If you have been diagnosed with gout, your doctor may recommend you follow a low-purine diet. When you consume purines from food, your body breaks them down and converts them into uric acid. When you have gout, you may have a high level of uric acid already in your blood. Adding more uric acid from foods may produce pain and inflammation. Limiting fats and meats from your dinner menu can keep your purine intake low.
Entrees
Fish and meats have very high levels of purines. Foods to avoid when selecting your dinner menu include organ meats, anchovies, herring, mince meat, duck, mackerel, scallops and mussels. Poultry, beef and types of shellfish have a medium level of purines. To keep purines low, consider a vegetarian entrée such as pasta with tomato sauce, a salad with fat-free dressings, vegetarian chili or soup made without meat or heavy creams.
Vegetables
Two servings per week are permitted for mushrooms, legumes, spinach, cauliflower and asparagus on a low-purine diet, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Carrots, broccoli, lettuce, radishes, turnips, onions, garlic, peppers, celery, potatoes and green beans do not have to be limited on a low-purine diet. However, cook vegetables in a healthy manner to avoid increasing purine levels. Avoid adding cream-based sauces and cheeses or frying your vegetables.
Desserts
Foods made with baker's yeast are considered high in purine and must be avoided. For your dinner menu, skip serving most types of cakes, pies, cookies and ice cream made from whole milk. Instead, angel food cake with fat-free whipped topping and strawberries is acceptable for a low-purine dinner. Gelatin molds with fruit can also be served. If you want a frozen dessert, serve low-fat or fat-free frozen yogurt with fruit toppings.
Beverages
When following a low-purine diet, limit your alcohol intake. Beer is especially high in purines. Hard liquor, such as vodka, rum, whiskey and gin should also be avoided. If you do want an alcoholic beverage as part of your dinner, wine is acceptable if consumed in moderation. Coffee, tea, carbonated sodas and fruit juices are all permitted choices for a low-purine menu.
