In the 1990s British comedy "Keeping Up Appearances," the uppity lead character considers gout a respectable affliction of the upper class. Anyone who's struggled with the effects of this painful condition likely finds nothing respectable about it. Yet a connection between unhealthy diets and gout does exist. In fact, incorporating low-fat foods into your diet is a key component of managing the disease.
Understanding Gout
About six million people in the United States have suffered through at least one gout attack, according to the Arthritis Foundation. This type of arthritis is characterized by sudden attacks affecting the joints, resulting in considerable discomfort and swelling. Typically associated with the big toe, gout can also affect joints located in the hands, feet, arms and legs.
High levels of uric acid cause gout attacks. When your body breaks down substances known as purines, uric acid is created as a byproduct. Purines exist in the body naturally but are also consumed through the diet. Excessive amounts of uric acid in the blood affects your joints' lubrication, thereby causing pain and tenderness. Gout attacks may last from just a few days up to two weeks, the Arthritis Foundation reports.
High-Fat Diet
Gout has long been associated with indulgent diets, but diet doesn't directly cause the condition. What you eat, however, does play a role in your risk for the disease. A high-purine diet increases your risk for gout attacks. Many foods that contain high amounts of purine are also high in fat. A study published in the March 2004 issue of the "New England Journal of Medicine" found that male participants who ate the most meat or seafood had a greater risk for developing gout. Intake of high-purine vegetables, usually low in fat, did not increase attacks among participants. Obesity is also a risk factor for gout, according to the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society. Excess weight is associated with high-calorie diets made up of fatty foods and refined carbs.
Diet for Gout
Your physician will recommend a low-purine diet to help prevent future gout attacks. Many of the restricted foods are animal-based, including beef, pork and lamb. Fatty seafood, such as tuna, mackerel, shrimp and lobster, should also be limited. Avoid cake, cookies, white bread and other refined carbs in addition to alcohol, sugar and high-fat dairy foods. Dairy foods made from skim or low-fat milk may cut your gout risk, according to MayoClinic.com. Staying hydrated is also important because water helps flush uric acid from the body.
Treatment Options
Although sticking to this low-purine healthy diet plan is important, it is not an actual treatment. Gout is incurable, so disease management is the goal. A number of pain relievers -- both over-the-counter and prescription -- can help reign in joint pain during an attack. If recurring gout attacks are a problem, your physician may put you on a medication to either prevent uric acid production or help your body remove it more efficiently.
References
- Arthritis Foundation: What is Gout?
- MayoClinic.com; Gout Diet; March 2010
- "New England Journal of Medicine"; Purine-Rich Foods, Dairy and Protein Intake, and the Risk of Gout in Men; HK Choi, et al.; March 2004
- Gout & Uric Acid Education Society: Risk Factors
- MayoClinic.com; Gout: Treatment and Drugs; November 2009
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