Gout is a painful form of arthritis brought about by the presence of high levels of uric acid in the body. When gout flares up, the joints affected swell and may turn red. Generally, a feeling of warmth and pain appears in the inflamed areas. Like many conditions, diet can impact gout. With gout, avoiding certain foods and adding others to your diet may help relieve the suffering.
Diet Strategy
Because gout is aggravated by uric acid, doctors recommend eliminating (or at least limiting) your intake of foods which are high in purines (related to uric acid) and proteins. The amount of these foods that gout sufferers can tolerate will vary from person to person. You may tolerate some foods better than others. To determine what your body can handle, start by eliminating these foods from your diet. Stay off them for at least a couple of weeks to see if your gout improves. Then, add in one item, in small to moderate servings, to see how your gout reacts. Test food items individually. If you experience a gout flare-up, decide how important that food is to you based on the pain you feel. Also, eliminate alcohol consumption, adding it back in moderation as alcohol can also aggravate your condition.
Purines and Proteins
The worst of the high-purine foods to initially eliminate include: organs (hearts, liver, kidneys), herring, mussels, yeast, smelt, anchovies, scallops, sardines, dried beans and peas, goose, and sweetbreads. Additionally, other foods that may cause your gout to flare up include: trout, salmon, haddock and other fish, mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, poultry, beer, bacon, mutton and veal.
Healthy Choices
In general, your diet should be high in complex carbohydrates, including whole grains. Choose high-fiber breads. Eat cherries, strawberries and blueberries (and other red or blue berries), bananas, celery, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables. Eat foods rich in bromelain (such as pineapples) but be cautious of high doses of vitamin C. Also avoid iron supplements. Drink plenty of water, preferably purified, at least eight glasses a day. You can have low-fat dairy products, chocolate, cocoa, tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks. As well be sure to consume essential fatty acids, which you can get from nuts.
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