Gout is a very painful form of arthritis that can make your life miserable. This type of arthritis will produce severe inflammation in a joint. The big toe is the most affected joint. A large majority of the individuals who suffer from Gout have a hereditary condition that keeps them from processing uric acid. As the uric acid builds up in their blood, it will turn into small crystals. These crystals will settle in the connective tissue or in a joint. The joint will then begin to swell. As the inflammation gets worse, the joint will start to hurt. But you can avoid these painful attacks if you learn more about Gout diet foods to stay away from.
The first thing you need to understand about Gout and uric acid is it comes from consumption of purines. Purines are natural substances that can be found in all body cells and in almost all foods. Purines are part of what makes up the chemical structure of our genes. They are also part of the chemical structure of all plants and animals. However, there are a limited number of foods that contain higher than normal levels of purines.
So now that you know more about purines, you need to know the specific Gout diet foods not to eat. The following list will clue you into the Gout diet foods to avoid to help prevent Gout attacks and pain.
Meat contains high levels of purines. However, if you are to eat a balanced diet then you will need to consume some meat for protein. But there are certain types of meats that contain higher levels of purines than other types of meat. Organ meats such as kidneys, liver, brain and heart have the highest level of purines. The leanest cuts of meat will have a lower amount of purines.
Seafood should be included in everyone’s diet because of the omega 3 fatty acids it provides. However, seafood in general contains a moderate amount of purines. Canned fish such as anchovies and sardines contain the highest levels of purines. You should also try to avoid herring, mussels and mackerel.
A legume is a flowering plant that will yield beans, peas and other vegetables. A legume is a vegetable that gets split along both sides when ripe. The legumes that contains the highest level of purines are garbanzo beans, black eyed peas, red beans, lentils, sweet peas and white beans. These should be avoided if you are a Gout sufferer.
Gravy is a sauce that is made from meat juices. Gravy is a food staple that is used all over the world to enhance the taste of certain foods. However, since gravy is made from the juices of meat, it is definitely one of the Gout foods to stay away from. The high purine content of this sauce will make your Gout much worse.
Junk foods should be avoided by everyone but especially by those who have Gout. These foods are full of processed ingredients, fats and sugar or high fructose corn syrup. If you eat a consistent diet of junk foods then you are putting yourself at risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and a lot of other health problems. Junk foods will also put you at a high risk for a Gout attack.
Beer and other types of alcohol can produce a Gout attack if consumed in excess. Alcohol contains purines and it also can break down into lactate, which will cause the retention of urate, which is a form of acid. If you must have alcohol, you can drink wine in moderation. However, if you have a Gout attack after drinking wine then you should stop your alcohol consumption.
If you have Gout then you need to remember the above list of Gout diet foods not to eat. It is possible to get rid of your Gout simply by monitoring what you eat every day.