What is gout and how can diet impact its symptoms. Which foods should individuals with gout incorporate into their meals. What dietary choices should be avoided to manage gout effectively. How can a balanced diet help prevent gout flare-ups.

Understanding Gout: A Painful Form of Inflammatory Arthritis

Gout is a complex form of arthritis characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in joints, often at the base of the big toe. This condition occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint, causing inflammation and intense pain. These crystals can form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood.

The human body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines – substances naturally found in your body, as well as in certain foods. Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. However, sometimes your body either produces too much uric acid or your kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation, and swelling.

What causes gout?

Gout is primarily caused by a condition known as hyperuricemia, which involves having too much uric acid in the body. Several factors can contribute to hyperuricemia:

• Diet high in purine-rich foods
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Obesity
• Certain medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension)
• Genetic predisposition
• Medications that increase uric acid levels

While gout can affect anyone, certain risk factors increase your likelihood of developing this condition. These include being male, having a family history of gout, being overweight, and consuming a diet high in purines.

The Role of Diet in Gout Management

Diet plays a crucial role in managing gout symptoms and preventing flare-ups. By making informed dietary choices, individuals with gout can significantly reduce their uric acid levels and minimize the risk of painful attacks.

Does changing your diet completely eliminate the risk of gout attacks? While dietary modifications alone may not cure gout, they can substantially reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups. A gout-friendly diet, combined with medication (if prescribed by a doctor) and lifestyle changes, can be highly effective in managing this condition.

Key principles of a gout-friendly diet

1. Reduce purine intake
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Stay hydrated
4. Limit alcohol consumption
5. Choose complex carbohydrates over simple sugars
6. Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods

Foods to Embrace: Nourishing Choices for Gout Sufferers

While managing gout requires limiting certain foods, there are plenty of delicious and nutritious options that can be enjoyed without worry. Here are some gout-friendly foods to incorporate into your diet:

1. Nutrient-Dense Vegetables

Vegetables are generally low in purines and high in essential nutrients, making them an excellent choice for individuals with gout. Some particularly beneficial options include:

• Broccoli: Rich in vitamin C, which may help reduce uric acid levels
• Spinach: Packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds
• Bell peppers: High in vitamin C and other beneficial antioxidants
• Carrots: Contain beta-carotene, which supports overall health
• Squash: Low in purines and high in fiber

2. Fruits with Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Many fruits offer anti-inflammatory benefits and can be safely consumed by gout sufferers. Some excellent choices include:

• Cherries: Known for their potential to reduce uric acid levels and gout attacks
• Strawberries: Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants
• Pineapple: Contains bromelain, an enzyme with anti-inflammatory properties
• Citrus fruits: High in vitamin C, which may help lower uric acid levels

3. Whole Grains

Whole grains provide essential nutrients and fiber while being low in purines. Consider incorporating these options into your diet:

• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Oats
• Barley
• Whole wheat bread

4. Lean Proteins

While some proteins are high in purines, there are lean options that can be enjoyed in moderation:

• Chicken (without skin)
• Turkey
• Eggs
• Low-fat dairy products

5. Healthy Fats

Incorporating healthy fats into your diet can help reduce inflammation and support overall health. Consider these options:

• Avocados
• Olive oil
• Nuts (in moderation)
• Seeds (e.g., chia, flax)

Foods to Avoid: Potential Triggers for Gout Flare-Ups

While there are many foods that individuals with gout can enjoy, certain items should be limited or avoided due to their potential to trigger flare-ups. Understanding which foods to steer clear of is crucial for effective gout management.

1. High-Purine Meats

Red meats and organ meats are particularly high in purines and should be avoided or consumed sparingly:

• Beef
• Lamb
• Pork
• Liver
• Kidney
• Sweetbreads

Why are these meats problematic for gout sufferers? High-purine meats can significantly increase uric acid levels in the blood, potentially leading to the formation of urate crystals and triggering gout attacks.

2. Certain Seafood

While fish can be part of a healthy diet, some types are high in purines and should be limited:

• Anchovies
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Herring
• Tuna
• Trout

Additionally, shellfish such as shrimp, lobster, and scallops should be consumed in moderation.

