Gout Diet

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The Gout Diet is a health plan that is designed specifically for individuals struggling with the side effects of gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden and severe feelings of pain, in addition to swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joint areas. The best way to alleviate gout is to follow a restricted diet; therefore, the Gout Diet helps individuals discover the appropriate foods that can lead to a pain-free lifestyle.

How Does the Gout Diet Work?

Gout is caused by increased levels of uric acid in the blood, also known as, hyperuricemia. As a result of the rising levels of uric acid, the body begins to accumulate the acid in the joints. This, unfortunately, is the cause of painful inflammation and redness. To reduce pain and discomfort, the Gout Diet teaches individual how to reduce the severity of gout attacks, by informing individuals about foods with high purine levels.

What is Uric Acid?

Uric acid is a natural waste product that is formed as purines are broken down. Purines are substances that are found naturally in both the food and in the body. Individuals suffering from Gout tend to exhibit a stronger reaction to certain foods, thus increasing the byproduct of uric acid in the body.

The Gout Diet and Food Options

Individuals following the Gout Diet program should avoid foods with high purines, which include foods such as:

Anchovies
Herring
Mackerel
The organ-based meats from animals, including:
- Liver
- Brain
- Kidney
- Sweetbreads

While also completely avoiding high purine foods, individuals should also limit their intake of additional purine-rich products. Essentially, purines are found in all meats, poultry, and fish; therefore, individuals should follow a restricted diet regimen when eating from these specific dietary sources:

Eat smaller amounts of meat, poultry, and fish
Limit animal proteins to a maximum of 5-6 ounces per day
Only eat the leaner cuts of meat, poultry, or fish
Moderately consume foods such as:
- Asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, mushrooms and green peas
  lentils, beans, oatmeal, wheat bran and wheat germ

Additional Gout Diet Restrictions

In addition to avoiding purine rich foods, individuals should also follow dietary restrictions such as:

Limited alcohol intake, as drinking alcohol increases the likelihood that uric acid will rise in the blood stream. This often happens as alcohol inhibits the body’s ability to remove uric acid appropriately. Also, if confronted with an attack of gout, individuals should stop drinking alcohol completely until the attack has passed.
Increase fluid intake, as fluids like water can help remove excess uric acid from the body.
Limit sugar-sweetened soft drinks, which have been shown to increase the risks of gout.
Maintain a healthy overall weight, as excess weight can add more stress to the joint areas, causing increased risks of developing excess uric acid in the blood stream.