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Diet for Gout Patients

Maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding certain foods is a must for people with gout. The ideal diet for somebody with gout is one that is low in saturated fats, keeps meat consumption to a minimum and eliminates foods with purines, an enzyme that creates uric acid when broken down during digestion. Gout is caused by the build up of uric acid in joints, which causes them to become swollen and painful.

  1. Avoid Foods with Purines

    • There are many foods that are high in purines that you need to avoid. They include seafood like trout, haddock, cod, sardines, herring, mussels, oysters and fish eggs. Vegetables, including asparagus, beans, spinach and cauliflower, are also rich in purines and should be avoided.

      Most types of meat create uric acid when they're broken down during digestion. You don't need to eliminate meat from your diet, but you should cut back on meat consumption whenever you can, especially when your gout flares up.

    A Healthy Diet

    • Many people who suffer from gout tend to be overweight so make sure you eat a healthy diet and keep your weight down at a healthy level. Having excess weight puts added pressure on joints and every organ in your body, including your kidneys, and makes it more difficult for your kidneys to process and flush uric acid from your system. Try to eat several servings of fruit and vegetables each day and opt for foods low in purines like pasta, bread and dairy products (preferably low fat).

    Limit Alcohol and Drink Plenty of Water

    • Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Alcohol puts extra stress on your kidneys and makes it more difficult for them to process and remove uric acid from your system, which increases the chances of gout flaring up. Drink more water, since it helps to flush your system. The average person should drink eight glasses of water a day, and people with gout should drink even more. Limit or cut out smoking altogether, since it raises blood pressure and impairs kidney function. Complement your diet by adding some form of exercise to your life. Even walking one mile three times a week will vastly improve the health of your joints and help you maintain a healthy weight.

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