3. High-Fructose Foods and Beverages

Foods and drinks high in fructose can increase uric acid production and should be avoided:

• Sugary sodas
• Fruit juices with added sugars
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Sweetened cereals
• Candy

4. Alcohol

Alcohol, particularly beer and spirits, can significantly increase the risk of gout attacks. It’s best to avoid or strictly limit alcohol consumption, especially during flare-ups.

5. Processed Foods

Many processed foods contain hidden purines, added sugars, and unhealthy fats that can exacerbate gout symptoms. It’s advisable to limit intake of:

• Packaged snacks
• Fast food
• Processed meats (e.g., sausages, hot dogs)
• Frozen dinners

Hydration: A Key Component of Gout Management

Proper hydration is crucial for individuals managing gout. Adequate fluid intake helps dilute uric acid in the blood and promotes its excretion through urine. But how much water should you drink daily to manage gout effectively?

While individual needs may vary, a general guideline is to aim for at least 8-10 glasses (64-80 ounces) of water per day. However, factors such as climate, physical activity, and overall health may necessitate higher fluid intake.

Benefits of proper hydration for gout sufferers:

• Helps flush out excess uric acid
• Reduces the risk of kidney stone formation
• Supports overall joint health
• Aids in maintaining a healthy weight

In addition to water, certain beverages can be beneficial for gout management:

• Tart cherry juice: May help reduce uric acid levels and inflammation
• Green tea: Contains antioxidants that may support overall health
• Lemon water: The citric acid in lemons may help alkalize the body and reduce uric acid levels

The Mediterranean Diet: A Gout-Friendly Eating Plan

The Mediterranean diet has gained recognition for its potential benefits in managing various health conditions, including gout. This eating pattern emphasizes plant-based foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats while limiting processed foods and red meat.

Key components of the Mediterranean diet:

• Abundant fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Legumes and nuts
• Olive oil as the primary source of fat
• Moderate amounts of fish and poultry
• Limited red meat consumption
• Optional moderate red wine consumption (consult with your doctor first)

How can the Mediterranean diet benefit gout sufferers? This eating pattern may help reduce inflammation, promote weight loss, and lower uric acid levels. Additionally, it supports overall cardiovascular health, which is important for individuals with gout who may be at increased risk for heart disease.

Sample Mediterranean-style meal plan for gout management:

Breakfast:
– Whole grain toast with mashed avocado
– Fresh berries
– Greek yogurt

Lunch:
– Grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and olive oil dressing
– Whole grain roll
– Fresh orange slices

Dinner:
– Baked salmon with roasted vegetables (e.g., broccoli, carrots, zucchini)
– Quinoa pilaf
– Small glass of red wine (if approved by your doctor)

Snacks:
– Handful of unsalted nuts
– Sliced apple with almond butter
– Carrot sticks with hummus

Weight Management and Gout: The Crucial Connection

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for effective gout management. Excess body weight, particularly around the abdomen, can increase uric acid production and make it more difficult for the kidneys to eliminate uric acid efficiently.

How does weight loss impact gout symptoms? Losing excess weight can significantly reduce uric acid levels and decrease the frequency and severity of gout attacks. Even modest weight loss can yield noticeable improvements in gout symptoms.

Strategies for healthy weight loss with gout:

1. Focus on portion control
2. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet
3. Choose lean proteins over high-purine meats
4. Opt for whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates
5. Stay hydrated to support metabolism and reduce hunger
6. Engage in regular, low-impact physical activity (e.g., swimming, cycling, walking)

It’s important to note that rapid weight loss can temporarily increase uric acid levels and potentially trigger a gout attack. Therefore, aim for gradual, sustainable weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week.

Supplements and Gout: Potential Benefits and Precautions

While a balanced diet should be the primary focus for gout management, certain supplements may offer additional support. However, it’s crucial to consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen, as some may interact with medications or have side effects.

