In past time, gout was considered a disease of the wealthy as only those who were well off could afford a diet rich in purine. Purine rich foods can have a serious impact on those suffering with gout in much the same way as carbohydrate rich foods can have negative affect on diabetics.

Purine, is a component of certain foods that metabolize into uric acid in the body and is found in certain protein containing foods such as shrimp, oysters, organ meat and certain fish. Large amounts of protein can also aggravate gout such as fatty white meats, kidney, heart, or liver which are especially bad. Purine is part of all human and animal tissue and is important in the formation of genetic material such as DNA. The intake of these foods should all be reduced or avoided altogether.
Foods that are high in fat and or cholesterol are also high in Purines so as a result, gout diets are one that is low in fat and cholesterol. Those who are at risk of gout are encouraged to avoid foods high in Purine, but most importantly seek medical advice.

Dairy products, and also some vegetables can be high in Purine, for example, whole milk, ice cream, butter and cheese have been know to be a cause for gout so replacing these with low fat, or soy alternatives is recommended. Spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower and peas have also been shown to be rich in purines. On top of all this, beans and yeast can increase the chances of a flare up of gout so for this reason, beer, because it is derived from beans and yeast is recommended by health professionals to be avoided.

Increasing the amount of water intake, eating tofu and nuts seems to actually counteract weakened kidneys to eliminate uric acid from the bloodstream. Rich complex carbohydrates in the form of vegetables (other than those mentioned above), fruits, wholegrain, like bread and pasta, may ease the symptoms of gout. Fruit teas made from fruits of the rainforests is suggested to be excellent for flushing out excess uric acid from the body.
Patty Brown
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Pain sites most commonly are big toe, as pictured, and knee...
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