Those who suffer from gout experience sudden and severe onsets of joint pain. Gout is a complex form of arthritis brought on by the accumulation of uric acid in the body, and often manifests in the joints and toes of your feet. Your doctor can treat and prevent onsets through medication, and the way you eat can also have some influence over your condition.
Disease of Kings
Gout was once known as the disease of kings, or the rich man's disease, because of its association with eating a diet rich in meat. A diet rich in red meat and organ meats, such as liver or kidneys, increases your uric acid intake. Normally, your kidneys process uric acid and excrete it in urine, but if your kidneys are overwhelmed then accumulations may begin to occur in your joints. These uric acid deposits then form sharp urate crystals, similar to kidney stones, within the joints and their surrounding tissues.
Dietary Sources
Red meat and organ meats are not the only risky foods. You may also accumulate uric acid if you eat an abundance of meat extracts, such as soups, broths and gravies. Many types of seafood can also contribute to the problem, as can products which contain yeast, but these foods are far lower in uric acid than meat. So, unless your condition is very serious, you may not notice any adverse effects from the occasional consumption of these lesser sources.
Vegetarian Diet
Vegetables do not contribute significantly to the levels of uric acid in your blood. Even the purine-rich vegetables, such as leafy greens and legumes, are not associated with gout. By lowering or eliminating your intake of foods high in uric acid, you relieve some stress on your kidneys and allow them to process the uric acid that your body produces naturally. Without uric acid from external sources taxing them, your kidneys are able to function properly and prevent the buildups that can lead to gout.
Vegetarian Vs. Vegan
Vegetarians may consume eggs and dairy product, such as milk and cheese, while refraining from eating the flesh of animals. Vegans, however, generally avoid eating any food derived from an animal or its bi-products. You may be thinking that this naturally lends a vegan diet more potential to prevent gout than one that is merely vegetarian, but the New York Times reports that this may not be the case. Low-fat dairy products may have some protective properties against gout, so if you limit your dairy intake to things like skim milk and low-fat yogurt, you may fair better than you will by swearing off all animal products.
