A Good Diet To Counteract Uric Acid

High levels of uric acid in the body can cause gout, an arthritic condition that can strike any joint, but typically occurs in the big toe. Diet heavily influences uric acid production, with certain foods and beverages appearing to contribute to significant increases. The good news is that you have complete control over your diet, and you can take an active role in treating and preventing gout.

Cutting Back on Meat and Seafood

Many protein-rich foods contain high amounts of purines, substances found in every cell in your body. Uric acid is a byproduct of purine metabolism, and eating these foods in excess can increase your risk of gout. Researchers in the Rheumatology Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Medicine gathered data on the diets of 47,150 men over a 12-year span. At the start of the study, results of which were published in the March 2004 issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine," none of the participants had ever been diagnosed with gout. Researchers found that the men who ate the most red meat increased their risk of gout by 40 percent, while the men who consumed the largest amounts of seafood increased their risk of gout by 50 percent.

Reducing Alcohol Intake

The same Massachusetts researchers also gathered data on alcohol consumption from this same group of men. They note that a purported link between alcohol and this condition has existed since ancient times, but found that actual research was lacking. Their findings, published in the April 2004 issue of the journal "Lancet," suggest that the more a man drinks, the higher his risk of gout. Beer appeared to pose the greatest risk, followed by hard alcohol. Wine consumption, on the other hand, did not appear to pose a problem.

Cutting Back on Fructose

Frequent consumption of fructose-rich drinks such as soda and orange juice may increase the risk of gout, according to a Boston University School of Medicine study published in the November 2010 issue of "The Journal of the American Medical Association." Analyzing data from over 78,000 women, researchers found that the women who drank 1 or 2 servings or more of regular soda or orange juice daily had a significantly increased risk of gout, compared to women who rarely consumed these beverages.

Consuming More Low-Fat Dairy

The study in "The New England Journal of Medicine" also uncovered a link between a decreased risk of gout and low-fat dairy consumption. Researchers from the University of Auckland in New Zealand note in an article in the the April 2011 issue of "Current Rheumatology Reports" that low-fat dairy appears to lower uric acid levels in the body. They also note that certain components in dairy products might fight off the inflammation that triggers gout attacks.

Other Dietary Considerations

Researchers in Taiwan sought to better understand the connections between gout and diet. When comparing the diets of men with gout and men without, certain dietary factors appeared to be associated with a decreased risk . Their study, published in the October 2003 issue of "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," found that a low intake of fruits, vegetables, folate, fiber and vitamin C was associated with an increased risk of gout.