Gout Foods - What to Eat and What to Avoid

Gout foods 
What gout patients should eat and what they should avoid is an important question that bothers many gout sufferers and their partners. Knowing the causes and characteristics of the ailment will help those concerned to decide on the best gout foods to eat.

Gout as a disease

Gout is a type of arthritis that usually occurs to middle-aged people of 40-50. It is more commonly found in men than women. Gout attacks, characterized by sudden, severe bouts of redness, swelling and inflammation in the joints can cause extreme pain to the patient. 

Causes of gout

Gout occurs when excess uric acid builds up and develops into needle-like crystals at the joints, causing gout symptoms and severe pain to the patient. Uric acid is produced when purines, a substance existing naturally in the body cells and in many foods, are broken down. The increase in uric acid level in the body may be due to the kidneys’ inability to remove excess uric acid or the body’s inability to properly process a type of purine. Apart from pain relief and medical treatment, it is vital for the patient to consume appropriate gout foods so as to reduce the intake of protein and purine. 

Gout Foods to avoid
Foods rich in protein and purine should be avoided by gout patients. Some principles of food choice are as follows:

•   Reduce the amount of meat products that are high in purine content. These include lamb, pork, beef as well as animal organs such as kidney, liver and intestines.

• Avoid seafood which is high in uric acid levels like cod, sardines, anchovies, roe (fish eggs), trout, herring and shellfish such as mussels and scallops.

• Regarding beverages, gout patients must cut down on the consumption of alcoholic drinks, beer included. Stay away also from sugary foods such as ice-cream, candy, soft drinks and fruit preserves like jam and jelly.

Gout foods to eat 

A good healthy diet is very helpful in both preventing gout attacks and releasing pain when one does. The American Medical Association recommends the following dietary guidelines for people with gout.

• Eat a diet high in complex carbohydrates, for instance, fiber-rich whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Consume foods that are low in protein. Plan a menu in which 15% of the calories intake comes from soy, lean meat, or poultry. Limit the calories intake from fat to 30% or less, of which only 10% can be animal fats.

To paint a clearer picture, here is a list of recommended gout foods for reference:

• Fresh cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and other red-blue berries
• Vegetables including kale, cabbage, parsley, celery and green-leafy vegetables
• Foods high in vitamin C: red cabbage, red bell peppers, tangerines, mandarins, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes
• Bananas and pineapples
• Fruit juices and plenty of purified water
• Low-fat dairy products
• Complex carbohydrates: bread, cereals, pasta, rice
• Chocolate, cocoa, coffee, tea
• Foods containing essential fatty acids: tuna, salmon, nuts, seeds

Since purines exist in all protein foods, it is not realistic for a gout sufferer to avoid all foods that contain protein. Some foods which are moderately high in purines are comparatively safer for the gout patient to consume. These gout foods include peas, beans, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, chicken, duck, ham and turkey.

Further reading: Magic Gout Cures Uric Acid