If you suffer from gout, you must understand that diet plays a critical role in the severity of your symptoms.
Knowing what foods and beverages to avoid will minimize future attacks.
This article will discuss what to avoid and why.
Simply put you should avoid foods which are high in a natural chemical called purines.
These chemicals are produced in our body and are ingested through a variety of foods we eat.
Purines are turned into uric acid in our bodies and excessive amounts can cause sharp crystals to form in joints and other affected areas causing swelling and discomfort.
So what foods should be avoided? Most meats including beef, pork, lamb and poultry are high in purines.
And organs such as kidneys and livers have high levels of purines as well.
Many shellfish and seafood have high purine levels.
Seafood like herring, cod, anchovies, and haddock are especially high in purine and should be avoided.
Try to limit the portions you eat and remove the skin as this contains concentrated levels of purine.
Avoid canned seafood like tuna fish.
You can eat limited portions of scallops, mussels, and shrimp.
Vegetables such as beans, lentils and peas should be eaten in moderation.
In addition asparagus, spinach, and cauliflower are high in purines so they should also be avoided or minimized.
Since proteins are an essential part of anyone's diet, all these foods cannot be completely avoided.
However try to eat more fruits and low purine vegetables such that your protein intake doesn't exceed more than 50% of your total diet.
Any type of fried food should be avoided since they tend to increase uric acid levels.
Unfortunately things to avoid aren't just limited to foods.
Coffee should be limited because the caffeine increases the rate at which the body breaks down protein into uric acid which is not a desirable effect in gout sufferers.
The caffeine can also tend to dehydrate the body which further increases the level of uric acid.
Alcohol is also a big trigger for gout attacks and should therefore be avoided.
Stick with plenty of water and sugar free beverages for best results.
This is a large and encompassing list.
However by balancing a moderate amount of these foods with plenty of low purine foods, you can still enjoy your meals and reduce the likelihood and severity of future gout attacks.
Knowing what foods and beverages to avoid will minimize future attacks.
This article will discuss what to avoid and why.
Simply put you should avoid foods which are high in a natural chemical called purines.
These chemicals are produced in our body and are ingested through a variety of foods we eat.
Purines are turned into uric acid in our bodies and excessive amounts can cause sharp crystals to form in joints and other affected areas causing swelling and discomfort.
So what foods should be avoided? Most meats including beef, pork, lamb and poultry are high in purines.
And organs such as kidneys and livers have high levels of purines as well.
Many shellfish and seafood have high purine levels.
Seafood like herring, cod, anchovies, and haddock are especially high in purine and should be avoided.
Try to limit the portions you eat and remove the skin as this contains concentrated levels of purine.
Avoid canned seafood like tuna fish.
You can eat limited portions of scallops, mussels, and shrimp.
Vegetables such as beans, lentils and peas should be eaten in moderation.
In addition asparagus, spinach, and cauliflower are high in purines so they should also be avoided or minimized.
Since proteins are an essential part of anyone's diet, all these foods cannot be completely avoided.
However try to eat more fruits and low purine vegetables such that your protein intake doesn't exceed more than 50% of your total diet.
Any type of fried food should be avoided since they tend to increase uric acid levels.
Unfortunately things to avoid aren't just limited to foods.
Coffee should be limited because the caffeine increases the rate at which the body breaks down protein into uric acid which is not a desirable effect in gout sufferers.
The caffeine can also tend to dehydrate the body which further increases the level of uric acid.
Alcohol is also a big trigger for gout attacks and should therefore be avoided.
Stick with plenty of water and sugar free beverages for best results.
This is a large and encompassing list.
However by balancing a moderate amount of these foods with plenty of low purine foods, you can still enjoy your meals and reduce the likelihood and severity of future gout attacks.