Gout is a form of arthritis caused by heavy uric acid buildup in the body. Regular arthritis is likewise caused by uric acid, but the onset of gout is much more severe than regular arthritis. Gout is primarily caused by a person’s diet, and obesity is a close secondary cause of gout. In gout, uric acid in the bloodstream collects and crystallizes in the joints of the body, causing inflammation and swelling. The pain is debilitating, to the point where even casual contact with fabric can cause crippling pain. To control or avoid gout, a person must keep a certain well balanced diet and avoid certain foods which are known to cause gout.

The Good Stuff

Lean meats, especially poultry and fish, are helpful to keep a person’s protein levels high. Taken in excess they CAN cause a buildup of uric acid but in moderation they actually help keep it under control. Fish is likewise allowable for a person with gout, but again in moderation. Some forms of meat and fish however DO contribute to gout, and these will be given later.

One food group which is proven to help a lot with gout are any and all low to non fat dairy products. Given that gout is caused by uric acid, the dairy products provide a mild base effect to the acid, helping to minimize it. Other high protein low fat sources of nutrition that help gout are eggs, whole wheat bread, white rice, and tofu. Lastly, most fruits and vegetables (except certain ones which will be listed below) help keep a person’s weight down and help the body flush excess uric acid.

Lastly, two fluids are extremely important in fighting gout. One is low fat milk, and the other is water. Low fat milk acts as a base to uric acid, just like consuming low fat dairy products in general does. Water, on the other hand, helps the body to flush excess uric acid much easier.

The Bad Stuff

Okay, now to the stuff you want to stay away from. Alcohol is a high one on the list. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol does NOT directly contribute to uric acid levels. Instead, what it does is it dehydrates the body, and it is this lack of water that retards the rate at which the body flushes out it’s toxins, including uric acid. Next, any and all food which contains a chemical called purine should be avoided. Purine is the main source of uric acid in the body, and can be found in certain things. Any and all FATTY meat, as well as certain forms of game-meat like venison, turkey, and rabbit are known to contain high purine. On a similar note, any animal kidneys or liver contain MASSIVE amounts of purine and should be avoided at all costs.

Regarding sea food, while fish is fine, most other forms of sea food are not. Crab, lobsters, clams, and oysters all have high purine levels. Also, certain fish, namely sardines, herring, and mackerel, have high purine content. Lastly, while most fruit and vegetables are alright, certain ones like peas, asparagus, and spinach contain purine and should be consumed in moderation.

The Coffee and Tea Myth

Lastly, there is one common myth about gout-causing foods that should be dispelled. People have long thought that coffee and tea causes gout, but studies have shown that high coffee and tea intake doesn’t affect gout one way of the other, so feel free to indulge!

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This entry was posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2008 at 4:13 pm and is filed under Diet Plans at a Glance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.