Foods Containing Purines

Many different types foods contain purines in varying levels. Foods containing theobromine or yeast are the highest in purine content by weight. Next in purine concentration are organ meats and preserved seafood. Finally, dried produce such as beans and mushrooms have only a moderate level of purines.

Theobromine

• Theobromine is a purine-rich alkaloid found in many foods that contain the stimulant caffeine. Food products made from the kola nut, tea leaves, acai berries and cacao plant have very high levels of theobromine. Cocoa powder and cocoa butter are made from the cacao plant and are used as flavoring agents in many desserts and sweets. Acai berries are a popular source of natural caffeine often served in smoothies. Black and oolong teas have the highest theobromine levels among teas.

Yeast

• Yeast, especially brewer's yeast, contains high levels of purines. Yeasts that are used to make bread contain some levels of purine, but it usually remains in low quantities in the final baked product. When most commercial beer is made using brewer's yeast, most of the yeast is filtered off before bottling. Marmite and Vegemite are made from brewer's yeast that is left over from the beer-making process and are high in purines.

Organ Meats

• Most animal meats contain purines, but organ meats are the worst offenders. Calf sweetbreads have the highest levels of purines of all the organ meats. Liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain and spleen from pigs and cows are among organ meats known to contain high levels of purine. Tongue and skin have slightly lower purine content than most other offal meats. Some sausages and cured meats contain a mix of these organ meats and are very purine-rich.

Seafoods

• Foods from the sea can contain large amounts of purine. Sardines that have been packed in oil have the most purine content. Sometimes these fillets are dissolved into sauces and salad dressings for their salty flavor. Shellfish are the next in purine level among seafood. Higher purine content among fresh fish include herring, tuna, trout and ocean perch. Shellfish such as shrimp and scallops contain purines but usually in lower levels than most other seafood.

Dry Beans and Mushrooms

• Moderate levels of purine can be found in some dried beans and mushroom varieties. Dried mushrooms of the edible boletus genus can be very high in purine content. Dry white, soy and mungo beans are the dry bean varieties known to contain the highest purine levels among produce. These same items contain much less purine quantity by weight before they are dried.