What is Gout?
Gout is a painful inflammation to the joints_ a type of arthritis cause by excess uric acid in the blood. When there is too much uric acid in the blood, it starts to buildup fluid surrounding the joints which may result in needle-sharp uric-acid crystals and accumulate around the joint. The formation of these uric acid crystals cause the joints to swell and cause intense pain.
What is causing Gout?
Gout develops when there is over-abundance of uric acid in the blood which will result in the formation of uric-acid crystals around the joint and cause inflammation in the joint area. This excess uric acid may be the result of diet high in purines or your body may for some reason produce too much uric acid. Gout can attack the knees, hands, ankles and feet and gout attack can last for days, even months. That is why the best way to control Gout; in addition to taking medications_ is dietary. Basically, cut down foods that are high in purines.
The foods to Avoid with Gout
Seafood
You need to cut down on seafood intake to a minimum; some of these foods are high in purines, which promote the excess development of uric acid in your body. Some are still okay for occasional indulgence like Scallops, shrimp, lobster and salmon which high selection of them need to be off the menu; including herring, sardines, tuna, and anchovies.
Meat
Just like meats are different in taste, they are also different when it comes to purine content. Most red meat is high in purines and should be avoid. It’s okay to eat some types of red meat once in a while but not too much to keep your body from developing excess purines.
Well, some white meats like Chicken and duck are generally better than red meat when it comes to purines but Turkey should be avoid by all means. Research shows that Turkey and goose are higher in purines.
Sugary food and beverages
Sweet and sugar are generally high in calories which can increase the risk of gout. Food and beverages sweetened with fructose, such as non-diet sodas and some fruit drinks tend to increase uric acid level which increase the risk of developing gout. Hydrating your body properly by increasing your daily water intake will help reduce risk of gout attack.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is very bad when you are trying to manage gout, they not only high in purine and increase your blood uric acid level but also disrupts the removal of uric acid from the body. When your body is intoxicated, it becomes difficult for your body to clear out this substance from your system. It is recommended to avoid beer and limit your wine consumption.
Some Vegetables
There are some vegetables that are high in purine, such as cauliflower, spinach, asparagus and mushrooms are higher in purines than other vegetables. They should be cut down to minimum.
Conclusion
Taking on this gout-friendly diet will not cure gout but will help reduce the risk of developing more uric acid and also reduce the recurring gouts painful attacks. The aim in managing gouts is to try and lower the amount of uric acid in the blood but lowing the purine development in your system.
