Dietary guide for people with gout

Gout pain can be excruciating. High uric acid concentrations have been linked to this disorder. Small joints or soft tissues where the excess uric acid accumulates in the circulation experience symptoms resembling arthritis.

About 85% of the uric acid in your blood is produced by your body. To decrease the quantity of uric acid the body produces, some people need to take medication. Additionally, medication can be required to assist your body in eliminating excess uric acid.

Purine is a substance that can be found in some foods and that, when consumed in excess, can raise uric acid levels. A low-purine diet may be used in an effort to reduce some gout symptoms. Gout sufferers are advised to follow a low-protein diet because most protein-rich meals are high in purine. A low-fat diet may also be advantageous for some people because eating too much fat tends to reduce the amount of uric acid your body can excrete.

General diet guideline when suffering a gout attack.

• Drink two to three litres (8 to 12 cups) of fluid each day, at least half of which should be water, when you are experiencing an attack.
• Limit your alcohol intake or refrain from consuming it. Uric acid can accumulate in the body as a result of alcohol consumption. If you decide to drink, limit yourself to one 4-ounce drink every three days of the week.
• Consume a diet low in purines (see chart). Eat nothing from the “high purine” list. Occasionally consume items on the “moderate purine” list. consume daily meals from the low purine list.
• Consume protein in moderation (no more than 4-6 ounces daily). Eat less fish, poultry, and meat. Tofu, low-fat milk products, low-fat peanut butter, and eggs are additional excellent sources of protein.
• Choose lean meats, fish, skinless poultry, and low-fat dairy products to reduce the amount of fat in your diet.
• Put a focus on whole grains.
• Limit additional fats such butter, margarine, oils, and salad dressing to three to six teaspoons per day and stay away from deep-fried foods and sweets with high fat content.

Between flare ups or chronic gout:

• Keep drinking at least 8 cups of liquids every day in between attacks of acute or chronic gout.
• Keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum.
• Keep exercising caution when consuming meals on the high purine list.
• Keep an appropriate weight. If you need to, try to drop weight, but do it gradually (no more than 1-2 pounds a week). An excessive attempt to shed weight can result in a gout attack. Low-carbohydrate diets should not be followed because they typically contain excessive amounts of protein and fat, which can aggravate gout.