Gout is a form of particularly painful arthritis, which occurs when high levels of uric acid throughout the blood cause crystals to form and accumulate around a joint. Uric acid happens naturally when the body starts to break down a chemical known as purine. This chemical happens within your body without any prompting, but it can also be found within a number of different foods, which is why some experts suggest that there are certain foods to avoid for gout relief.
Uric acid is eliminated from the body in the form of urine, and a diet that is specifically created in accordance with the symptoms of gout can help to reduce the prominence of symptoms and fight back against pain and discomfort. However, it’s also important to remember that medication will be required to lower levels of uric acid and reduce pain.
Understanding Foods to Avoid for Gout Relief:
Recent research that has been undertaken to further understand the details of gout has helped to create a clearer picture of the role that diet can play in the management of pain. While some foods should be avoided, it’s worth noting that not all foods containing purines must be eliminated from a gout diet. In fact, many of the principles associated with a gout diet are the same as the recommendations that would follow for a healthy and balanced diet overall.
For instance, most doctors recommend that people suffering from gout should lose weight wherever possible, as being overweight increases the risk of experiencing gout. Thus, losing weight can lessen the stress on joints. Dietitians also suggest that patients should eat more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables wherever possible, which will provide them with complex carbohydrates, and avoid foods such as cakes, white bread, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Specific Gout Suggestions:
Studies have shown that vegetables that are high in purines should not increase your risk of suffering from recurring gout attacks. Rather, a healthy diet that is based on a large number of vegetables and fruits can help to give you a more balanced lifestyle overall. On the other hand, when it comes to foods to avoid for gout, many experts suggest staying away from meats such as kidney, liver, and sweetbreads, which generally have quite high levels of purines.
A number of seafood items such as anchovies, sardines, herring, scallops, muscles, haddock, tuna, mackerel, are bad for people with gout. What’s more, drinking a significant amount of alcohol is thought to increase the production of uric acid in the body, therefore aggravating the symptoms of the disease.
To help lower your risk of gout attacks, try eating cherries on a regular basis as these have been associated with positive results for gout sufferers. What’s more, some research studies suggest that moderate consumption of coffee can be associated with a reduced risk of gout attacks.
For the best results in creating a diet that helps your gout condition, speak to your doctor about the choices that may be appropriate for you, and what you may benefit from.
