If you have been diagnosed with gout, which is a painful condition, then you may be wondering about the various ways that you can start to improve your condition, and enjoy a more comfortable life. Gout results when higher-than-normal levels of uric acid within the blood stream cause the formation of crystals that fill the spaces around a joint. Uric acid is produced in the body when the human body breaks down the chemical “purine”, which is a substance that occurs naturally in the body and can also be found in certain foods.
In some cases, it is possible to choose foods that help with gout that might help you to reduce the severity of your condition or the symptoms that you experience. If you eat these foods that help with gout, you may be able to reduce the amount of uric acid in your blood, which can lower your risks of suffering from further attacks caused by the buildup of crystals in the joints that result into the painful condition known as gout.
Establishing a Gout Diet
In most cases, the best way to develop the ideal gout diet is to think carefully about your unique circumstances and condition. Speaking to a doctor and dietitian about this is often important in this case. However, there are some useful rules of thumb that can be followed when it comes to establishing an effective diet, filled with foods that help with gout.
For instance, high-purine vegetables have been found by studies not to increase your risk of having gout attacks. Most of the time, healthy diets that include a range of different vegetables, such as peas, spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, and cauliflower, can go a long way towards making you feel better if you suffer from this condition. It’s also worth adding beans and lentils to your diet, as these are high in protein and purines.
In terms of meats, most experts recommend that people with gout should avoid consuming foods such as sweetbreads, kidney, and liver, which are commonly filled with high levels of purine and can contribute to higher levels of uric acid in the blood. Additionally, certain types of seafood should also be avoided, as they can worsen the gout attacks. Seafoods to avoid include sardines, herring, scallops, muscles, trout, tuna, mackerel, and anchovies.
Dealing with Gout in Diet
Vitamin C can sometimes be useful for lowering a person’s uric acid level, and it can be helpful to speak to your doctor about which supplements might be useful to assist with your current condition. What’s more, some research have suggested that regular and moderate consumption of coffee can sometimes be associated with a reduced chance of gout. However, it’s worth noting that regular consumption of coffee might not be ideal for some medical conditions. Meanwhile, in certain circumstances, cherries can also be linked to a reduced risk of gout.
Keep in mind that you should keep alcohol out of your diet as much as possible, as alcohol is thought to increase the production of uric acid and also contribute to dehydration.
