Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis. Research suggests that eating the right food can aid in reducing the symptoms. Here's what to avoid and what to enjoy.

Restricting dietary purines

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Dietary guidelines to restrict purine content - which causes uric acid - include the following:

• Water – Drink at least 6 glasses per day and make sure that you have one of the glasses before you go to sleep. It helps getting rid of uric acid.
• Tofu (bean curd) - Use as protein source. Research suggests that it increases uric acid secretion.
• Macronutrients – Diet should be relatively high in carbohydrate (like bread, rice and pasta), moderate in protein (e.g. tofu) and low in fat.
• Alcohol – An excess of alcohol should be avoided. Total abstinence and avoidance of alcohol may be required in severe cases.
• Body weight – Maintenance of, or gradual reduction to, ideal body weight could prove helpful.

Foods with a high purine content
These foods contain 100 to 1000 mg of purine nitrogen per 100 g of food. Patients suffering from gout should not eat the foods included in this list:

• Anchovies
• Brains
• Consommé
• Goose
• Gravy
• Heart
• Herring
• Kidney
• Mackerel
• Meat extracts
• Mincemeat
• Mussels
• Roe
• Sardines
• Yeast (baker’s and brewer’s, taken as supplement)

Foods with a moderate purine content
These foods contain 9 to 100 mg of purine nitrogen per 100 g of food. One serving of meat, fish or poultry (90 g) or one serving of vegetables (1/2 cup) from this group, is allowed per day, depending on the condition of the patient:

• Asparagus
• Dried beans
• Lentils
• Meat, fish and poultry (except the above-mentioned)
• Mushrooms
• Dried peas
• Shellfish
• Spinach

Foods with a low purine content
These foods contain negligible amounts of purine and may be used daily:

• Bread (white) and crackers
• Butter or margarine (in moderation)
• Cake and cookies
• Carbonated beverages
• Cereals
• Cheese
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Cream (in moderation)
• Custard
• Eggs
• Fats (in moderation)
• Fruit
• Gelatin desserts
• Herbs
• Ice cream
• Milk
• Noodles
• Nuts
• Oil
• Olives
• Pickles
• Pasta
• Popcorn
• Puddings
• Relishes
• Rice
• Salt
• Sugar and sweets
• Tea
• Vegetables (except those mentioned in the first group)
• Vinegar

Source: Krause’s Food, Nutrition, & Diet therapy, 10th edition (Mahan LK, Escott-Stump S)

Read more:
Which joints, which arthritis?
Sprains and strains

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