
If you are suffering from gout, you must have been advised to follow a diet. This is because, following a proper diet helps in alleviating the symptoms to a great extent. Here is detailed information on the same.
Gout is a condition characterized by inflammation of the joints, usually the big toe. It is a form of arthritis and hence, its symptoms are similar to those of arthritis. Gout is caused due to improper uric acid metabolism in the body. People suffering from gout experience sudden and severe attacks of gout which are marked by inflammation, redness and tenderness in joints and at the base of the big toe. Following a diet can significantly help in treatment and prevention of gout. Let us take a look at it in detail.
Diet for Gout
Before taking a look at the foods safe to consume, and those to be avoided, if suffering from gout, let us first find out the relation between one’s diet and gout. As mentioned above, gout is caused due to abnormal metabolism of uric acid. The condition occurs when uric acid builds up in the body. This can happen either due to excess formation of uric acid in the body or due to malfunctioning of the kidneys.
Uric acid is formed by the breaking down of purines in the body. Hence, excess formation of uric acid is caused when high amount of foods containing purines are consumed by the person. The excess uric acid in the body gets converted into crystallized form and gets accumulated around the joints, leading to gout. Foods obtained from animal sources are high in purines and hence, people consuming these foods are at a higher risk of gout.
Secondly, consuming excess amounts of alcohol is also one of the reasons for causing gout in people. People suffering from obesity, or having high levels of fat, or cholesterol, in their body are also susceptible to gout. Therefore, we see that gout is caused due to the food one eats and hence, following a proper diet is essential to treat and prevent gout. Let us take a look at the foods to be avoided and foods safe to consume in the gout diet.
Foods Safe to Consume
- Fruits, green vegetables, nuts, seeds
- Pasta, flax seeds, cereals, cornflakes, white bread
- Low fat dairy products
- Cherries and strawberries
- Coffee, tea, fruit juices, soft drinks
These foods are extremely safe to eat when suffering from gout as they do not affect the uric acid level in the body. In fact, certain foods like cherries and strawberries are believed to lower the increased uric acid level in the body and hence, people must consume moderate amounts of cherries every day. On the other hand, certain foods like asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach, legumes, freshwater fish, whole wheat products and eggs should be consumed in moderate or very little amounts. Now let us know what are the foods to avoid in the diet for gout.
Foods to Avoid
- Organ meats, red meat, game meat, meat extract
- Sardines, herring, clams, mackerel, crab, scallops, mussels, cod
- Gravies, salad dressing, consomme
- Whole milk, cream
- Yeast, cakes, pastries, donuts
- Alcohol
As obesity and having high levels of cholesterol are one of the risk factors for gout, it is essential to have a diet low in cholesterol and fat. Maintaining a proper weight and having healthy foods can help prevent gout. Therefore, one should avoid eating foods with high amount of fat; and also avoid meat and alcohol in the diet to prevent gout.
Following a proper gout diet can help in treatment and prevention of this condition. Based on this food list, you can look for recipes on the Internet and follow the diet regularly, to get rid of the inflammation and discomfort. Take care!