| By :
Allan Roberts
We know that high uric acid is the cause of gout and in most cases it is because the kidneys are inefficient in eliminating them or the body overproduces them. We also know that diet has a direct link to occurrence of gout attacks and lots of foods qualify as "gout triggers". If you have gout, does this mean going through life painstakingly choosing everything you eat for fear of rousing a gout attack? Of course not! So what then is a gout-friendly diet? Recall that less uric acid means less occurrence of gout. A gout friendly diet therefore is one that limits the introduction of high uric acid foods into the system and helps the body; the kidneys in particular, better eliminate uric acid. It is one that avoids foods rich in purine (as uric acid is the product of its breakdown), keeps fat and sugar content low and keeps fiber high. It actually resembles an overall healthy diet plan! You need not be overly concerned with every single food item in your diet causing gout flares. As long as the following general guidelines are followed along with maintaining a healthy weight, then you should be eating fine. Limit meat, poultry and fish. The key word here is limit meaning you are still allowed to eat them as long as daily intake of these purine rich foods does not exceed 170 grams. You might want to avoid eating them altogether at the height of a gout attack. Consume more plant-based proteins. You can compensate for proteins by eating more from plant-based sources such as beans and legumes. Avoid alcohol. According to an online survey on foods that trigger attacks in gout sufferers; the two most cited are red meat and beer. Beer contains yeast extracts that are rich in purine. Alcohol in general interferes with uric acid removal from the body as it causes the removal of water faster (you often urinate when you're drinking) than normal causing increased uric acid levels in the blood. Never drink alcohol during a gout attack. On other days, you may drink one or two 5-ounces of wine daily. Hydrate. Help your kidneys function better by drinking lots of fluids especially water. Aim for 8 to 16 glasses of water daily. Eat low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Remember that fats overwork the kidneys. In fact, there is a link between drinking low-fat or skimmed milk and eating foods derived from them helping lower the risk of gout. Choose complex carbohydrates. Eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables instead of refined carbohydrates from white bread, cake and candy. This also introduces more fiber into your diet. Avoid sugar. It contains too much calories and burn off easily. It is also very much linked to diabetes and obesity; two medical conditions commonly associated with gout. These dietary changes are essential to managing gout long term. They are actually a small price to pay for avoiding the pain of a gout attack. Rather than worrying over individual food items, focus on planning your diet to include these key elements!
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