For lowering uric acid levels, it is necessary to minimize intake of foods high in purines. The following HealthHearty article elaborates more on medications that help to reduce uric acid levels.
Following a proper diet is the key to lower uric acid levels. Uric acid in our body comes from the breakdown of purines, and so it makes sense to avoid foods that contain a high amount of purines. It is observed that protein-rich foods are found to be a major source of purines. So, one should minimize the intake of protein-rich foods given below:
- Fish
- Poultry products
- Lean meat
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Yogurt
- Milk
Certain vegetables and fruits are also high in purines and so their inclusion cannot be tolerated by patients suffering from high uric acid levels. They are mentioned below:
- Spinach
- Cauliflower
- Asparagus
- Mushrooms
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Cherries
Beverages like beer too can stimulate production of uric acid. Research has shown that consuming beer on a regular basis raises uric acid levels. To be precise, beer drinking predisposes a person to gout. So, those serious about getting rid of excess uric acid should NOT consume BEER and other alcoholic beverages.
Medications
Probenecid
Popularly known as Benemid, this medication has been very effective to bring down high uric acid levels in the blood. This medication helps to get rid of excess uric acid through urine. Probenecid is also used in the treatment of kidney stones, resulting from elevated uric acid levels.
Allopurinol
Also referred to as Zyloprim, this medication disrupts the process of breakdown of purines into uric acid. As a result, purines taken from external sources (food) are no longer metabolized into uric acid.
Supplements
According to studies, vitamin C may help to lower uric acid levels. Elimination of uric acid through urine increases dramatically with the intake of vitamin C supplements. However, a point to note here is that vitamin C supplements have to be taken in the right dosage to get the desired result.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
