Diet to Lower Uric Acid Level

Adjusting your diet could help you avoid gout pain and medication. Gout attacks occur when uric acid in your blood crystallizes in your joints. This happens when the uric acid level in your blood gets too high either because your body can't get rid of it through the urine or you are consuming foods too high in purines, which generally are foods high in protein. Your diet can help adjust the purines so that less uric acid forms in your system.

Make It Low Purine

• Select low-purine foods to eat as much as possible. For instance, limit meat, fish and poultry and instead draw more of your protein from low-purine foods such as eggs, tofu and low-fat dairy products. Other high-purine foods include beer, alcoholic beverages, anchovies, herring, yeast, organ meat, legumes, gravies, mushrooms, spinach, asparagus and cauliflower.

Drink More Fluids

• Limit your alcohol consumption, particularly beer. However, you should increase your overall fluid intake as much as you can. The more you drink, the more you will urinate and the more uric acid you will eliminate, even if it is only a little bit each time.

Vegetables and Fruits

• As with any healthy diet, fruits and vegetables play a role. Green leafy vegetables (lettuce, cabbage, broccoli) are recommended for gout sufferers. Other vegetables that can help hold off gout attacks include carrots, beets, cucumbers and string beans. Apples, bananas and grapes are fruits that will help you keep your uric acid levels low.

Strawberries and Cherries

• Strawberries and cherries will help you avoid getting a gout attack. Strawberries neutralize uric acid and cherries help lower uric acid levels. The fruits also provide valuable vitamins and minerals to help you maintain good health.