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Gout & Uric Acid Removal

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by high amounts of uric acid in your blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although uric acid normally dissolves in the body, high levels of the acid can form sharp crystals that attack your joints and tissue. Symptoms of gout include swollen, painful joints that can last for 5 to 10 days. Relieve your pain by reducing food in your diet that causes the production of more uric acid. These purine-rich food and drinks include meat, vegetables and alcohol. You cannot eliminate uric acid completely, but you can reduce the amount you consume daily.

  1. Meat

    • Mackerel, sardines and herring are rich with purines, an organic compound that breaks down into uric acid. Avoid or limit your consumption of fish while you are experiencing tenderness and inflammation. Once your symptoms subside, you should eat small portions of fish on a weekly basis to receive Omega-3 fatty acids and protein, but reduce the possibility of gout flare-up. According to the Arthritis Foundation, other fish sources that contain high amounts of purine include codfish, scallops, trout and haddock. High levels of purine can also be found in organic meats such as venison, turkey, poultry, veal and bacon.

    Vegetables

    • Lima beans, asparagus, kidney beans, lentils, spinach and mushrooms also have traces of purine. Learning which foods cause gout flare-ups can be achieved through trial and error, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Eliminate food from the previous list, and introduce one item back into your diet and monitor how your body behaves after consumption for one week. If pain does not occur after eating specific foods, you can gradually add more food into your diet and monitor your body's reaction.

    Alcohol

    • Alcohol should be eliminated from your diet since it can cause hyperuricemia, a high amount of uric acid in the blood. Alcohol also interferes with the body's ability to dispose of uric acid, according to the Mayo Clinic. Alcohol's high level of purine means you should not consume it whether you're having a gout attack or not. Drink plenty of water, as water helps the body remove uric acid, according to Victor Konshin, author of "Beating Gout."

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