Gout is a type of arthritis that results when too much uric acid builds up in your joints and causes pain. A diet for gout may reduce uric acid production in your body, and cucumbers may provide benefits as part of a gout diet. Consult your doctor before starting any diet or gout treatment, and if you have joint pain or inflammation.
The strongest risk factors for gout are a family history and being a male over 40 or a post-menopausal female, but your diet can lower your risk or relieve symptoms, according to the University of Maryland. A diet for gout limits dietary purines because your body converts them into uric acid, which can build up in your joints and cause pain. A gout diet restricts other food components, such as animal proteins, oxalates and some fats, but you can eat cucumbers on a gout diet.
Purines and Fat
Cucumbers are not on the list of high-purine or fatty foods for gout sufferers to avoid. Foods with the highest concentrations of purines include yeast, herring, mackerel, mussels and fatty meats, such as liver, goose, sweetbreads and beef. Other purine sources are chicken, beans, spinach, asparagus and mushrooms. High-fat foods, especially those with saturated or trans fats, may increase your risk for gout, and cucumbers are nearly fat-free.
Weight Control
Cucumbers can help you control your weight because a large cucumber with a weight of 301 g, or nearly 11 oz., has only 45 calories. Your risk for gout increases when you are overweight or obese because of the increased stress on your joints. Low calorie-dense foods, such as cucumbers, can help you control your weight because they satisfy your hunger so that you are less tempted to overeat. Fasting or rapid weight loss, at a rate of more than about 1 to 2 lbs. per week, can increase your risk for gout.
Other Information
The University of Maryland suggests eating high-magnesium, low-calcium foods for gout, and a large cucumber has 39 mg magnesium, or 10 percent of the daily value, and 48 mg calcium, or less than 5 percent of the daily value. More than 95 percent of the weight of a raw cucumber is water, so eating cucumbers can help prevent dehydration, which is a risk factor for gout. Cucumbers have only 8 mg vitamin C, or 13 percent of the daily value for this joint-friendly antioxidant, and other vegetables, such as bell peppers, are better sources.
