Gout attacks are triggered by a buildup of uric acid in your joints. While anyone can develop gout, you’re more likely to develop it if you have a family history of gout or kidney problems that reduce your ability to excrete uric acid.
Most attacks occur without warning and are treated with anti-inflammatory medication, but dietary management is equally important. Because uric acid is a byproduct of the breakdown of purines -- found in many foods -- controlling your purine intake is the primary dietary strategy.
At Aesthetic Podiatry & Sports Medicine Centers in White Plains, New York, and Purchase, New York, Board Certified Podiatrist Mariola Rivera, DPM is extremely familiar with this painful condition and offers the following dietary guidelines to help patients with gout.
Organ meats are a concentrated source of certain nutrients and a delicacy in many culinary circles. They also contain some of the highest purine levels of all the foods in your diet. Because the levels are so high, it’s recommended that you avoid organ meats altogether if you have gout. Here are some examples of organ meats to prevent:
When you have gout, you must select seafood that won’t provoke a gout attack. Fish and other seafood provide crucial nutrients like omega-3 fats, but certain types of seafood are much higher in purines than others. The goal is to select lower-purine seafood and limit your intake to the serving range your provider recommends.
High-purine seafoods include:
Better options are:
The amount of alcohol you drink is a significant risk factor for gout. Frequently indulging in alcohol, especially beer and hard liquor, significantly increases the chance that you’ll have a gout attack. Too much alcohol may interfere with your body’s ability to get rid of uric acid, paving the way for a painful attack.
If you drink, do so in moderation and choose wine over other forms of alcohol. Moderate wine consumption isn’t linked to gout risk. What’s considered a moderate intake? Up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.
Remember, this is a general guideline. The amount you can safely have without provoking your condition may vary. Your provider will assess your individual circumstances and make appropriate recommendations.
Sugar-sweetened drinks like soda and fruit juice are another component of your diet that spells bad news for managing gout. Even having as little as one soft drink each day dramatically raises your chance of having a gout attack. Sugary drinks are as bad for your gout as hard liquor and beer. There’s no doubt about it: to effectively manage gout symptoms, you’ll need to nix sugary drinks from your diet.
While diet sodas aren’t known to cause problems for gout sufferers, these beverages are linked to other issues, like weight gain. Your best bet is incorporating healthier beverages like herbal tea and fruit-infused water.
If you’re used to eating mostly processed foods, overhaul your diet with fresh and frozen, minimally processed, nutritious foods. Cut back on animal protein and eat a wide variety of plant-based foods. Doing so will not only help you manage gout symptoms, but the boost in nutrients will bring more balance to your diet and promote overall well-being.
The following foods should form the foundation of your diet:
As one of the simplest gout remedies, water dilutes uric acid and helps your body flush it out. When your body’s water content decreases, uric acid levels in the blood rise and become more concentrated. Drinking more than eight glasses of water daily reduces your risk of gout attacks by nearly half.
In addition to dietary management, making other changes, like losing weight, can help keep gout in check. Dr. Rivera offers comprehensive gout management that includes medication and lifestyle changes to help you live well with gout. Call or book online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Rivera.
