Foods to Eat and not to Eat when You Have Gout

Gout - the only form of arthritis that directly linked to the consumption of foods!!!! Gout, also named gouty arthritis, is a very painful condition in which pain occurs due to the acute inflammation of the joints. Buildup of needle-sharp uric-acid crystals in joints is the main reason for the inflammation in the feet and joints. Sudden and severe bouts of redness, warmth, swelling, inflammation and pain in one or more joints are the gout symptoms. Men and women both are affected by the gout. All joints are vulnerable to gout but it has a special affinity for the foot, particularly the big toe. Many people are unaware about the fact that gout can be relieved by avoiding certain foods and including those foods that help gout. So if you or anyone in your family have had a gout attack, it is wise to understand which foods to eat and which to avoid with gout to stop the nasty gout symptoms.

A form of rheumatoid arthritis, gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood which deposits in the joints. In some cases, it can also cause major disability or kidney failure. Only 5 % of all cases of arthritis are turned into the gout. As the initial joint, gout involves the big toe and then other joints get involved in recurring attacks of gout. Deposition of the uric acid in the joint is the main cause of gout so some kinds of foods, especially purine rich foods which can raise the levels of uric acid in the blood, can increase the severity of the condition. On the other hand, certain foods such as low-fat dairy products, complex carbohydrates, coffee, citrus fruits, etc. that can help to reduce buildup of uric acid can assist in relieving pain. Eliminating gout-causing foods from diet and including foods that help gout is the best way to prevent a painful flare up of gout.

Foods to Eat

Essential Fats

Increase the consumption of foods having high content of essential fatty acids; for example, cold-water fish like salmon and tuna, nuts, and flaxseed & other seeds. Essential fatty acids include omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. They may help to decrease inflammation. To raise your intake of fatty acids, include fatty acid-rich oil like olive oil, for cooking and for dressing salads. As well, try to decrease or avoid using any trans fats in your diet.

The Right Carbs

Your chances of getting too-many purines may also be increased if you follow a low-carb diet i.e. also rich in protein or fat. Consumption of refined carbohydrates such as white bread, cakes, candy and pasta, and more whole grains will decrease purines as well as uric acid in the body. However if you don't desire to fill up on those carbohydrates, as an alternative you can focus on healthy carbs with high fiber like oats, beans, sweet potatoes and vegetables. Grains such as wheat crackers or rice, and rye products are also helpful to those who have gout as long as they are unprocessed.

Plenty of Fruits

Fruits are likely to have very few purines. However, they also provide complex carbs and other essential nutrients which help you to improve health. Among all fruits, some contains high content of vitamin C; for example oranges and tangerines, which may help to prevent gout attacks. Some studies have shown that eating fresh cherries or drinking cherry juice can help to get rid of gout. Fruits also possess anti-inflammatory property which will reduce the joint pain and also prevent the erosion of joints, which would potentially lead to more enduring and not curable forms of arthritis; like osteoarthritis. As an alternate, you can also take vitamin C and/or magnesium supplements to get benefits.

Low-fat Dairy Products

Formerly, dairy products were off-limits for people having gout as they are prepared from animal proteins. However, dairy products are actually low in purines and purines obtained from such products do not cause gout anyway. It is fact that drinking low-fat milk and consuming low fat dairy products such as low fat cheese, yogurts made with low-fat milk, etc. may decrease your gout risk by more than 40%. While suffering from a gout attack, low-fat dairy products may help you to dispose of extra uric acid from the body through your urine.

Increase Fluids Intake

Modifying your diet may assist you to manage chronic gout and reduce symptoms such as joint pain. Besides, fluids also help in treating gout as dehydration might be a cause of your gout attack. So, increase your fluid intake. One study has found that men who are drinking 5 to 8 glasses of water in a day had a 40 percent decreased risk of gout attacks. But, avoid drinking of sugary sodas as they may raise your risk or worse your condition.

Foods to Avoid

Purine Rich Vegetables

Some vegetables are good sources of purines which can worsen the condition. Vegetables high in purines include asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, peas and mushrooms. Some foods contain purines in moderate amount; for example legumes and some dried beans. Avoiding purines at all is impossible. Many people think that purine rich foods can aggravate condition if consumed in excess. But one study has found that purine rich foods like peas, beans, mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach, and chicken, which are previously considered as foods to avoid, may not be linked with the gout attacks.

Turkey

Gout-prone people should keep their intake of wild game to a least amount. Turkey and goose are high in purines than other kinds of food so it is better to avoid such foods. Duck and chicken are the safest choices but leg meat is a good choice than a chicken breast having skin. Though turkey is the bad choice for gout, you can consume it in moderation if you have tested it and no symptoms found.

Alcohol (Beer or Wine)

Limit your alcohol consumption as it may raise your risk of a gout attack. It is a rich source of purines so it can increase the risk, particularly if you have taken more than one drink a day. Beer may worse the condition more than other alcoholic beverages as it contains yeast. It increases your uric-acid level as well as it makes the clearance of this substance difficult for the body. Consumption of wine in moderate amount doesn't appear to raise your risk but heavy drinking is a bad idea.

High-Fructose Foods

Foods containing high fructose corn syrup as a main ingredient should be avoided. Jams, jellies, preserves and syrups all are the examples of the high fructose foods. People, who are not suffering from gout, are up to 85 % more likely to develop it if they consume sugar in high amount. In a study, it has been found that consumption of fructose rich foods raises the risk of developing gout. In 2010, the same research team has found that drinking fructose-sweetened drinks daily, corresponding to consuming less than 1 drink per month, increased women’s gout risk too.

Coffee or other Caffeinated Foods

People with gout should intake coffee in a moderate amount. Some people are strictly addicted to coffee or drinking more than five cups of coffee a day; such people should decrease their coffee intake up to two to three cups per day because coffee intake may raise the uric acid level in them which would lead to the gout attacks. Consult your health care provider whether your caffeine intake is responsible for gout attacks.

Helpful Supplements for Gout:

• Celery
• Bromelain
• Tumeric or Curcumin (Curcuma longa)

Foods to Avoid If You Have Gout video from Youtube:


Healthy Gout Diet For You video from Youtube:


Curing Gout And Eating Foods High In Uric Acid video from Youtube: