Gout is a painful form of arthritis, and it occurs when high levels of uric acid in the blood cause crystals to form and accumulate around a joint. Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down a chemical called purine which is found in certain meats, fish and alcohol.
Gout causes pain, inflammation, and/or swelling of the joints, usually in the feet, and although you can treat gout attacks with anti-inflammatory medicine and rest, to prevent it from coming back, the best thing you can do is to create a healthy lifestyle change, starting with removing the foods to avoid with gout from your diet.
Don’t know where to start? Learn about what you shouldn’t eat to avoid another flare-up!
- Different Foods To Avoid With Gout
Certain types of food can raise or lower uric acid levels. That is why there are certain foods to avoid, as the high uric content may trigger a gout attack! Make sure to not over consume the following foods:
1. Organ & Game Meats
Organ and game meats include kidneys, liver, or meat coming from venison or veal. These contain over 200 mg of purines per serving and are known as significant triggers of gout attacks. It’s also best to avoid eating too much red meat as well.
2. Shellfish
Besides game and organ meats, avoid certain types of seafood such as crab, shrimp and scallops.
3. Sugary Beverages
We all know that sugary beverages are a no-no for any diet, and that includes the diet for gout. Avoid drinks that contains sugar, may it come from fruit juices (limit these to 150ml a day), sugary sodas, energy drinks, or cocktails. It’s best to stick to water or tea.
4. Added Sugars
Besides sugary beverages, you should avoid eating too much added sugars. Any sugar such as honey, agave, or high-fructose corn syrup isn’t good for your gout. Foods containing added sugar include cakes, biscuits and sweets.
5. Refined Carbs
Avoid refined carbs such as white bread and pastries as well. They may not be high in fructose or purine, but they aren’t filled with many nutrients and pose a risk of increasing your uric acid levels, which can still trigger an attack.
- What To Eat to Prevent Gout
If you’re wondering what you CAN eat to avoid gout attacks, focus on anti-inflammatory and low-purine foods, such as: Fruits, Vegetables, Legumes, Nuts, Whole grains, Low-fat dairy, Eggs, Herbs & Spices, Plant-based Oils and Coffee or Tea.
You can also eat the following meats in moderation, as they contain a smaller amount of purines compared to other organ and game meats: beef, pork, lamb, or chicken as well as fresh or canned salmon.
- Other Lifestyle Changes
Besides what to eat, you should also make sure that you start looking into exercise and maintaining a healthy life. I recommend that you exercise regularly but without the intensity that puts pressure on your joints. Also, make sure that you get the right amount of sleep and see your doctor regularly, taking any prescribed medicine to reduce attacks.
Additionally, you should quit all vices such as smoking or alcohol. The effect of alcohol on arthritis, as well as other addictive vices, affect your gout negatively and can trigger more attacks even with a proper diet.
Summary
Having gout is painful, especially since the attacks are sudden and without any warning. Fortunately, it is treatable, and you can prevent attacks from frequently happening as long as you have the right diet filled with anti-inflammatory foods. Avoid anything that can trigger any attacks, and you’ll enjoy a pain-free life.
Hopefully, this article on foods to avoid with gout helped you become more knowledgeable on how to treat and prevent attacks. So don’t wait any longer and use this information as a starting point to creating a good meal plan today.
If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences for treating gout, then share your comments below. All your input and contribution are much appreciated.
Sources:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/gout#stages-and-symptoms
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-diet-for-gout#section3
- https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/tools-resources/expert-q-a/gout-questions/food-for-gout.php
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Gout/#treatment-for-symptoms
Author’s Bio: My name is Layla and I’m a writer at Howtonight.com – lifestyle blog which mostly focuses on health and nutrition but we also publish articles related to pets, travel, and entertainment.