If you have gout, what you eat can affect your condition. Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in your body. When you have too much uric acid, it is hard for your body to get rid of it.
When the body breaks down purine in foods, uric acid is created as a by-product of the process. This is why eating purine-rich foods may lead to flare-ups of gout.
Gout can cause many unpleasant symptoms, like pain and swelling in your feet. You might even have trouble walking. Knowing what foods are rich in purines, which may worsen your condition, can help you avoid painful flare-ups.
Purine foods and gout
Gout is incredibly common, and your risk of developing it usually goes up with age.
Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid, leading to a condition called hyperuricemia. It’s a kind of arthritis, affecting mainly the joints in your feet.
Research from 2017 suggests that the risk of developing gout has a genetic link, as well as a connection to environmental factors.
Uric acid is a natural substance created when your body breaks down purines. You can end up with high uric acid levels when your body makes too much or doesn’t get rid of it effectively.
Certain foods are particularly rich in purines, meaning your body will produce more uric acid as it breaks them down. If you have gout or are already predisposed to hyperuricemia, this can cause your symptoms to flare up.
About 20% of uric acid in your body comes from purines that you’ve eaten in food. So, it might be best for you to avoid these foods in favor of low purine alternatives.
Examples of purine foods
If you have gout, a doctor might advise you to alter your diet (in addition to other treatments) in order to reduce flare-ups. Purine-rich foods that you might consider removing from your diet include:
- alcohol, especially beer
- sugary drinks and foods
- red meat
- organ meats like liver or heart
- some seafood, like sardines
Foods to try
Alongside limiting the foods that may worsen your gout, you can try other foods to try in place of them. Some foods, including soy products like tofu, might actually lower the risk of gout attacks by lowering uric acid levels.
Examples of low purine foods include:
- fruits and vegetables
- whole grain breads, cereals, and pasta
- eggs
- potatoes
- nuts
- dairy products, especially low fat options
- lean protein like chicken and some fish
Some research from 2022 suggests that the Mediterranean diet, filled with plant proteins, olive oil, and fish, can be beneficial for people with gout.
Weight loss is also recommended to reduce uric acid levels and the frequency of flare-ups, so monitoring your diet and making informed choices can also help, alongside regular exercise.
Gout treatments
While changes to your diet can help ease gout flare-ups, you can also try other lifestyle changes, including getting adequate rest, using cold packs, and staying hydrated.
Doctors are likely to recommend medical treatments to manage your condition as well, either by treating the buildup of uric acid that causes the condition or treating the symptoms of a flare.
One of the main symptoms of gout is inflammation, which causes pain. This can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve). Another medication used to treat inflammation is colchicine (Colcrys), which might be given alongside other medications.
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Get free cardYou might also be prescribed corticosteroids. These can come in the form of a tablet, or they might be injected directly into the joint affected by gout. They include prednisone (Prelone) or prednisolone (Orapred).
In more severe cases, doctors will recommend therapies to lower your uric acid levels. Examples of these medications include allopurinol (Zyloprim) and febuxostat (Uloric), which decrease uric acid levels in your blood by blocking a specific enzyme that helps make uric acid.
Another option is medications that help your body to get rid of uric acid through your urine. An example of this is probenecid (Probalan).
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Summary
Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in your blood, either because you make too much of it or your body doesn’t get rid of it as it should. Uric acid can build up when you eat foods that are rich in purines.
Purine-rich foods include red meat, beer, and foods and drinks high in processed sugars. Foods to try if you have gout include soy foods like tofu, fruits and vegetables, and foods included in the Mediterranean diet. It’s always best to speak with a healthcare professional before modifying your diet.
Alongside altering your diet, a healthcare professional is likely to prescribe medications to treat the symptoms of gout, the buildup of uric acid in your blood, or both.
If you’re living with gout, your diet doesn’t need to be a limitation. You can find a diet that works for you, filled with nutritious and tasty foods.
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