Supplements that may benefit gout sufferers:

• Vitamin C: May help lower uric acid levels
• Cherry extract: Contains compounds that may reduce inflammation and uric acid levels
• Omega-3 fatty acids: May help reduce inflammation throughout the body
• Folate: Some studies suggest it may help lower uric acid levels
• Magnesium: May support overall joint health

Can supplements replace a gout-friendly diet? While supplements can be a helpful addition to your gout management plan, they should not be viewed as a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. The most effective approach combines a balanced diet, appropriate medication (if prescribed), and targeted supplementation under medical supervision.

Precautions when using supplements:

• Always inform your healthcare provider about any supplements you’re taking
• Be cautious of supplements claiming to “cure” gout
• Start with low doses and monitor for any adverse reactions
• Choose reputable brands that undergo third-party testing
• Be aware that some herbal supplements may interact with gout medications

By carefully considering your dietary choices, maintaining proper hydration, managing your weight, and working closely with your healthcare provider, you can effectively manage gout symptoms and improve your overall quality of life. Remember that everyone’s needs are unique, so it may take some time to find the right balance of foods and strategies that work best for you. With patience and persistence, you can develop a sustainable, gout-friendly lifestyle that promotes long-term health and well-being.

Best Diet For Gout: What to Eat and What to Avoid

Having a diet rich in vegetables, high-quality protein, and good fats is the best starting point for good health. Drinking plenty of water and the occasional fruit or vegetable juice can boost your well-being, as well. Such balanced diets help prevent diseases like cancer from taking hold. However, it’s easy to give way to temptation and overindulge in unhealthy foods and drinks in today’s junk-food-laden world. 

Contents

• What Is Gout?
• Can You Prevent Gout?
• What Foods to Eat When You Have Gout
• What Foods to Avoid When You Have Gout
• The Bottom Line

Too many of the wrong types of foods and large amounts of alcohol can prevent our bodies from fighting diseases, and these can also aid the development of certain unfavorable health conditions. Other lesser-known ailments, such as gout, can also be food- and drink-related issues and a simple change to your diet is a possibility for relieving symptoms.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that primarily targets the joints of the big toes. The condition can be extremely painful and worsen if left untreated. Although there is no one cure for gout, the symptoms can be treated with medication. In addition, if it’s a diet-related cause, then changes to what you eat can relieve the inflammation and eventually ease all symptoms over time.

Gout is caused by a condition known as hyperuricemia, and this involves too much uric acid in the body. A high concentration of uric acid can form crystals that deposit in certain joints. Uric acid is made when the human body breaks down purines, which are in certain foods, such as red meat, tuna, sardines, anchovies, mussels, and high fructose foods.

Drinking high volumes of alcohol also places individuals at greater risk of developing gout. Other risk factors include being obese, diabetes, hypertension, insulin resistance, heart failure, and poor renal function.

Can You Prevent Gout?

If gout isn’t caused by a significant health condition, such as heart failure, then certain lifestyle changes can help prevent gout from occurring or reoccurring if you have already suffered this painful inflammatory condition.

Balancing your diet is an important starting point in preventing gout, and this would mean limiting the foods high in purines, such as red meat and certain seafood. Cutting alcohol intake is another step in the right direction, too.

Losing weight by getting active can help boost the effects of a healthy, low-calorie diet. Both of these can help prevent type 2 diabetes, strokes, and even heart disease. Low-impact exercises are best for those with joint problems, so think about swimming, walking, and cycling.

What Foods to Eat When You Have Gout

1. Nuts

Nuts are mostly healthy, and many are a good source of monosaturated fats. They are also rich in vitamins, like vitamin E, and minerals, like phosphorous and selenium.

2. Broccoli

Broccoli is a low purine-containing food packed full of nutrients. It contains large amounts of vitamin C, an antioxidant that can help reduce uric acid levels in the body and boost the immune system.

3. Cherries

Cherries are also rich in vitamin C, which is beneficial for everyone and especially for gout sufferers. They are also packed full of antioxidants like anthocyanins. Black cherries are thought to be the best for relieving gout.

4. Lentils

If you cut down on red meat and seafood because of gout, then lentils are a good replacement protein source. In addition, they contain fiber and potassium and can lower high blood pressure, which is another gout risk factor.

