Uric acid is a normal waste product your body produces from the digestion of food that can harden into crystals when you have too much of it. These crystals can form kidney stones and also accumulate around joints, causing gout, a painful form of arthritis. Uric acid is produced from the breakdown of purines, a natural substance found in many animal foods. Reducing your purine intake can help reduce uric acid levels and may help control symptoms.
High Purine Foods To Limit
All animal protein contains at least some purines so to reduce your purine intake, reduce your animal protein intake to no more than 6 oz. per day, according to MayoClinic.com. But some animal proteins are higher in purines than others. The highest purine foods that you may want to avoid or limit include organ meats like liver and kidneys and some fatty fish like anchovies, herring and mackerel. Other common foods high in purines include beef, pork, lamb, turkey, chicken, bacon, sardines, tuna, shrimp, crab, mussels, lobster, cod, trout, haddock and scallops.
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Foods To Add
You can replace some of the animal protein you are cutting to reduce purine intake with plant proteins like soy foods, beans and legumes. You may also want to add low or no fat dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt, particularly if you have gout, as they may reduce your risk of attacks. It's also fine to eat eggs in moderation, according to the website, FamilyDoctor.
Alcohol
Alcohol impairs your body's ability to flush uric acid out of your system so limit how much you drink. Beer drinking especially has been linked to gout attacks. If you are having a gout attack it's best to avoid alcohol until the attack is over. If you're not currently having a gout attack, drinking one or two 5 oz. glasses of wine is not likely to increase your risk of an attack, according to MayoClinic.com.
Fluids
Increasing your intake of fluids like water can help your body flush uric acid out of your system, reducing your uric acid levels. Drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses of water or other fluids a day, and as many as 16 glasses a day may be beneficial, according to MayoClinic.com. However, avoid sugary soft drinks when you're drinking your fluids as sugar may impact uric acid levels, though this is not proven. Sugar does however increase your risk of obesity and weight gain, which may increase your risk of both gout and kidney stones.
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