Gout occurs when uric acid builds up in your joints and causes painful inflammation. Some lifestyle choices to minimize symptoms are to limit alcohol consumption, exercise according to your doctor's recommendations and follow a diet designed to prevent or treat gout. Peanuts are unlikely to exacerbate gout, and some of the nutrients in peanuts may alleviate symptoms.
Plant-based Protein Source
Peanuts are not likely to worsen gout when you eat them as an alternative to high-purine sources of protein. Uric acid forms when your body breaks down purines from food, and a high-purine diet may lead to uric acid buildup and the development of gout. Plant-based sources of protein, such as peanuts, beans and lentils, may be better for gout sufferers than animal proteins, such as meat, poultry and fish, according to the Mayo Clinic. The protein in peanuts is not a complete protein because it does not contain each of the essential amino acids that you need to get from the diet, but you can make it a complete protein by eating it with another vegetarian protein, such as in a peanut butter sandwich on whole-wheat bread, according to the University of Michigan.
Weight and Gout
Obesity can make your gout worse, according to the Mayo Clinic. You will gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn, and it is easy to overeat high-calorie foods such as peanuts. A single ounce of peanuts contains 166 calories. To prevent unwanted weight gain, eat them instead of other foods in your diet, and not as an extra source of calories. When you eat them in moderation, peanuts may even help you control your weight, according to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center.
Cholesterol
High cholesterol is a risk factor for gout, and peanuts can worsen gout if your cholesterol increases because you eat so many that you gain weight. In moderation, though, peanuts are more likely to lower your cholesterol. They are rich in unsaturated fats, which can lower cholesterol when you choose them instead of saturated fats in your diet, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Another cholesterol-lowering nutrient in peanuts is dietary fiber.
Considerations
To prevent peanuts from worsening gout by raising your blood pressure, choose unsalted peanuts. A high blood pressure is a risk factor for gout, and a low-sodium diet can help, according to the Mayo Clinic. Along with eating peanuts in moderation, a diet for alleviating gout symptoms includes plenty of water, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and reducing your intake of sugar and saturated fat. A healthy diet may not be enough to treat gout, and your doctor may prescribe pain medications or recommend other methods to reduce your symptoms.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Legumes and Legume Products
- Mayo Clinic; Gout Diet; March 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center; Nuts; Victoria Drake; June 2009
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010; January 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Gout; May 2009
- University of Michigan; Healing Foods Pyramid: Beans, Peas and Lentils; 2010
