eats only foods of plant origin and eschews animal flesh and its by-products, according to the "Passionate Vegetarian." Other types of vegetarians may choose to include dairy, eggs or fish in their diets. Your health may dictate what you can and cannot eat to avoid debilitating gout attacks. Vegans get their protein from foods such as legumes, nuts, seeds, soy-based foods and seitan. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables round out and balance their diets, adds the "Passionate Vegetarian."
Foods for Gout
If you are a vegan, you still need fats, whole grains, vegetables and fruits to complement your plant-based proteins with the other nutrients these foods contain. The majority of vegetables are acceptable on a vegan diet for gout, except for spinach, mushrooms and asparagus. These vegetables are all high in purines, so you should use caution when eating them and check to see if your gout worsens. Most legumes are fine on a vegan gout diet, except for lentils and black-eyed peas, which are also high in purines and may aggravate gout. You can eat any fruit as a vegan and should add fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C, which is known to alleviate gout pain, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Healthy fats include nuts, seeds, avocadoes, olives and flaxseeds, advises the University of Washington Department of Orthopedics. And all oils derived from the foods on the preceding healthy fats list are acceptable on a vegan diet.
Whole grains are a necessary part of any diet and especially that of a vegan, and they should be eaten daily, suggests the University of Washington Department of Orthopedics. Vegans obtain the full complement of essential amino acids by combining whole grains with various plant-based proteins to create complete proteins. Root vegetables are also necessary in the vegan gout diet, adding fiber and nutrients as well as complex carbohydrates.
Vegan By Choice Or Default?
If you are a vegan by choice, based on your beliefs and principles, then following a vegan gout diet will be easy for you. However, you may become a vegetarian or even vegan by default, because your disease requires it. You may prefer meats and animal products but know your gout is made worse when you eat these foods. In this case, it may be more challenging to eat a vegan diet, and you may choose to include a piece of fish or some low-fat dairy in your diet now and then. Speak to your health practitioner about your concerns and ask for advice.
References
- University of Washington Department of Orthopedics: About Diet and Arthritis
- University of Michigan Health System: Gout
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gout
- "Concise Encyclopedia of Foods and Nutrition"; Audrey H. Ensminger; 1995
- Passionate Vegetarian: What Do Vegetarians Eat?
