Your body produces uric acid as old cells are broken and new ones are made and as your body converts the purines in food into uric acid. High blood levels of uric acid can cause gout, which is a form of arthritis. Gout affects the joints of the feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists, although the joint at the base of the big toe is most frequently affected. The uric acid crystallizes around the joints, causing inflammation and sudden, severe pain that can last several days. Decreasing your intake of purine-rich foods can help to lessen the symptoms of gout.
Cause of Gout
The kidneys maintain blood uric acid levels by facilitating excretion of the uric acid. But blood levels can go up if production of uric acid rises or your kidneys become unable to excrete the uric acid. The uric acid forms crystals around the joints or in the tissue adjoining the joints. This causes a gout attack and accompanying inflammation and pain. The symptoms subside after some days, only to return with another flare-up.
Purine-Rich Foods
One way to control uric acid levels is to avoid foods rich in purine that increase uric acid production and make gout worse. Foods rich in purines include sweetbreads, anchovies, sardines, liver, organ meats such as kidneys and brains, meat extracts, herring, mackerel, scallops, game meats and gravy, according to Gloria Tsang of the registered dietitians' website HealthCastle.com. Additionally, MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, says that soy products contain moderate amounts of purine and should be eaten only in small amounts.
The Gout Diet
The Mayo Clinic website suggests that while a gout diet does not treat gout, it can help decrease the severity and incidence of painful gout attacks. The website recommends limiting your intake of animal proteins, especially organ and red meat, as well as fatty fish and seafood. Replace refined carbohydrate foods like white breads and cakes with complex carbohydrate foods such as whole grains, vegetables and fruits. You can also reduce your risk of gout by consuming low- or fat-free milk and dairy foods.
Alcohol and Gout
Drinking alcohol, along with eating a purine-rich diet, can exacerbate the symptoms of gout. Alcohol not only increases uric-acid production, but also prevents the excretion of uric acid, according to the Merck Manuals. The Mayo Clinic website advises that drinking beer is especially linked to gout attacks. Do try to drink more water, as it helps in excretion of uric acid. Additionally, if you are heavy, weight loss can help lower blood uric acid levels and reduce the frequency of gout attacks.
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