What is Gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals build up in the joints. Gout is typically more common in men than women and affects about 9 million people.
What is the cause?
Gout is caused when excess uric acids (a naturally occurring waste product) are collected when the kidneys cannot sufficiently remove them.
What are foods should you avoid?
- Seafood is not all bad, but one should not overindulge can lead to raising uric acid levels.
- Organ meat such as liver and tongue are full of purines, compounds that the body tends to turn into uric acid.
- Red Meat isn’t as bad as organ meats, but it is wise to eat these in moderation. Your safest pick for meat is white meats like chicken and pork.
- White Bread, Cookies and Cakes are refined carbs send your blood sugar soaring and are not good for gout. The quicker a food raises your blood sugar, the worse it is for uric acid levels
- Honey is high in fructose while a natural sweetener it releases purines that break down in your body.
What drinks should you avoid?
- A glass of wine occasionally is fine but beer is not good for the gout. It raises uric acid by 6.5% non-alcoholic beer even raises uric acid up to 4.4%
What are foods that I should include in a gout diet?
- Low-fat yogurt, certain proteins in milk help tell our body to get rid of uric acid. Lean towards a plain low-fat yogurt with some berries for breakfast or a snack.
- Citrus Fruits, grapefruit, oranges, pineapples, and strawberries are great sources of vitamin C, which lower uric acid levels. **If you take colchicine for your gout, skip the grapefruit as it can interact with your medication. **
- Avocados get those healthy fats, all while getting your antioxidants too. Avocados are high in vitamin E, an anti-inflammatory.
- Cherries the pigments that give these little delicious balls of yummy is called anthocyanins. They provide an antioxidant boost and help reduce inflammation.
- Beans, peas, and lentils since meat is mostly off the menu you can get your protein from these. They are uric acid-neutral, perhaps even help ward off gout attacks.
What drinks can you enjoy?
- Chug that water, help flush uric acid out of your system. 8 glasses a day, if you are having a flare up shoot for 16 to help flush your body of the uric acids.
- Coffee can help too regular, caffeinated coffee. (I see some of you doing that happy dance.)
Written by: Misty Rose Samson 1/26/2022