Have you ever suddenly woken up at night with unbearable pain, swelling, and redness in your big toe, knee, ankle, or other joint? Some people call this 'gout fever'. In medicine, we call this condition Gout . Simply put, this is a condition that occurs when the chemical uric acid in our blood increases too much, causing it to deposit in our joints as sharp crystals like thorns. So, in addition to medication, the food we eat is also very important to control this pain. Today, let's talk about a diet suitable for someone with gout , that is, a 'low-purine' diet.
What is a 'low-purine' diet?
You may not have heard of 'Purines'. Think about it, purines are a group of chemical compounds that are naturally found in some of the foods we eat. When our bodies break down these purines, uric acid is produced as a byproduct. So, a 'low-purine diet' means limiting foods that are high in purines and adding more foods that help lower uric acid levels to your diet.
Who is this diet important for? Anyone with high uric acid levels in the blood (Hyperuricemia) can benefit from this diet. Even if you don't have gout yet, if you only have high uric acid levels in the blood, this diet can help prevent gout from developing. Also, for someone who already has gout , it can help prevent the disease from worsening and other complications such as kidney stones that can occur due to increased uric acid.
What foods and drinks aggravate gout ?
If you have gout , it's important to stay away from certain foods because they can quickly raise your uric acid levels. Let's take a look at what they are.
| Food type | It's simple to say why it's not good. |
|---|---|
| Sugary drinks and sweet foods | The regular sugar we eat contains fructose. This fructose is converted into uric acid in the body. Things like sweetened drinks, cakes, and biscuits fall into this category. |
| High Fructose Corn Syrup | This is also a type of fructose. You can find it on the labels of canned foods, sauces, and packaged foods. |
| Alcohol | Even though some alcohol doesn't contain a lot of purines, alcohol stops the kidneys from removing uric acid, so uric acid builds up in the body again. |
| Organ meats | Purines are very high in organs such as the liver, tripe, brains, and kidneys. |
| Certain seafood | Fish like sardines, herring, squid, oysters, tuna, and mackerel are high in purines. |
| Red meats | Avoid meats like beef, pork, goat meat, and bacon as much as possible. |
| Turkey | Although it is low in fat, it is high in purines. Processed deli turkey is especially not suitable. |
| Gravy and Yeast | Sauces made from meat broth and foods containing yeast (e.g., some types of bread) are also high in purines. |
So what is good for someone with gout to eat?
We've just looked at the things you shouldn't eat. Now let's look at the foods that can help lower your uric acid levels and that you can safely eat. But remember, eating these foods alone won't cure gout completely. But they can help control the symptoms.
- Water: This is the most important thing. Drinking about 8-10 glasses of water a day helps the kidneys to eliminate uric acid through urine. Water is also very good for kidney health.
- Skim milk: Some research has shown that drinking skim milk can reduce uric acid levels and gout pain.
- Cherries: Cherries have natural anti-inflammatory properties and have also been found to help reduce uric acid levels.
- Coffee: If you're a coffee drinker, this is good news. Studies show that drinking coffee daily can lower uric acid levels. Coffee slows down the rate at which purines are converted to uric acid.
- Vegetables and fruits: Most vegetables and fruits are low in purines. Even vegetables that are slightly higher in purines (e.g. spinach, cauliflower) have not been found to have a significant effect on gout . So eat your vegetables and fruits without fear.
- Grains: Grains other than oats, such as rice, bread, and noodles, are usually fine. However, choosing whole grains can also help control blood sugar levels.
What are the benefits of this diet?
There are several benefits to controlling your diet in this way.
1. Lowering uric acid levels: Controlling uric acid levels through diet can help reduce the frequency of gout attacks and prevent complications like kidney stones.
2. Weight loss: You see, in this diet we avoid high-calorie foods like red meat and sweets. So as a side effect of this, your body weight is controlled. There is a big connection between obesity and gout . When you lose weight, the pressure on the joints also decreases.
3. Reduced need for medication: This is very important. Diet is not more powerful than medication. But if you control your diet properly, your doctor may be able to reduce the amount of medication you need to take.
Most importantly: Before making any decisions about this diet, and if you are already taking medication for gout , be sure to talk to your doctor . He or she will be able to advise you on the best diet for you.
Aren't there any disadvantages to this diet?
Like anything, there may be some minor drawbacks to this.
- Restriction: This is not something you do for a day or two. It is a long-term lifestyle. For some, it can be a little difficult to give up favorite foods (red meat, sweets, alcohol) all the time.
- Low Omega-3 Sources: Healthy omega-3 fatty acids are found mostly in seafood. This diet may limit certain types of fish, so your omega-3 intake may be low. However, you can talk to your doctor about taking fish-oil supplements if needed.
- This is not a complete cure: As we have said before, diet alone cannot cure gout . While it can lower uric acid levels, it is not as effective as medication. The best thing to do is to take the medication properly and follow a proper diet.
Take-Home Message
- Gout is a painful condition in the joints caused by an increase in uric acid in the blood.
- Uric acid levels can be controlled by limiting foods high in purines (red meat, some seafood, alcohol, and sweetened beverages).
- Drink plenty of water daily. Adding things like cherries, coffee, and skim milk to your diet can be helpful.
- Please remember that this diet is not a substitute for the medications prescribed by your doctor. Both should be done together.
- Be sure to consult your doctor before making any dietary changes, especially if you are being treated for other medical conditions.
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