Gout diet: Foods to eat and avoid
Gout is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis, often described as tiny painful crystals in the joint, caused by accumulation of excess uric acid in the body. It usually affects one joint at a time, and often appears in the big toe joint. There are episodes where the symptoms worsen and flare up, and there are also periods where there are no symptoms or remissions.
One of the biggest steps you can take in managing your gout is managing what you eat. Our diet influences the amount of uric acid our body will produce. For people with higher uric acid levels, some foods may tigger a gout attack. These trigger foods are commonly high in purines. Purines produces uric acid as a waste product during digestion. If excess uric acid is not removed effectively, accumulated uric acid can cause a gout attack.
Food and drinks to avoid if you have gout
By reducing the amount of purines in your diet, you can reduce the risk of a spike in your body’s uric acid levels. Purine rich foods and drinks to be avoided include:
1. Red meat, lamb, and pork
2. Organ meats such as liver, kidneys
3. Glandular meats like thymus or pancreas
4. Seafood. Especially shellfishes like anchovies, lobster, mussels, sardines, and tuna
5. Candy, cereal, ice cream, and fast food
6. Beer and grain liquors
7. Juices that are high in fructose
8. Soda
Food and drinks that are gout-friendly
If you have gout, you will want a diet that is low in purines. These options include:
1. Low-fat and non-dairy fat products such as yogurt and skim milk
2. Fresh fruits and vegetables
3. Nuts, peanut butter, and grains
4. Potatoes, rice, bread, and pasta
5. Eggs (in moderation!)
6. Meats like fish and chicken
7. Water! At least half of what you drink in a day should be water
8. Orange juice that is low in fructose
9. Caffeinated coffee
A low purine diet alone cannot ease a gout episode or flare-up. However, there are remedies out there such as allopurinol as well as LIFE ROOTS’ Curro Essence, that can help ease the discomforts that comes with the pain and swelling.
LIFE ROOTS Curro Essence, is formulated with powerful natural xanthine oxidase inhibitors such as cherry, ginger, white chrysanthemum, pandan leaf, nettle, and fructus ligustri lucidi. The combination of these ingredients also possess analgesic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which help to regulate uric acid production, reduce uric acid crystal build up in the joints, and relieve pain and swelling in joints.
