Anti-Tyramine Diet to Help With Gout

Gout, a painful condition resulting from urate crystals in the joints, can often be controlled with diet. Those suffering from gout should avoid low-carbohydrate diets and foods containing purine, such as game meats and seafood. They should also make sure to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.

What is Gout?

• Gout is a type of arthritis caused when crystals formed from excess uric acid accumulate in your joints (especially leg and toe joints). Alcohol consumption and certain types of foods may exacerbate this condition or cause it to flare up.

Gout and Diet

• Gout can be managed with dietary changes and also treated with medication. Dietary changes include avoiding alcohol, drinking more water, and avoiding foods that contain purine (these can increase levels of uric acid in the body). Foods high in purine include some meats, especially game meats and organ meats, some fish (such as herring, mackerel, sardines and anchovies), seafood and dried beans and peas.

Low Carbohydrate Diets and Gout

• Low-carbohydrate diets are also a problem for people with gout. These diets can cause ketosis, which can, in turn, increase the level of uric acid in the body.

  When your body breaks down fat for energy instead of using glucose, molecules called ketones (or ketone bodies) are produced in the process. These molecules are disposed of by the kidneys, just as uric acid is; this process can raise levels of uric acid and make gout worse.

Gout and Tyramine

• Tyramine is not linked to gout, though there is some evidence that eliminating foods containing tyramine may help those who suffer from migraines. Some of the same foods that contain purine also contain tyramine, such as meats, fish and seafood. Many cheeses, especially aged cheeses, also contain tyramine.