Do you sometimes wake up in the morning and feel a burning sensation in your big toe joint? Or do you suddenly feel a joint like your knee or ankle swell, turn red, and feel so painful that you can't even touch it? These could be symptoms of gout, which many people experience. Many people suffer from this unbearable pain. But did you know that if we choose the food we eat every day with some care, we can control this condition to a great extent? Let's talk about it today.
What exactly is Gout?
This is very simple. Simply put, gout occurs when a chemical called 'uric acid' increases in our blood. When this uric acid increases, it turns into small crystals that look like sharp needles and get deposited inside our joints. Imagine how painful it would be if tiny glass needles were deposited inside a joint. These crystals are what cause the severe pain, swelling, and redness.
What is this 'low purine' diet?
Okay, so how does this uric acid build up in the body? Here's how. Some of the things we eat and drink naturally contain a chemical compound called 'purines.' When our body breaks down these purines, uric acid is produced as a byproduct. So you understand the connection, right? If you eat foods high in purines, uric acid increases.
The 'Low-Purine Diet' is about reducing your intake of purine-rich foods and controlling your uric acid levels. We also encourage you to include certain foods in your diet that help lower your uric acid levels.
Who benefits from this diet?
Anyone with elevated uric acid levels in the blood (hyperuricemia) can benefit from this diet.
- For those who have not developed gout but are at risk: Perhaps you have not yet developed gout, but your blood test shows high uric acid levels, controlling your diet in this way can be a great help in preventing gout from developing in the future.
- For those who already have gout: This is very important for someone who already has gout to stop the disease from flaring up frequently and to reduce pain.
- Prevent other complications: This diet also helps prevent other complications, such as kidney stones, that can develop due to increased uric acid.
What foods and drinks aggravate gout?
We need to be especially careful about this. There are certain foods that can suddenly increase gout pain. Let's see what they are.
| Food/drink type | Why aren't these good? |
|---|---|
| Sugary drinks and sweet foods | The regular sugar we eat contains something called 'fructose'. This fructose breaks down into uric acid in the body. Therefore, things like sugary drinks, cakes, and biscuits are very unhealthy. |
| Alcohol | Even though alcoholic beverages are not high in purines, alcohol impairs the process of excreting uric acid from our kidneys. As a result, uric acid accumulates and accumulates in the body again. |
| Organ Meats | Purines are very high in things like the spleen, kidneys, intestines, and brain. It's good to cut these out completely. |
| Some types of meat (Red Meats) | Red meats like beef, pork, goat, and bacon are high in purines. Eating these frequently can increase gout. |
| Certain Seafood | Some fish and seafood, such as sardines, herring, squid, shrimp, oysters, and tuna, are high in purines. These are not recommended to be eaten frequently. |
| Turkey | Turkey meat is also high in purines. Avoid processed deli turkey, especially. |
| Gravy and Yeast | Meat sauces and foods containing yeast (e.g. beer) can also contain purines. |
So what is the best food for someone with gout?
Just like we talked about the bad things, there are also good things that can help control this condition. Adding these to your diet can give you great relief.
| Food/drink type | Why is it good for gout? |
|---|---|
| Water | This is the most important thing. Drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day helps the kidneys to excrete uric acid from the body through urine. This reduces the risk of developing gout. |
| Cherries | Cherries have anti-inflammatory properties. This means they help reduce swelling and pain in the joints. Research has also found that cherries can help reduce uric acid levels. |
| Skim Milk | Some studies have shown that drinking skim milk speeds up the elimination of uric acid from the body and also helps reduce inflammation in the joints. |
| Coffee | Coffee contains a different type of acid than uric acid. Drinking coffee daily reduces the rate at which purines are converted to uric acid and increases the rate at which uric acid is excreted from the body. |
| Vegetables and fruits | Most vegetables and fruits are low in purines. Although some vegetables (e.g. spinach, cauliflower) have slightly higher purine levels, they have not been proven to affect gout symptoms. So eat your vegetables and fruits without fear. |
What are the benefits of this diet?
There are several advantages to controlling food in this way.
- Reduced uric acid: This is the main benefit. Eating a healthy diet can help reduce uric acid levels and prevent gout pain and complications.
- Weight loss: Think about it, when you reduce your intake of sugar, sweets, and red meat, your body weight will naturally be controlled. Losing weight has two benefits. One is that losing weight reduces the risk of developing gout. The other is that losing weight reduces the pressure on our joints, especially in areas like the knees and ankles. This also provides great relief from pain.
- Reduced need for medication: Understand this well. This diet does not mean that you should stop taking the medication prescribed by your doctor. Never stop taking medication without medical advice. However, controlling your diet, in addition to medication, will give you a great boost in controlling the disease. Perhaps if you continue this way, your doctor will be able to reduce the dosage of your medication.
Not without its drawbacks.
Like anything, this diet can have some drawbacks.
- A little restrictive: This is a little restrictive. You have to give up a lot of things we love, like sugar, sweets, and alcohol, for a long time. That may be difficult for some people. But when you think about your health, it's worth the sacrifice.
- Omega-3 intake may be reduced: Seafood is the best place to get omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3s are very valuable in helping to reduce joint pain and inflammation. So when you limit the types of fish, you may be able to get less of these. However, you can talk to your doctor and take something like fish-oil supplements if necessary.
- This is not a complete cure: This is also very important. This diet alone cannot completely cure gout.
This diet is not the only treatment for gout. It is not a substitute for medication. For best results, this diet should be used in conjunction with the medication prescribed by your doctor.
Finally, this low-purine diet is not only good for people with gout, but for everyone's health in general. It reduces sugar, alcohol, and processed meats and prioritizes fruits and vegetables. If you have gout, or are at risk of developing gout, it's worth talking to your doctor and trying this diet.
Take-Home Message
- Gout is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. These deposits in the joints cause severe pain.
- Eating foods high in purines (red meat, some seafood, sugar, alcohol) can increase uric acid levels. It is very important to avoid these.
- Drink plenty of water daily. Adding things like cherries, skim milk, and coffee to your diet can be helpful.
- This diet is an adjunct to medical treatment, not a substitute for it. Always follow your doctor's instructions.
- Talk to your doctor before making any dietary changes, especially if you have other medical conditions.
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