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Diet for Patients With a High Level of Uric Acid

When someone has high levels of uric acid in their body, it's known as gout, and the accumulation of uric acid in the joints can cause intense pain. Following a diet that is low in purines can help relieve gout symptoms and allow the sufferer to live a healthier life with fewer attacks.

  1. Gout Defined

    • The most excruciating type of arthritis is gout. It occurs when there is a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream. When the body breaks down purines, uric acid accumulates. High levels of uric acid commonly strike the lower part of the body, like the toe. It or other joints become swollen and red; intense pain often follows, rendering the sufferer incapable of leading a normal life until the gout subsides.

    High Levels of Uric Acid and the Kidneys

    • Kidneys are also not able to deal with the excessive amounts of uric acid, and this can eventually lead to kidney stones or even decreased function.

    Foods to Avoid

    • Keeping a close eye on food and their purine levels can help alleviate pain and other symptoms of gout. According to UricAcidDiet.org, there are ways to reduce purine intake. Avoid certain high-protein foods that contain purines, especially organ meats such as livers and kidneys. Dark green leafy vegetables are also high in purines, as are mushrooms and cauliflower. Certain seafood such as shellfish (lobster, crab, shrimp, oysters), sardines and herring can trigger attacks. Avoid alcohol and soft drinks.

    Foods to Eat

    • Eat foods with small amounts of purines such as, eggs, cheese and other dairy products, tomatoes, and dark berries. Drink more milk and water. Vitamin C, according to John Mepham from SelfGrowth.com, is a uric acid excretory and helps expel uric acid from the body. "Improving excretion may be more important than reducing production," he writes. Foods that are rich in vitamin C include bell peppers, kiwi, pineapples, tangerines and oranges.

      Other foods gout sufferers can eat, according to WholeHealthMD.com, are foods rich in unsaturated fats like avocados, olive oil, nuts and seeds. Tofu is beneficial and a good alternative to meat. Complex carbohydrates such as pasta, brown rice, cereals and breads may also be included in your diet.

    Exercise

    • Exercise and keeping a healthy body weight can also decrease gout and gout pain.

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