What Lowers Uric Acid?

Under normal circumstances, uric acid gets flushed out of the body in the urine. But in some instances, it can build up and cause conditions such as hyperuricemia and gout (a type of arthritis that takes place when uric acid pools up at joint locations, causing them to swell up and become tender). Dietary and lifestyle adjustments can help lower uric acid levels.

Meats

• Stop eating meat and other high-purine proteins. Purine is a building block of uric acid. High-purine proteins include organ meats, game meats, pork, beef, lamb, turkey, shellfish, tuna, salmon, carp and mackerel. A good substitute for meat is tofu, which has the ability to clear uric acid from the body.

Yeast

• Yeast is a high-purine food, so it should be avoided. Cut out anything made with yeast, such as breads, beer and wine.

Weight

• Lose weight gradually to help lower uric acid. Being overweight can cause an excess amount of pressure on your joints and can also cause higher levels of uric acid in the body. If weight is lost quickly, however, it can actually increase uric acid levels. Gradual weight loss is mandatory for lowering uric acid levels, according to Jeffrey Lisse, M.D, associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Fruits

• Eat fruits. Various fruits are beneficial to lowering uric acid in the body. Some of these include lemons, limes, oranges, bananas and apples. Cherries (as well as cherry juice or cherry extract) help lower uric acid levels and also have anti-inflammatory benefits.

Fluids

• Drink lots of water. Water not only keeps the body hydrated, lubricates joints and helps metabolize fat, it also helps flush impurities from the body, which makes it good for lowering uric acid levels. Water-based liquids such as soups and fresh fruit juices can also help. Women should drink 2.2 liters of fluids a day, and men should drink three liters a day, according to the Institute of Medicine.