The Atkins Diet offers rapid weight loss, but if you have the arthritic condition gout, proceed with caution before jumping on the low-carb bandwagon. Between the specific foods encouraged on the Atkins Diet and the fat-burning state that produces compounds dangerous to gout sufferers, the program is generally considered unsuitable if you have gout.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet, a low-carb diet developed by Dr. Robert Atkins, works by restricting carbohydrates to an extremely low level and slowly adding them back into the diet until you determine the level of carbohydrates you can eat without gaining weight. The main foods consumed on the Atkins Diet are proteins and fats, with a focus on lean protein sources and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. The Atkins Diet induces a state of ketosis in which carbohydrates are no longer being burned for fuel but the body breaks down body fat for energy instead. When you use the Atkins program, you are expected to continue following a low-carbohydrate lifestyle for the rest of your life to maintain the weight loss.
Gout
Gout develops as a result of uric acid buildup in the fluid cushioning the joints. People with gout experience pain and inflammation in the affected joints. In acute attacks of gout, the pain comes and goes and during remissions, you feel fine. In chronic gout, the pain never fully goes away and joints can become deformed. Chronic gout can develop over the years if you have acute gout attacks.
Concerns
Many of the foods that make up the majority of the Atkins Diet can raise the risk of gout or trigger gout attacks if you already have the disease. Meat and seafood consumption raises the risk of gout because these foods are rich in purines, compounds that convert to uric acid in the body. In particular, avoid organ meat, red meat and oily fish, such as sardines and herring, to help prevent gout attacks. The ketosis induced by the Atkins Diet also produces purines.
Considerations
Vegetables and dairy products appear to have a positive effect on gout risk, according to a report in BBC News. Including these in your Atkins Diet may counteract some of the negative effect caused by meat consumption. For some dieters, the ability to stick with the Atkins Diet and the impressive weight loss makes it worth the risk of gout. Modifying the diet to add more low-purine foods can minimize the risk.
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