Gout is an agitating arthritis caused by high level of uric acid in the blood. When the uric acid increases, it creates crystals in the joints. It leads to swelling and stiffness. This can be seen commonly in the big toe. This can be controlled with a proper diet plan for gout like eating fruits & vegetables, Vitamin C rich foods, etc, which helps in reducing uric acid levels, preventing gout attacks, etc. In this blog, we are going to discuss diet plan for gout, foods to eat and avoid, lifestyle tips to manage gout and many more. So stay tuned at the end.
What is Gout?
Gout is caused by increased uric acid in the blood. It creates crystals in the joints and leads to swelling and redness. It can also affect the other parts of the body like knees, ankles, etc. The symptoms of the gouts like serious pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints.
Role of Diet in Managing Gout
The diet plays an significant role in controlling gout and uric acid. The low purine diet helps in reducing uric acid production and decrease the risk of gout attacks. Proper medication and diet can help in long-term gout management.
Foods to Eat in Gout
Eating regular foods is not enough to get the complete relief from the gout. The various studies suggest that certain foods and drinks may help in reducing gout. Some of them are listed below:
Fruits for Gout Patients
All fruits are generally safe with the gout. But there are some specific fruits which are rich in antioxidants. Some of them are listed below:
Cheeries
Cherries has the properties of anti-inflammatory and antioxidants which can help in reducing the uric acid levels. It can also reduce the signs and seriousness of gout attacks.
Berries
Berries like strawberries has the properties of anti-inflammation and antioxidants which helps in reducing uric acid levels in blood.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like oranges has high amounts of Vitamin C which helps in decreasing uric acid levels and reduces the risk of gout attacks.
Apples
Apples contain malic acid which helps in controlling uric acid. The fiber in apples soaks acid from the bloodstream and helps in removal from the body through the kidneys.
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
Vegetables like spinach and lettuce have low amounts of purine and adequate Vitamin C. They has the property of anti-inflammatory which helps in gout management.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers contains low amounts of purines and abundant Vitamin C. They has the property of antioxidants which helps in reducing inflammation and joint pain.
Cucumber
Cucumbers has low purine levels and act as a natural diuretic which increases the urine output. It helps the kidneys filter and remove the toxins from the blood. They have the properties of anti-inflammation and antioxidants which helps in managing gout.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes have an adequate amount of Vitamin C and lycopene. It has the property of antioxidants and low purines which helps in reducing uric acid levels in the blood.
Carrots
Carrots are rich in fiber and Vitamin C and have the properties of anti-inflammation and antioxidants which helps in reducing joint pain and managing gout.
Protein Source Foods for Gout Patients
For gout patients protein source foods are advised to manage the gout and get relief from the joint pain. Some of the protein source foods are listed below:
Plant Based Proteins
Plant based proteins like beans has property of antioxidants which helps in reducing the risk of gout attacks.
Low-fat Dairy Products
Low-fat dairy products like low-fat yogurt can help in reducing the uric acid levels. These are good sources of proteins and help in managing gout.
Lean Poultry
Lean poultry like chicken breast and turkey provide moderate purine protein and the good alternative than high purine protein like red meat. It also provides Vitamin B6 and phosphorus which is necessary for a healthy metabolism.
Foods to Avoid in Gout/Uric Acid and its Risks
There are certain foods that should be avoided in gout. If you are not avoiding these foods in your daily diet or meals then you have to face its consequences. Some of the foods are listed below:
Sugary Drinks and Sweets
Sugary drinks and sweets contain high fructose content and it breaks down into uric acid. It leads to increased levels of uric acid in the blood and it causes inflammation & gout attacks.
Alcohol
Alcohol like beer and liquor contain high purine content. This leads to increased uric acid level in the blood and affects the excretory system or cannot refine the toxins and waste materials properly. It can lead to inflammation and severe gout attacks.
Organ Meats
Organ meats like kidney, brain, liver, etc, have high purine content, which the body breaks down into uric acid. It leads to buildup of crystal in the joints and causes inflammation and intense pain.
Red Meats
Red meats like beef, lamb, pork, etc, contain high purine content and raise the uric acid levels. It is because the body breaks down the high purine content into uric acid and this can cause painful gout flares.
Seafoods
Most of the seafood contains high purine like crab, mussels, mackerel, etc. When we eat high purine seafood our body breaks it down into uric acid. This leads to increase the level of uric acid in blood and causes inflammation and serious joint pain.
Risks of High Purine Diet in Gout
There are also some risks related to high purine diet for the gout patients. Some of them are listed below:
- Increased Uric Acid: If we consume a high purine diet in gout it can increase the uric acid levels in the blood. This leads to inflammation and serious gout attacks.
- Recurrent Attacks: If we consume a high purine diet consistently it increases the chances of frequency and risk of gout flares and attacks.
- Crystal Formation: A high purine content increases the levels of uric acid in the blood and it leads to the buildup of needle-like crystal around the joint. It causes inflammation and intense pain.
- Kidney Stones: Increased levels of uric acid creates the stones in kidneys. It resulted in severe pain and blood in urine.
- Other Health Problems: Consistent consumption of high purine diet can create conditions like high blood pressure, obesity, and metabolic issues. It is common in gout patients and can worsen the overall health.
Importance of Hydration in Gout
It is good to have a proper diet plan for gout but hydration is also important to prevent gout related issues. One of the main causes of gout is dehydration which concentrates uric acid in the blood and it leads to joint pain and gout attacks. If we drink more water, it helps in reducing uric acid levels in the blood. This happens because drinking more water increases urination which helps in removing uric acid & toxin through urine and keeps our kidneys healthy. So, good hydration prevents the concentration of uric acid in the blood and formation of crystals around the joint. This results in reducing the risk of gout attacks.
Lifestyle Tips Along with Diet
Gout is not only managed by the diet plan but it depends on your lifestyle. Your daily lifestyle plays a significant role in controlling uric acid levels and prevents gout attacks. Some of the lifestyle tips are:
Maintain a Healthy Body Weight
The overweight increases the production of uric acid in the body and reduces the chances of its removal from the body. Healthy body weight helps in removal of uric acid & waste materials from the body easily. Therefore, keep your body healthy and reduce the risk of gout attacks.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise keeps the body healthy and active and helps in weight control & improves joint flexibility. Low-impact activities are suggested for the gout patients because don’t put excessive pressure on the joints. They can do walking, running instead of high-impact activities. This helps in reducing the production of uric acid in the blood.
Avoid Crash Dieting and Fasting
Gout patients are advised to avoid overeating and long fasting. This can cause the body to break the tissues rapidly and it leads to increased production of uric acid. This resulted in gout attacks and joint pain. They should follow a low-purine diet with regular meals and focus on stable weight loss.
Stay Hydrated
Gout patients are suggested to drink water as much as they can because it keeps them hydrated. It can reduce the chances of production of uric acid in the blood. Hydration helps in the improvement of kidney function of the body.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol contains high purine content, so consume alcohol in limit which helps in reduction of production of uric acid in the blood. It reduces the chances of frequent gout attacks and joint pain.
Get Adequate Sleep
If we do not get enough sleep then it can increase the inflammation and the chances of gout attacks. Getting good sleep can reduce the production of uric acid in the blood and keeps the body healthy.
Conclusion
Gout is a disease which causes chronic joint pain and serious gout attacks. It can be prevented by following proper diet and changes of lifestyle. The proper diet plan for gout can help the individual to get away from this disease. In this blog, we discussed in detail about the diet plan for gout, foods to eat & avoid and many more. This can help the individual and they can plan their diet and change their lifestyle to reduce the risk of gout attacks.