Gout is an extremely painful form of arthritis caused by crystals of uric acid accumulating in the synovial fluid that lubricates the joints. You may be able to help control your gout symptoms by following a special diet to keep uric acid from accumulating in your joints.
Purines and Uric Acid
One of the most important aspects of a gout diet is limiting the amount of purines in your diet. Purines are compounds used to make DNA and RNA. When you eat foods high in purines, the body breaks them down to form uric acid. Gout is caused by uric acid levels getting so high that they cannot stay dissolved in the blood and in your joints. Consequently, if you have problems with gout you need to avoid foods with a high purine content.
High Purine Foods
Organ meats, including liver, kidneys, brains, sweetbreads and heart are very high in purines and should be avoided if you have gout. You should restrict your consumption of anchovies, scallops, game meats, gravy and herring, HealthCastle notes. You may also want to limit your consumption of foods that have a moderate amount of purines, including asparagus, spinach, mushrooms, green peas, lentils, oatmeal and foods made with oat or wheat bran. By lowering your purine intake you may be able to prevent gout attacks.
Beverages
It is also critical to keep yourself adequately hydrated if you have gout. Drinking a lot of water each day can help dilute the uric acid in your blood stream, preventing it from forming crystals in your joints, Mayo Clinic.com notes. You should aim to drink eight to 16 cups of water each day. Low fat dairy products may also be able to help you ward off gout attacks. In addition, you should avoid alcoholic beverages because they can trigger a gout attack.
Inflammation Reducing Foods
The pain and swelling that accompanies gout is caused by inflammation. Consequently, some foods that can help reduce inflammation may be able to help you relieve some of your gout symptoms. For example, cherries and strawberries contain chemicals that may help reduce inflammation, EveryDiet website reports. You may also benefit from eating fatty fish or taking supplements with omega-3 fatty acids, as these fats can have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Replacing meat with soy protein may also help.
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