Gout has often been referred to as "rich man's disease," an allusion to the dietary overindulgences sometimes associated with the disorder. But gout doesn't discriminate -- you can suffer from this painful form of arthritis regardless of the size of your bank account. Gout occurs when uric acid crystals build up around the joints, leading to stiffness and pain. Altering your diet may help you avoid episodes of gout.
The Purine Problem
Purines are found in many foods, as well as in the proteins that make up various tissues in your body. When your body breaks down purines to metabolize them, uric acid is formed as a waste product. When uric acid reaches high concentrations in the blood stream, that condition is called hyperuricaemia, according to the January 2006 edition of "Current Pharmaceutical Design."
Causes of Gout
The vast majority of gout cases are of unknown origin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. There are two types of gout: primary, which is thought to be caused by genetic, hormonal and dietary factors, and secondary, which is related to other medical conditions. Your risk of gout is greatly increased if you are an elderly, male, obese, binge drinker with a family history of the disease. Organ transplants, lead toxicity and thyroid diseases also increase your risk of gout.
Dietary Purine in Animal Sources
You can reduce your risk of gout by eliminating purine-rich foods from your diet. All animal proteins contain purine in varying amounts. Organ meats, such as kidney and liver, are the highest in purines, but all meats, fish and poultry contain some purine. If you are unable to abstain from animal products completely, MayoClinic.com suggests restricting your intake of meat, fish and poultry to less than 6 ounces daily. Milk products and eggs also contain small amounts of purine. Watch out for hidden purines in products like gravy and be aware that yeast and yeast extract taken as a supplement have a high purine contents.
Dietary Purine in Plant Sources
Some vegetables and grains contain small amounts of purine. If you're seeking to eliminate purine entirely, the Boston University Medical Campus lists asparagus, cauliflower, green peas, fresh beans, mushrooms and spinach as being moderately high in purines. Some grains also supply moderate quantities of purine. These include oatmeal, wheat bran, wheat germ and bran.
