High uric acid, also known as hyperuircemia, occurs when excess compounds in the cells of your body or from certain foods increase your levels of uric acid. The nitrogen-containing compounds, called purines, break down into uric acid, but high amounts cause uric acid to accumulate in your tissues and form crystals. High uric acid can lead to kidney problems, such as kidney stones, and gout, a painful, swelling of the joints. Water and other fluids help to flush away excess acid. Check with your doctor for dietary advice if you have high uric acid levels.
Step 1
Drink plenty of water. The amount of water you consume may depend on your medical condition. Chemocare.com, a website for chemotherapy patients, who are at risk for high uric acid levels, recommends drinking two to three liters of water a day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Drinking eight to 16 cups, or two to four liters, of fluids a day, with at least half being water, helps treat gout symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com.
Step 2
Consume water in small amounts throughout the day. John Cielo, who once suffered from gout and now offers advice on his Natural Gout Remedies website, recommends drinking at least three to four liters of water a day. However, he says, don't drink your water in three or four sessions. Continuously supply your body with water throughout the day to help your kidneys flush away excess uric acid and lower the uric acid levels in your blood.
Step 3
Continue to drink water even after your symptoms disappear. Symptoms from high uric acid levels may include fever, chills or fatigue, inflammation of joints or gout, kidney problems and difficulty urinating. When you continue to drink large amounts of water throughout the day, you help reduce uric acid levels and lower your risk of future symptoms.
Step 4
Consume a diet low in purine. Water helps to reduce problems from high uric acid levels because it has low-purine content as does fruit juice. But other foods low in purine include refined breads, pasta, milk and milk products, eggs, peanut butter, fruits, nuts and green vegetables with the exception of asparagus and spinach. Foods to avoid because they have high purine content include organ meats, yeasts, alcoholic beverages, oatmeal, beans, peas, mushrooms and cauliflower. Avoiding caffeine reduces problems with uric acid.
Tips and Warnings
- In some cases, high uric acid may not produce any symptoms and people may live for years with elevated uric acid levels without developing problems. About 20 percent of people with high uric acid develop gout, Chemocare.com notes. Some people with gout do not have high uric acid levels.
- Certain cancers and chemotherapy increase the rate of cell death and may lead to high uric acid, according to Chemocare.com. Kidney disease, diabetes and acidosis, in which uric acid builds up in your body fluids, can make it difficult for your body to clear excess acid out of your system. Medications may also increase levels of uric acid in the blood.
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