Foods to Eat and Avoid for Gout
A painful type of arthritis, gout, develops when there’s a massive build-up of uric acid in the body, which leads to the formation of crystals in the joints. The body produces uric acid by breaking down purine, which is a common ingredient in many foods. To manage this condition, you need to lower the consumption of purine and follow a few dietary tips for gout.
Dietary ideas for gout
It is essential to know that no diet can completely prevent flare-ups of this health condition. However, including certain food items and excluding a few foods can prove beneficial. Moreover, consuming a healthy diet would help you:
- Maintain a good body weight
- Develop right eating habits
- Cut out purine from your diet
- Include foods, which keep the levels of uric acid in the body in check
Foods that will trigger gout
Specific food items have higher purines and put you at risk of a gout attack. Hence, you have to eliminate these from your diet. These include:
- Grain liquors, such as whiskey and vodka
- Beer
- Pork, lamb, and red meat
- Organ meats including organs, such as kidneys or liver
- Glandular meats, such as pancreas or thymus – these are referred to as the sweetbreads
- Fructose-rich food items, such as juices, soda, cereal, candy, ice cream, and junk food
Foods to consume
These include:
- Celery seeds or celery
Traditionally, celery is a highly useful food item for treating urinary problems. For gout issues, the celery seeds and extract are incredibly popular. These help lower the inflammation in the joints. Hence, it would be best if you consume celery a couple of times a day, especially in the raw form, such as seeds, juice, or extract.
- Magnesium
One of the most important dietary minerals is magnesium, which is an excellent food to reduce the trigger of a gout attack. It is because a deficiency of magnesium in the body can aggravate the inflammatory stress. Moreover, adequate magnesium consumption lowers the level of uric acid in the body, thus reducing your risk of gout.
- Dandelion
Dandelion extracts, dandelion teas, and other supplements are excellent sources for improving kidney and liver health. Thus, they reduce the level of uric acid in the body.
- Apples
Apple is a good source of malic acid, which is responsible for lowering uric acid in the body. Hence, it is essential to consume one apple in a day, at least. However, it might only be mildly beneficial in treating gout.
- Cherries
Cherries in all colors and all forms are successful in treating gouts. You should have at least three servings of cherries in two days.
So, follow these dietary tips for gout. Include the items that lower the risk of flare-ups and exclude the things that may trigger an attack.