Best Diet for Gout: What to Eat and What to Avoid?

Gout causes sudden pain, inflammation of joints, and swelling. It’s a type of arthritis. And, in most cases, gout affects toes, knees, feet or heels. The symptoms of gout appear when the level of uric acid increases in the blood. Notably, gout is a waste product of our body caused by certain food consumption. Thus, people should follow a diet for gout and eliminate the foods which increase uric acid levels as well as trigger gout.

So, learn about the diet to control gout and what to eat and avoid sincerely. 

Diet for Gout

There are two types of diets which are good for gout. They include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, these diets help to control refined carbohydrate and saturated fat intake. So, let’s learn about these diets:

• DASH Diet

DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. From this name, you can easily assume that DASH is a diet chart for people with high blood pressure. It also becomes effective for gout management. This diet includes whole grains, vegetables, fruits, low-fat or non-fat dairy products, vegetable oil, and lean protein from fish, meat, nuts, legumes, and poultry items.

• Mediterranean Diet

This diet offers several health benefits. Apart from gout management, it helps to improve cardiovascular health. There are some similarities between the Mediterranean and DASH diet plans. The foods included in the Mediterranean diet are vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fat from extra virgin olive oil, and lean protein from fish, seafood, legumes, and nuts. 

Foods Good for Gout

A healthy diet for gout is rich in nutrients and helps an individual to manage it. The following foods reduce the gout-related symptoms.  

• Vegetables

Vegetables, including spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, asparagus, and broccoli, support gout management. They provide essential vitamins and minerals. Also, by eating these veggies, you can maintain a healthy weight. 

• Whole Grains, Beans, Tofu, and Lentils

These plant-based proteins protect people from gout attacks. Also, plant-based oil such as olive, soy, and sunflower oils reduce the risk of gout. 

• Dairy Products

Medical studies show that the proteins from dairy products support a decrease in uric acid levels. Additionally, one can choose low-fat products like skim milk and low-fat yoghurt for weight management. 

• Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C. And, research has found that vitamin C reduces the frequency of gout flares. Additionally, this vitamin controls the level of uric acid. Specifically, fruits that have lower fructose are beneficial for controlling the uric acid level. For example, one can eat oranges, pineapple, or grapefruit to control the uric acid level. 

• Cherries 

It’s scientifically proven that the consumption of cherries controls uric acid levels. It also suppresses the risk of gout flares. Moreover, cherries and cherry products contain a high quantity of anthocyanins, which include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, cherries reduce pain associated with gout. 

• Avocados

Avocados are low in purines and high in vitamin E, and monounsaturated fatty acids. These elements have antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, avocados reduce pain, inflammation, and the risk of joint damage. 

Foods to Avoid with Gout

Now, know about the foods which trigger gout:

Purines

The human body converts purines into uric acid. Thus, foods containing purines worsen the symptoms of gout. Some research also suggested that animal-based foods are high in purines, increasing the risk of developing gout. The purine foods list includes:

• Alcohol, such as beer
• Red meat like pork, beef, and lamb
• Seafood like tuna, trout, sardines, scallops, anchovies, and mussels
• Organ meat including kidney and liver

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates contain sugar, which increases an individual’s blood sugar level. Thus, it plays a key role in developing insulin resistance, which is highly associated with uric acid increment. These types of foods have a high glycemic index (GI). 

Here is the list of foods with high GI:

• Starchy vegetables to avoid with gout like potatoes, winter squash parsnips, and corn
• Fruit juice and fruits such as bananas, mango, grapes, and watermelon
• Snacks like cookies, chips, cakes, doughnuts, pretzels, and pop tarts
• White bread
• Rice
• Breakfast cereals

Fructose

Foods with high fructose reduce adenosine triphosphate. As a result, it causes overproduction of uric acid. Thus, people having gout should control their fructose intake. Foods which contain high fructose are:

• Honey
• Sugary soda drinks
• Corn syrup

Conclusion

Gout is a painful disease that may occur by consuming certain foods. An individual suffering from gout should contact his/her doctor to get proper treatment. Notably, the treatment includes medications and certain dietary changes.