How to Control Uric Acid Levels

Uric acid naturally forms when purines, a substance found in many foods, breaks down. Purines are especially abundant in high-protein foods, and excess amounts can crystallize and trigger a gout attack. Gout is a form of arthritis that causes pain, redness and tenderness in the joints. You can do several things to control uric acid levels and reduce incidences of gout.

Instructions

• 1

  Limit or reduce your intake of meat, shellfish, mackerel, herring, anchovies, organ meats like liver and kidney, and yeast. Vegetable purines were once thought to be a problem, but according to the website of alternative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil, recent research suggests this is not the case.

• 2

  Lose weight but avoid doing it too quickly with fasting or extreme diets; The Mayo Clinic website claims that this can increase uric acid levels. They also warn that low carbohydrate diets that are high in proteins and fat can also increase amounts of uric acid.

• 3

  Drink at least eight glasses of water daily. Dr. Weil indicates this will flush out excess uric acid and prevent crystallization.

• 4

  Regularly consume cherries; fresh and frozen are best. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, cherries contain beneficial substances that reduce uric acid.

• 5

  Limit or avoid alcohol. Dr. Weil warns it interferes with uric acid excretion. Do not drink at all if you are having an active episode of gout.

• 6

  Talk to your doctor about medications that can reduce uric acid levels and control gout attacks. They cannot cure the condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most commonly prescribed medications include include Colchicine, Benemid, Zyloprim and Anturane. Take all medications as directed and do not alter treatment regimens without talking to your doctor.