Essential Guide to a Gout-Diet

A gout-diet is essentially a low purine that reduces uric acid levels in the body and prevent gout attacks. Low purine diet can offer several benefits including below:

• Lower risk of kidney stones

• Reduced gout attacks

• Improved joints health

• Support weight loss or maintenance to reduce gout risk

• Enhanced hydration

• Reduced risk of associated conditions such as diabetes

What is gout-diet?

Foods to consume for a gout diet:

Try these certain foods and drinks to reduce uric acid in your body:

• Fruits

  Most fruits (high in vitamin C) are low in purines such as cherries, berries, bananas, apples, pineapples
  

• Vegetables
  Almost all vegetables are suitable for a gout-diet, including cucumbers, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli,
  (Avoid ladyfinger as it increase the uric acid levels)
  

• Low-fat Dairy Products
  Studies shows that drinking beverages such as low-fat milk can reduce risk of a gout attack. Includes the following in your gout-diet too:

  Low skim milk, cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar incl), yogurt

• Juices
  Fruit juices such as cherry juice can reduce uric acid levels significantly and gout flare-up frequency. It contains antioxidants called anthocyanins that are anti-inflammatory and reduce inflammation that are closely associated with gout.
  
  Another excellent choice is pomegranate juice as it is helps to lower uric acid levels in the blood.
  

• Coffee (in moderation)
  A recent study has shown that coffee competes with the enzyme that breaks down purine in the body, thus it does not raise uric acid levels. Coffee may even lower the risk of a gout attack.

Foods to consume for a gout diet:

Avoid food and beverages that are high purines such as below:

• Alcohol

  Gout-sufferers should avoid alcohol intake to avoid recurrent gout attacks. Alcohol such as beer contains high level of purines and consumption can pose additional risks.
  

• Red meats
  Red meats in general are high in purines and should be eaten occasionally. Beef and lamb both contain high level of purine while take moderate consumption of pork and pork-related products.

• Organ meats
  Similarly to red meats, organ meats such as liver, kidneys have higher concentration of purines. Avoid them and other foods that are made from these organs such as sweetbreads and sausages.

• Seafood
  Generally fish and seafood are common source of purines. Avoid these seafood such as scallops, sardines, anchovies and mackerel. Shellfish such as lobster, crab, shrimp and mussels are high in purines too and people with gout should limit eating them.
  

• High-fructose products
  High-fructose products has been shown to contribute to obesity, diabetes and it can also contribute to gout. Purines are released when the body breaks down high-fructose food such as soda, candies, packaged sweets and fast food which are loaded in calories, sodium and added sugar.