5. Avocados

Avocados contain healthy fats, antioxidants, and vitamin E, a natural anti-inflammatory. This can help reduce the pain and swelling in joints affected by gout.

What Foods to Avoid When You Have Gout

1. Red Meat

Although red meat is a good source of protein and iron, overeating it can cause gout in prone individuals, and this is because it’s high in purines.

2. Seafood

Fish and other seafood are generally healthy and high in omega-3 fats, which are beneficial to heart health. The problem is that eating large quantities of seafood, such as shellfish and mussels, increases the purine levels in the body.

3. Organ Meats

Organ meats, such as liver, can be a good source of vitamins and healthy, high-quality proteins. However, they should be avoided by those who have gout because eating them can worsen gout symptoms and delay recovery.

4. High Fructose Foods

High fructose foods like ice cream are OK as an occasional treat, but if eaten regularly, they contribute to weight gain and increase body fat levels, too. These foods also raise uric acid, which is bad news for gout sufferers.

5. Alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol, whether it be beer or wine, can aggravate the inflammation in joints caused by gout. Therefore, it is best to go alcohol-free while suffering from this condition.

The Bottom Line

It can be argued that gout is a symptom of overindulgence in certain foods, but not all gout is a diet-related issue. The easiest way to treat gout is to not supply further fuel to the fire. This means that gout sufferers should avoid foods that kick-start the purine uric acid cycle.

This is the simplest way of treating non-complicated gout naturally. However, conventional painkillers and anti-inflammatories should be used if the pain is unbearable.

Prevention is better than cure, and eating a healthy, balanced diet can prevent uric acid levels from building up in the body, and going vegan for a while can help too. In addition, exercise helps with fitness and weight control, which can also prevent other diseases from developing over time.

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Top Foods to Avoid When You Have Gout

If you have gout, do all you can to avoid foods high in purines. Here’s what to watch out for.

By Beth W. OrensteinMedically Reviewed by Samir Dalvi, MD

Reviewed: March 8, 2023

Medically Reviewed

Certain foods are problematic for people with gout, and you’ll feel better if you avoid them.Canva

If you live with the painful form of inflammatory arthritis called gout, you may take medication to manage your symptoms and prevent flares. But you can also help yourself avoid gout symptoms by watching what you eat and drink.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, gout is caused by too much uric acid in your blood, which for some people can lead to swollen, painful joints. Uric acid is a waste product produced when your body breaks down chemicals called purines, which are found naturally in many foods.

Limiting the foods you eat that are high in purines is one dietary change the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recommends as part of your gout treatment. Here are some foods and drinks you should avoid.

Alcohol

The ACR recommends everyone with gout limit the amount of alcohol they drink. The group’s 2020 gout management guidelines cite research that shows people who don’t drink have lower uric acid levels and are less likely to have gout flares than people who do.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, the process of digesting any kind of alcohol raises your uric acid levels. Beer in particular is risky because it also has a high purine content.

Meat

Animal protein is a big source of purines. Researchers who’ve measured the purine content of different foods have found them in every kind of meat they tested. Many low-purine gout diets, like the one described by the Mayo Clinic, have you eat less red meat, including beef, pork, and lamb, and more poultry. You may need to experiment to see which kinds of animal protein you can tolerate, and in what amounts.

People who live with the chronic pain of gout should consider avoiding organ meats, such as kidneys, sweetbreads, and liver, because they are high in purines.

Seafood

Some seafood is higher in purines than others. At the top end are anchovies, herring, mackerel, roe (fish eggs), sardines, tuna, trout, and many kinds of shellfish, including mussels, oysters, scallops, and shrimp.

Talk to your doctor about whether the benefits of eating certain kinds of seafood may outweigh the risks for you. Some, like salmon, contain heart-healthy fats.

A Caution About Vegetables

As good for you as vegetables are in general, some have been found to be high in purines, including asparagus, spinach, cauliflower, and certain mushrooms. But research published in the December 2020 issue of Nutrients found that high-purine vegetables don’t aggravate gout the same way that high-purine animal-based foods do. One further precaution when balancing foods and gout: Many dried beans, peas, and lentils are high in purines, and you may find you need to avoid them.

