Diet for Gout

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KEY POINTS

• Gout is pain, redness, and swelling in a joint, or kidney problems, caused by uric acid crystals.
• Limiting or cutting out foods such as organ meats, beans, and alcohol can help decrease uric acid.
• Your healthcare provider may also suggest that you lose weight and get regular exercise, which may also help to control gout.

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What is gout?

Gout is a condition caused by having too much uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a waste product your body makes when it breaks down certain chemicals called purines. Purines are in many foods. Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood and passes through your kidneys and out of the body in your urine. If the level of uric acid builds up in the blood, sharp uric acid crystals may form. If not treated, the uric acid crystals form in your joints or under your skin, causing pain and swelling. The uric acid buildup can also cause kidney stones and kidney damage.

What diet helps gout?

You should avoid:

• Foods high in purines such as:
  • Organ meats, such as liver and kidney
  • Beans and peas
• Drinking a lot of alcohol, especially beer. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit it to 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men. A drink equals 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 and 1/2 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. Drinking more alcohol than this can increase uric acid in your body, and can make gout medicine less effective. If you often have gout attacks, you should completely stop drinking alcohol.
• High fructose corn syrup, which is used to sweeten many foods and drinks

You should limit:

• Serving sizes for:
  • Beef, lamb, or pork
  • Anchovies, sardines, and mussels
• Sugar in desserts and drinks, including fruit juices
• Salt, by cutting down on processed and fast foods, and by limiting how much salt you add to your food

You should have more:

• Low-fat (1%) or fat-free dairy products
• Fruits and vegetables
• Coffee. Both regular and decaf coffee may help lower uric acid levels.

Your healthcare provider may also suggest that you lose weight and get regular exercise, which may also help to control gout.