Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals in your joints are created causing heat and pain. Commonly it occurs in the big toe, and even the blanket on your bed touching your toe can cause excruciating pain. The higher your uric acid levels the higher the incidence of getting gout. A diet rich in purines can cause an increase in uric acid. The following diet and tips will help you reduce your risks of getting an attack of gout. If the gout attacks are recurrent, your doctor may need to start you on a medication such as allopurinol.
Gout / Purine Reducing Diet
1. Drink plenty of fluid - 2 to 3 litres per day, half of this coming from water.
2. Limit your intake of fish and meat to no more than 5 to 6 ounces per day. Substitute low fat milk and tofu products when possible. Eggs and peanut butter are okay.
3. Limit your intake of alcohol. Red strong wine is especially bad. Consider a white wine instead.
4. High carbohydrate foods are good: breads, pasta, and fruits.
5. Choose low fat meals, and avoid chicken skin. Avoid fried foods.
6. Keep your weight under control. The more weight you carry, the higher your uric acid might get.
7. Limit shellfish to 2 to 3 ounces, no more than once per week.
Here are the good foods:
Bread, cereal, pasta, rice, fruit juices, vegetable juices, eggs, nuts, peanut butter, most vegetables except the ones listed below, all milk products, and tea/coffee
Here are the foods you want to avoid as much as possible:
Liver, heart, brains, sweetbread, game meats, goose, sardines, anchovies, Red wine, mackerel, herring, scallops, mussels, gravy, meat extracts (oxo), and mincemeat (the pie filling).
Limit the following foods:
No more then 2/3 cup of oatmeal per day. Limit beans, and lentils to 1 cup cooked per day.
Vegetables to be careful with:
1/2 cup serving only per day of asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, mushrooms, and green peas.