diet for people with gout
Diet for People with Gout
A diet for people with gout is not necessarily one that is unpalatable and overly restrictive. Find out the foods to eat and the ones to avoid in case of gout, in this article.
- Complex Carbohydrates: Foods that contain high levels of complex carbohydrates, like rice, potatoes, cereals, cereal products, etc. are healthy options that people suffering from gout can include in their diet.
- Low-fat: Foods that have a low quantity of fat in them are also favorable for people with gout. They help to reduce the risk of the occurrence of gout. You can eat low-fat dairy products and drink low-fat skim milk.
- Nuts and Seeds: A gout diet can include nuts and seeds. Good sources of low-purine nuts and seeds include walnuts, almonds, flaxseeds, and cashew nuts. In addition to this, the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is always a plus point.
- Fluids: Fluids are always a necessary and often ignored constituent of any person's diet. If you suffer from gout, make it a point to consume a lot of fluids in the form of juices, etc. Also, make sure you drink more than enough water on a daily basis. Fluids help greatly in removing the uric acid from the body.
- Animal Protein: It has been observed that the level of uric acid in the body increases to a great extent due to the consumption of animal meats, especially organ meat. Hence it is better to avoid organ meat like liver, brain, kidney, meat extracts etc. Also, reducing the intake of poultry and other kinds of red meat will help in the reduction of the uric acid. If you cannot completely exclude them from your diet, then consume them after boiling or steaming them. Avoid frying them, as gout conditions can worsen with fried foods.
- Alcohol: The consumption of excess alcohol has also been known to increase the occurrence and intensify the symptoms of gout. Hence, avoiding alcohol is the best option.
- Fish: Some fish and seafood are also known to alleviate the discomfort caused by gout. Fish like mackerel, herring, sardines, tuna, etc. are ones you should avoid. Also, other seafood like shrimp, lobster, oysters, scallops, calamari, caviar, etc. are best avoided.
- Simple Carbohydrates: For a person suffering from gout, the intake of simple carbohydrates, i.e., in the form of sugar and sweets should be reduced or entirely avoided. So, stay away from excess sugar.
- Foods with High Fructose: As far as possible, avoid foods that contain high levels of fructose (sweetened corn syrup). These include artificially sweetened juices and soft drinks
- Others: Try to avoid the consumption of beans, peas, lentils, and mushrooms due to their high purine content.