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Low-Purine Diets

If you have kidney stones or gout, a low-purine diet might be the best thing for your health. Purines are complex organic compounds and the most common examples in the American diet are caffeine and uric acid. Purines combine with many other compounds within the body to perform a variety of functions, but if consuming them raises your risk of illness, it is wise to avoid them. An elevation of uric acid levels can contribute to gout or kidney stones. Consult your physician before beginning any diet or exercise program.

  1. Diet Basics

    • You must avoid high-purine foods and alcohol, as alcohol increases uric acid production. Limit meat to no more than 3 oz. per meal and eliminate high-fat foods and whole milk. Fatty foods cause your kidneys to retain uric acid. Drink plenty of water and consume plenty of carbohydrates, which will help reduce your uric acid levels and decrease the risk of kidney stone formation. Eliminate all caffeine from your diet and, if you are losing weight, do so gradually to avoid a rise in uric acid levels, which can lead to gout or kidney stones.

    Grains

    • Consume 6 to 11 servings a day of grains. Avoid high-fat sources such as pancakes and French toast, muffins, biscuits and any form of fried potatoes. Any grains you consume should be enriched and not heavily processed. Rice, noodles, pasta and potatoes are all good sources, but avoid saturating any of them with grease or butter when cooking. A serving size is one slice of bread, 1/2 cup of cooked pasta or one cup of cereal.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • You need two to four servings a day of fruits, where one serving is a medium-sized piece of fruit, 1/2 cup of canned fruit or 3/4 cup of fruit juice. Avoid avocados due to the high fat content. Consume three servings of vegetables a day with a serving being one cup of raw vegetables or 1/2 cup of cooked vegetables. Most vegetables are fine, but cooking methods matter. You should not cook any of your vegetables in fat or top with a cheese or cream sauce.

    Meat, Poultry, Dairy and Legumes

    • Eat no more than 6 oz. total of meat a day. This includes fish, poultry, eggs, milk and cheese. Avoid foods such as sardines, anchovies and all organ meats. You also need to avoid shellfish and all gravies made from meat. Dried beans and peas also need to be avoided, as they can cause your uric acid levels to skyrocket. Limit these foods to no more than two servings per week.

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