Gout is a condition in which crystals, made up of a chemical known as uric acid, build up in the fluid in the joints. These crystals cause an intense inflammatory effect, leading to swelling and excruciating pain. If you have gout, you may need to follow a special diet that will lower uric acid levels.
Purpose
Even the most carefully planned diet should not be considered to be a treatment for gout. Instead, a good gout diet can help reduce the frequency of acute gout attacks or diminish the pain associated with a flareup of gout. A good diet plan for gout has two purposes: it will reduce the levels of uric acid in your body and it will also help prevent obesity, which can make gout worse.
Purine Content of Foods
One of the main ways in which you can lower uric acid levels in your body is to reduce the amount of purines in your diet. Purines are substances which are metabolized by the body into uric acid. Foods high in purines include game meats, anchovies and organ meats, such as liver, kidneys and sweetbreads. Other foods which should be avoided include most kinds of fish and seafood, asparagus, cauliflower, bran and oatmeal.
Beverages
Adequate hydration is essential for treating gout. If you have gout, you should try to drink between 2 and 3 liters of water each day as this will dilute the uric acid in your body and help prevent crystals from forming in your joints. Low-fat or skim milk may also help prevent gout attacks. You should be careful to avoid alcohol, especially beer. Not only does alcohol dehydrate you, but beer is high in purines and can increase your uric acid levels.
Weight Loss
A good eating plan for gout will also involve some calorie restriction, particularly if you are overweight. Obesity is one of the major risk factors for gout and losing excess weight can help diminish the frequency of gout attacks. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help you lose weight, as it will fill you up without adding too many calories to your diet. It is important to eat a balanced diet, however, and you should avoid high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets, as these may make gout worse.
Member Comments