Fructose and Gout

Fructose is what gives some fruits (and vegetables) their natural sweetness. And high-fructose corn syrup is used to make thousands of products, from soft drinks to baked goods.

Uric acid is a by-product of your body’s digestion of fructose, so foods and drinks high in fructose can trigger gout symptoms, according to the Arthritis Foundation. But not all sources of fructose are the same.

The ACR says you should limit high-fructose corn syrup. That means cutting out soda and checking the labels on processed food and drinks. As far as whole fruit, researchers have found it to be generally safe for people with gout, possibly because fruit has other nutrients that blunt the effects of uric acid.

Gout Treatment and Diet

Avoiding purine-rich foods is only part of your gout treatment. The ACR also recommends losing weight to help your gout symptoms. Just be sure your weight loss is slow and steady: If you lose weight too rapidly, the amount of uric acid in your body may increase. Overall, the best diet is one based on foods that are low in fat and sugar and high in fiber. Talk to your doctor about how to create a gout diet that’s right for you.

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Health news 007 These methods are designed to change habits and lifestyle, primarily nutrition and alcohol consumption:

• constant observance of the anti-gout diet,
• normalization of weight in obesity,
• Avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption

Gout diet ( 900 08 table No. 6)

Excluded :

• offal (liver, kidney, brain, heart, tongue), canned meat, jelly , sausages, sausages, hams, meat broths,
• smoked, dried fish, sardines, caviar, crustaceans
• carbonated sweet drinks,
• drinks and products with fructose

Excluded :

• pure animal fats (butter, lard, hard margarines), mayonnaise and sauces based on it,
• fatty milk and dairy products (cream, sour cream, cottage cheese, creamy ice cream, cheeses , kefir, fermented baked milk, etc.),
• – confectionery products with cream based on butter, cream, sour cream, – chocolate, cocoa.

Limited:

• pastries, pies, pies, white bread

Limited:

• salt intake. It is recommended to cook food with a minimum amount of salt, and to improve the taste, add cranberries, lemon juice, parsley, dill, cilantro. It is better to remove the salt shaker from the table.

Permitted, but limited to 70 g per day

• boiled meat,
• chicken, turkey, game, rabbit,
• fish – all kinds, preferably boiled,

Authorized:

• any vegetables, fruits, berries; preferably not less than 400.0 g per day (sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants),
• vegetable, fruit, milk soups, not salted,
• vegetable (sunflower, olive, corn) oil,
• cereals and cereals (millet, barley, buckwheat, oatmeal, rice), durum wheat pasta, bread preferably from wholemeal flour.

Allowed (according to recent studies):

mushrooms and vegetables containing purines (beans, soybeans, peas, beans, sorrel, spinach, cauliflower), i.e. vegetable purines are poorly absorbed and quickly excreted from the body.

• . The same studies revealed that cherries, barley, sorrel, as well as vitamin C reduce the level of UA in the blood.

recommended:

• do not overeat. Even a single large meal, especially in combination with alcohol intake, leads to an exacerbation of the disease,
• Once a week (regardless of body weight) spend fasting days (cottage cheese, apple, kefir, vegetables, combined with the intake of liquid without sugar at least 1.5 liters per day).

recommended:

• drink 1.5-2.0 liters of liquid per day (in the absence of contraindications: arterial hypertension, impaired renal function, heart failure, prostate adenoma): tea, coffee, alkaline mineral water is useful, rosehip broth, skimmed (skimmed) milk.

Normalization Obese weight

There are many ways to determine the “ideal” body weight and match it with your own body weight.

A simple formula:

for men: “ideal” weight (kg) = height (cm) -100

for women: “ideal” weight (kg) = height (cm) -105

If actual weight exceeds the calculated figure by 15% or more, then body weight is considered overweight.

