Dr. Lam Labs, LLC

Foods to Avoid if You Have Gout

Do you have gout? Are you wondering why your gout can get very painful sometimes?  Would you believe that avoiding certain foods can help prevent gout pain?

Gout pain is triggered by the increase of uric acid in the blood. Most of the uric acid produced in our body comes from the breakdown of purines from the food we eat. It is best to stay away from purine rich foods such as those listed below, to stop excruciating bouts of gout pain.

1.       Seafoods such as shrimps, lobsters, scallops, anchovies and herring have high levels of purines and should be avoided.

2.       Red meat. All meat contains purines, but white is better that red. Lamb meat has the highest purine content.

3.       Innards like liver, intestines, and kidneys.

4.       Poultry. Goose and turkey have higher levels of purines compared to chicken or duck.

5.       Vegetables such as artichokes, bean sprouts, mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, peas, leeks and Brussels sprouts.

6.       Beer. Beer increases blood uric acid levels and it also hinders the excretion of uric acid by kidneys, making it the worst beverage for anyone who has gout. Wine is better, but too much alcohol isn’t good too. During flare-ups, any type of alcohol should be avoided.

7.       Sweet drinks. Abstain from consuming sugar rich drinks like fruit juices and non-diet soft drinks. The high-fructose sweetener used in these drinks triggers the body to produce more uric acid.

Avoiding all the foods above can drastically decrease gout pain flare ups, but if you are craving for lobster, an ice cold soda or some game like wild turkey, then a few ounces can be safe to consume. For best advice, visit your doctor and ask for specifics on how much and how often you can consume these types of food.

Managing gout with natural gout remedies is becoming increasingly popular as an adjunct and alternative to the treatment of gout symptoms. Simply put, these natural remedies can often control gout symptoms along with proper diet and lifestyle changes. Many people now choose natural gout supplements like our GouTrol Gout Supplement with cherry extract.