Gout is form of arthritis that is affected by high uric acid levels. Uric acid is produced naturally in the body, however a diet which is high in purines can increase uric acid levels, causing the symptoms associated with gout.
A diet which is low in alcohol and purine-rich foods can lower uric acid levels and lessen the pain associated with gout. Low purine diets used to be routinely recommended for gout, however, the widespread use of medication that reduces the body's production of uric acid has meant that these restrictive diets are not as necessary. A low purine diet omits foods high in purines such as:
- Offal
- Meat gravy and extracts
- Seafood such as scallops and oysters
- Wild game and poultry
Dramatic weight loss can also increase pain in gout. Drastic weight loss can cause breakdown of body proteins, leading to the production of ketone bodies. Ketone bodies inhibit the secretion of uric acid, causing uric acid levels to go even higher.
Alcohol can also increase gout pain. Alcohol dehydrates the body, increasing the concentration of uric acid. Port and red wine are particularly high in purines.
Although, medication has largely replaced the use of dietary recommendations, if you do plan to follow a low purine diet, as such a diet can be restrictive, it is recommended that you see a dietitian who can advise you how to maintain a healthy balanced diet.
General Guidelines for Gout Prevention
- Avoid purine rich foods.
- If you are overweight, try to achieve your target weight through slow, controlled weight loss.
- Sudden fasting can raise uric acid levels and aggravate gout.
- Avoid rich, heavy meals with a high protein and fat content.
- Avoid alcohol during attacks of gout.
- Drink plenty of water (2-3 litres per day) to help flush uric acid through the kidneys.
Food Guide for Gout
The following list will give you some idea of the level of dietary restriction that was required before medication became available for gout. You may also notice that many of the foods listed are very rich and not part of the everyday diet, hence the reason that gout was often considered a ‘rich man's affliction'!
Foods to avoid
Herring, sardines, mussels, meat extracts, all types of alcohol, yeast of all types.
- Foods high in purine – eat once a week
- Anchovies, trout, salmon, lobster and crab
- Bacon, beef, mutton, veal, venison and sausages
- Turkey , chicken soup and pheasant.
- Foods to eat in moderation – one item four times a week
- Asparagus, cauliflower, kidney beans, lentils, mushrooms, peas and spinach.
- Fish stock, halibut, oysters, plaice, fish roe and tuna.
- Chicken and duck.
- Ham, pork, rabbit, tongue and sweetbreads.
- Wholegrain bread and cereals.
