Foods to Avoid When Experiencing Gout

The pain of a gout episode has few equals. It’s also usually a nasty surprise that attacks in the middle of the night. It’s hard to believe that a toe can render you unable to function properly, but it most certainly does. Walking is nearly impossible and don’t even think about shoes.

Once you get over the attack, prevention is going to be high on your list. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do that will help. Unfortunately, it may mean giving up some of your favorite foods. Many foods contain purine, which is found in protein. Purine breaks down to uric acid, which is then filtered out by your kidneys. If there is too much in your body, it can’t all be filtered out, so it recirculates in the blood stream. If it keeps adding up, it will develop into sharp crystals and be dropped off in your joints. This is what causes the pain of gout.

Asparagus: If you aren’t a fan of vegetables, this may provide you the excuse you need, at least as far as asparagus goes. It has a couple of things that make it on the "don’t consume" list. First, it is high in purine, which may come as somewhat of a surprise. Second, it is a diuretic, so it may cause some problems with hydration.

Beer: While technically not a food, it is a commonly consumed beverage and like asparagus, it has two strikes. One is the yeast…you guessed it, it’s a protein. Second, the alcohol content is bound to create hydration problems, as it is an even more potent diuretic.

Mushrooms: There is some debate about the role of mushrooms. Some feel that plant based proteins are safe and others point out that all possible sources should be eliminated. I kind of lean to the latter. Use a lot of caution.

Organ Meat: The highest amount of this constituent is found in the organs of animals. All animals. If you have gout, don’t consume these products.

Processed Meats: You may feel I’m being redundant here to a certain extent. Many processed meats contain "meat byproducts" which may translate to organs. However, all processed meats are in this category…including bacon.

Seafood: Shellfish and salmon may be a part of a healthy, low fat diet, but they probably shouldn’t be on your dinner menu. You may also wish to use flax seed oil for your omega-3s, as the fish oil capsules can add up.

Your doctor may recommend that you see a nutritionist to help you plan out a healthy diet that limits the main causes of flare ups. If you also have other medical conditions, this becomes a priority, as many of the foods recommended for one condition can cause another. That’s especially true of gout. Make sure your doctor knows of any other conditions you may have, as well as a complete list of medications and supplements. That will go a long way towards preventing future flare ups.

For more information about gout, you can purchase my eBook, Home Remedies for Gout. In it you will find:
• Other Sources of Uric Acid: Page Seven
• Anti-inflammatory Supplements: Pages Ten through Seventeen
• Supplements that may Reduce Uric Acid: Pages Seventeen to Twenty-one
• How to Make a Poultice: Page Twenty-two

Our site has information on many topics and my five eBooks about herbal remedies. You can also download my free report, the Top Ten Herbs. It details ten popular herbs, their uses, side effects, precautions and drug interactions. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me: mary@healing-home-remedies.com

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This entry was posted on Saturday, July 10th, 2010 at 2:11 am and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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