Purines are components of foods that can contribute to uric acid buildup in the body. Excess uric acid can result in a number of health conditions, including gout. If you experience health problems due to high purine levels, your doctor may recommend that you adhere to a low purine diet.
Uses
Your physician may recommend eating a low purine diet if you experience certain medical conditions. In addition to gout, excess purine can result in kidney stones. If you have undergone an organ transplant, you also may benefit from a low purine diet. Each of these conditions are associated with higher levels of uric acid in the body. For some people, a specialized low purine diet alone can effectively reduce gout symptoms, including pain, tenderness and swelling in your joints.
High Purine Foods
Meats tend to be the highest in purines. Your physician may recommend restricting the intake of high purine foods such as anchovies, sardines, scallops, duck, organ meats, gravy and mincemeat. Foods that contain a moderate level of purines include poultry, fish and shellfish. These can be eaten in moderation in your daily diet. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center recommends limiting moderate-purine foods to two servings per week.
Low Purine Choice
While animal protein sources tend to be higher in purines, plant-based proteins such as beans and legumes are lower and can be consumed more regularly. Vegetables not mentioned on the high- or moderate-purine foods are good options for complex carbohydrates in your diet. Low-fat dairy products such as yogurt, milk and cheese may help to reduce gout symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com. When you do choose bread sources, refined grains such as white bread and white rice are low-purine options. Increasing your water intake to between 8 and 16 cups of water also can help reduce the uric acid concentration in your body.
Other Steps
In addition to avoiding foods that contain high amounts of purines, you can restrict foods that contribute to purine production. When eating a low-purine diet, it is important to limit your alcohol intake. That's because alcohol contributes to purine production in the body, increasing your overall levels. Eating a lot of fats at one meal also causes the kidneys to retain uric acid. Avoid high-fat foods such as salad dressing, gravy, fried foods and ice cream.