For a more accurate assessment of the degree of overweight, use the body mass index (BMI)

BMI = weight in kg / height in m2

Example: weight = 92kg, height = 1.74m BMI = 92 / 3.03 = 30, 4kg/m2, which corresponds to degree 1 obesity

BMI Mass underweight

less than 18.5

18.5-24.9 Normal body weight

25.0-29.9 Overweight

30.0-34.9 Obesity grade 1

35.0-39.9 Obesity grade 2 9000 3

more than 40.0

To normalize your weight, it is very important to psychologically set yourself up (“give yourself a mindset”) to get rid of extra pounds and follow the recommendations of doctors:

What not to do to lose weight with gout:

• starve yourself
• use a protein fasting diet
• use diuretics
• limit fluid intake

What to do to lose weight:

• gradually reduce the entire daily diet,
• adhere to fractional meals – 4-5 times a day in small portions, preferably at the same hours.
• have dinner no later than 2 hours before bedtime, it is even better not to eat anything after 18 hours
• be sure to include fasting days 1-2 times a week (kefir, vegetable, fruit). During fasting days, the amount of liquid you drink (without sugar) should be at least 1.5 liters per day.

limit fat intake:

• switch to skim milk and dairy products,
• use only lean meat and poultry for cooking, remove all visible fat before cooking, and remove all visible fat from poultry meat and skin. Meat is better to boil than to fry, Vegetables are also better not to fry, but to steam, bake, boil or eat raw.
• avoid “invisible” fats found in confectionery, pies, sausages, sauces, chocolate, etc.

limit carbohydrate intake: 0022

minimize the consumption of pure sugar and products containing it: jam, sweet drinks, confectionery, ketchups, marinades, sauces, etc.

use in practice information about the content in 100g. product of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and energy value in kilocalories (indicated on the manufacturer’s packages)

diet, therapeutic diet must be combined with physical activity.

Regular exercise promotes not only weight loss, but also cholesterol reduction, and also increases the excretion of uric acid from the body.

Practically everyone has access to and is not contraindicated in daily physical exercises to maintain muscle tone and joint mobility, not forced descent and ascent of stairs (instead of the elevator), as well as walking for 30-40 minutes at least 4 days a week at a pace, when possible enough to talk freely while walking.

The issue of swimming, skiing, treadmills, exercise bikes, etc. is decided by the attending physician individually.

It is important not to bring the intensity of training to the point of sore muscles – an indicator of the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles, which inhibits the excretion of uric acid.

• Reduce weight gradually: no more than about 5 kg per week until the desired result is achieved. With rapid weight loss, the likelihood of a quick return to the original weight increases.
• You need to control your weight at least 2 times a week.

Weight normalization often requires a lot of time, patience, perseverance, mobilization of willpower, but it always gives a tangible improvement in well-being and a significant improvement in health

Refusal or restriction of alcohol consumption

Why should alcohol be excluded from the menu for gout or its use is significantly limited?

• Alcohol increases the level of UA in the blood, especially spirits (vodka, whiskey, gin, etc.), fortified wines (port wine, liqueur, etc.), as well as beer (including non-alcoholic ), because contains many purines – an additional source of UA formation.

Dry grape wines (white and red) in moderation have the least ability to increase the level of UA in the blood

• Alcohol taken during acute arthritis increases it and lengthens it in time. Alcohol taken outside of an attack, especially in combination with a plentiful feast, quite often provokes severe arthritis.
• Alcohol consumption with anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) significantly increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and toxic liver damage.
• Alcohol reduces the effectiveness of allopurinol, and increasing the dose in this case only increases the risk of adverse reactions from the liver.

Strict adherence to a diet, normalization of weight, restriction of alcohol consumption, physical activity lead not only to a decrease in the risk of progression of gout, but also to a decrease in the risk of occurrence and complications of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease 9November 6, 2022

Gout is a hell of a disease. And that’s putting it mildly. This disease can significantly ruin the life of its owners and lead to painful attacks. Doctors told us how gout manifests itself, what products will probably lead to it and what to do with it all.

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Gout occurs due to a metabolic disorder, resulting in salt deposits. Roughly speaking, this is such an extremely painful symptom of an excess of uric acid in the body. It is formed in us quite independently due to metabolism and the intake of purines into the body: organic compounds that are contained, for example, in DNA. That is absolutely in any food. But some foods are especially rich in purines.

Gout is more of a male disease – they suffer from it several times more often than women. Moreover, the disease can start as early as 25-35 years. While in women, gout usually does not develop before menopause. Zukhra Pavlova, an endocrinologist, listed those who are more prone to gout than others:

• those who eat too much food rich in purines;

• people with ischemic heart disease, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, certain blood disorders, psoriasis;

• those who regularly take certain diuretics, cyclosporins (immunosuppressants for organ transplants), allopurinol (a drug prescribed for high uric acid), and who take aspirin 2 grams per day;

• people with genetic characteristics – when there are not enough enzymes that break down uric acid or proteins that carry it.

— Gout can be confused with rheumatic arthritis, says gastroenterologist Galina Bartashevich. – Swollen, painful joints, especially in the legs. The skin over the affected joint turns red and becomes smooth. In the developed state, tophi are formed – nodules of white or yellow color with a crumbly, cheesy content. They are even on the ears, not just over the joints. But long before the external manifestations, the first attacks of excruciating pain appear. Pain from gout is not relieved by any painkillers. They occur at night or in the early morning, may be accompanied by fever, but, as a rule, pass during the day. People think that they are cured, but this is not so – you need to urgently see a doctor.

Galina Bartashevich — gastroenterologist of the highest category, pediatric gastroenterologist, nutritionist, candidate of sciences.

Another name for gout is “royal disease”. She received such a nickname due to the fact that a long time ago she was a feature of crowned persons who could afford fatty meat, smoked meats, and various delicacies. Today, the food basket that contributes to gout is not limited to this list.

If you don’t want gout, eat less of these foods

Infographics: Vitaly Kalistratov / City portals

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Agree, the list of products that can “give” us gout looks like a restaurant menu. Wiping the mean tears of gastroenthusiasts, let us dwell on some positions in more detail. Take those sausages. Doctors generally have a lot of complaints about them. Ideally, they are generally advised to bypass them because of the threat of cancer. But if you can’t abstain, remember that due to the high content of salt, saturated fat and cholesterol, sausages are not recommended for people suffering from obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. And phosphates in the composition of sausages are undesirable for gout and urolithiasis.

– Again, we must understand – natural sausages or store-bought. I can’t recommend stores as a nutritionist, says nutritionist Irina Borodina. – Natural sausages may be contraindicated in patients with heart failure, if there is a lot of salt (sodium), with kidney pathology, patients with gout, patients with phenylketonuria.

Irina Borodina — dietician of the Center for Public Health and Medical Prevention, Candidate of Sciences, general practitioner of the first category.

“Among non-protein foods, alcoholic beverages especially contribute to the production of uric acid, beer is generally taboo,” adds endocrinologist Zukhra Pavlova. – Sweetened drinks and juices – they are very high in fructose. No need to squeeze juice from berries and fruits daily. Everything is valuable in berries, even fiber, which, when processed into juice, remains in the cake. Using juices, we simply overeat: in one glass of apple juice there are 2-3 apples, this is the daily norm. And, as a rule, we drink more than one glass. Juices, even freshly squeezed, daily are a shortcut to gout.

Zukhra Pavlova – doctor – endocrinologist-andrologist, candidate of medical sciences.

You can try replacing juices with smoothies, but this is also not the surest solution (although it will certainly be a little healthier). Yes, smoothies contain fiber, which makes it difficult for simple carbohydrates to enter the bloodstream. But it’s still a product that doesn’t require chewing. And for fruits and berries, chewing and wetting with saliva is very important. Without it, we miss the necessary phase of digestion. Doctors’ verdict: you can drink juices and smoothies, but remember that this is a dessert, and count each glass.

If you already have gout, no amount of chewing will help. People with this disease generally need to eat fruits and berries very carefully: uric acid from fructose is produced in large quantities, and they can cause a painful attack. In addition, fructose, eaten in excess, promotes fatty degeneration of the liver, and this in itself will stimulate the production of uric acid by your own liver.