List of Foods That Cause Gout to Flare Up and Result in Pain

Gout is painful, and those who suffer from it should be aware of the foods that cause gout to flare up.

Gout is a painful kind of arthritis that develops when too much uric acid crystallizes in your joints as a result of an accumulation in your body. Purine, a chemical contained in many meals, is broken down by your body to produce uric acid.

Your body produces purine naturally, and it can also be found in some foods. Urine is the body's method of excreting uric acid. Reduced blood levels of uric acid may benefit from a gout diet, although no diet can treat gout completely. Yet, it might lessen the likelihood of recurrent gout attacks and slow the development of joint damage.

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Foods that Cause Gout

When you eat meals high in uric acid, your body's uric acid levels rise and urate crystals develop in your joints. The gout symptoms of pain and inflammation are brought on by this accumulation of crystals in your joints.

Although no diet can entirely stop flare-ups, a healthy diet can help you manage your gout by lowering the number of purines you consume. You should be aware that since each of us is unique and diverse, what adjustments in diet and food are effective for one person may not be effective for another. You will need to modify your eating plan to meet your specific requirements and avoid high-purine foods.

Check out this list of foods to avoid with gout:

1) Red meat

Red meat may cause gout flare-ups. (Image via Pexels/ Malidate Van)

The high purine content of red and organ meats can lead to an excess generation of uric acid in the blood. This is why it is included in the list of foods that cause gout. Some of the main causes of gout discomfort include bacon, turkey, veal, and venison. Avoid sweetbreads, liver, and kidneys as they can result in gout flare-ups.

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2) Shellfish

Due to its relatively high purine content, seafood is frequently on the list of foods that cause gout. You should stay away from foods like perch, herring, shrimp, lobster, and anchovies.

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3) Carbohydrates

Insulin resistance is frequently caused by increased carbohydrate intake. As a result, people's inability to effectively metabolize uric acid causes their blood to produce more uric crystals, which is the reason why carbs are on the list of foods that cause gout. Whole-grain alternatives to white pasta, bread, and rice may significantly lessen gout attacks and discomfort.

High-carb diet can also cause increase in gout symptoms. (Image via Unsplash/ Stephanie Harvey)

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4) Processed foods

Monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG, is frequently present in high concentrations in processed foods. To ensure manufactured meals taste and smell fresh, these flavor enhancers are added in large quantities. Food is converted into purines and uric acid by the combination of inosinates (an inosinic acid salt or ester) with MSGs.

The most likely processed meals to trigger gout flare-ups are things like frozen dinners, chips, and snack foods.

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5) Alcohol

Talking of foods that cause gout, beer in particular has a poor reputation. Nevertheless, it seems that any alcoholic beverage is high in purines and may just be as dangerous. A 2014 study from the Boston University School of Medicine found that drinking wine, beer, or alcoholic beverages doubled the likelihood of having a gout episode.

Alcohol, specifically beer, is included in the list of foods that cause gout. (Image via Unsplash/ Julia nastogadka)

The researchers discovered that an individual's risk increased with their alcohol consumption. If you'd rather not totally abstain from alcohol, it is best to choose white wine because it is not linked to an elevated risk of gout when consumed in small amounts.

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Foods Good for Gout

Now that you have learned about the foods that cause gout, choose low-purine foods if you have gout pain. Even if a gout-friendly diet forbids a lot of items, you can still eat a lot of low-purine meals. When a food contains fewer than 100 mg of purine per 3.5 ounces, it is referred to as low-purine (100 grams).

These low-purine foods are generally suitable for those suffering from gout:

• Most fruits are suitable for gout. By reducing inflammation and uric acid levels, cherries especially may potentially help avoid attacks.
• Any vegetables, including potatoes, peas, mushrooms, eggplants, and leafy greens, are acceptable.
• Lentils, beans, soybeans, and tofu are all acceptable types of legumes.
• Every type of nut and seed.
• Oats, brown rice, and barley are examples of whole grains.
• All dairy products are safe, but low-fat dairy seems to be especially healthy.