Gout is a form of arthritis characterized by extreme pain due to the formation and accumulation of crystals in and around the joints. These crystals are a result of high levels of uric acid in the blood. The body breaks down a chemical – purine – of which uric acid is a result. Purine is naturally found in the body but it is also found in some foods.
Although gout diet isn’t a definitive cure, it certainly helps decrease the uric acid levels in the blood, which may lower the risk of gout attacks and related joint damage. A combination of gout medication and gout diet is essential to manage pain and reduce the uric acid levels in your body.
Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight are unavoidable for gout treatment. Losing weight lowers the risk of further gout attacks in addition to reducing the odds of developing heart problems. You might need to try a few workout routines before you find out the one that suits your lifestyle. Arthritis patients can indulge in several types of workouts like Yoga, water aerobics, weight training, etc. You can go for as well and ask the trainer to devise suitable moves for you. Try all the workout routines any number of times with FITPASS. to work out as you please.
Certain foods raise uric acid levels and therefore, might trigger an attack. These trigger foods contain high amounts of purines, the waste of which is uric acid. The bodies of healthy people can effectively remove excess uric acid from the body, whereas the bodies of gout patients obviously cannot. This is why gout patients should avoid a high-purine diet.
Research suggests that avoiding purine-rich foods and taking the prescribed medicine can prevent gout attacks. Red and organ meats, seafood, alcohol, and beer are foods that contain moderate to high amounts of purines. Certain vegetables are high in purines but research has shown that they do not trigger gout attacks. Fructose and beverages sweetened with sugar increase the risk of attacks even though they do not contain high amounts of purines; they activate many cellular processes that may lead to the rise in uric acid levels.
Vitamin C supplements, low-fat dairy products, and soy products might prevent gout attacks according to research. Moreover, high-fat dairy products haven’t been found to affect the level of uric acid in the body.
Foods to Avoid for Gout Management
Avoid foods that contain more than 200 mg of purines per 100 grams in addition to high-fructose foods; they can trigger a gout attack.
Organ Meats – liver, kidneys, brain, and sweetbreads
