Diet for Uric Acid Patient

I am a uric acid patient i.e my uric acid level keeps fluctuating. i wanted to know what kind of food should i eat to keep it at a normal level all the time.
(October 5, 2010)

A painful condition, known as gout, which can be observed in several people, is usually triggered off or aggravated by a high uric acid diet, i.e., a diet, which is very high in purine rich foods. Purine can be found in several food items and it is a part of all human tissues and uric acid is like a by-product of it. The acid is produced in the liver, gets moved around the body by the blood, passes through the kidneys and then finally, gets eliminated through the urine. Eating an excessive amount of high purine foods can lead to an overproduction or even an under-elimination of uric acid in the body.

The excessive uric acid could form crystals in the joint, which further leads to gout.


This is why people who suffer from gout are advised to avoid uric acid food, and follow a low purine diet for gout, especially if the condition gets too painful. Given below is a list of the foods that should be avoided, for uric acid reduction, in the body:

• Certain varieties of seafood have been known to raise the amount of uric acid in the body. Hence, seafood, which includes anchovies, cod, scallops, clam, fish eggs, herring, shrimp, mussels, sardines, oysters, lobsters and haddock should be avoided, or at least eaten only occasionally.
• Several varieties of meat are very high in protein and are also high purine foods. These include beef, lamb, pork and venison. Even the organs of animals, such as brain, liver, kidney and tongue should be strictly avoided, because of their high purine content.
• Meat extracts are used at times, to enrich several gravies. Like meat products, these extracts are can be harmful to a gout patient, as they are a part of a high uric acid diet. Therefore, their consumption should be restricted to a great extent.
• A few varieties of vegetables are also high in purine. Therefore, vegetables like spinach, cauliflower, as well as asparagus, peas, beans and mushrooms should be consumed carefully.
• The consumption of alcohol, especially beer should be strictly avoided, in case a person is following a low purine diet.
• Sweet foods and beverages have been known to increase gout pain, and at the same time, can cause other health problems like diabetes. Therefore, they should be eaten only in small quantities and on rare occasions.

Apart from following a purine free diet, gout patients are often advised to eat black cherries (sour cherries). Eating steamed or raw vegetables is also good for alleviating gout pain. However, corn and potatoes should not be consumed more than once. Drinking a high amount of water, which is more than 10 or 12 glasses a day can help eliminate more uric acid from the body. Gout is a treatable condition and there are several medicines that can be taken to reduce the pain the pain caused by it. However, it is important to check with a doctor, to find out about the medication as well as other treatment options.

Uric acid can be described as a waste product that is present in the blood, as a result of the breakdown of purine in the body. It is normally manufactured in the liver, gets carried by the blood and is finally eliminated in urine, after it passes through the kidney. Some people eat a high uric acid diet that raises the levels of uric acid in the blood, considerably. High amounts of uric acid in the body are not necessarily a concern, for many people. However, in some cases, an excess of uric acid in the blood can lead to the formation of crystals in the joints, which is one of the main causes of a painful disease known as gout. It has been seen that people who suffer from this condition usually follow a diet that contains more uric acid foods, as compared to others. This is why, people with gout are often asked to strictly avoid any uric acid food, when this condition gets too painful. Doctors may recommend a special diet that minimizes the intake of uric acid foods, for gout patients.

Given below are some foods that are often a part of a diet for uric acid and therefore, should be eliminated:

• Meats products, which are very high in protein, including pork, venison, lamb and beef are high in purine. Organs such as liver, tongue, kidney and brain contain a very high content of purine too. Meat extracts are sometimes used, to enrich the taste and texture of certain gravies. These extracts are very high in protein and can raise the levels of uric acid in the blood, which is why such food items should be strictly avoided
• There are reports of seafood raising the levels of uric acid in the blood. Hence, several types of seafood such as cod, shrimp, scallops, lobsters, anchovies, clam, mussels, oysters, haddock, herring, sardines and fish eggs should only be eaten occasionally.
• There are several vegetables that are very high in protein and therefore should be avoided if you want to reduce uric acid in your body. Some varieties of green leafy vegetables, which include spinach and cauliflower, are high in purine, along with other foods like mushrooms, asparagus, beans and peas.
• Alcoholic beverages, especially beer, should be completely eliminated and not just reduced.
• Foods and beverages that are high in sugar can cause gout along with several other health problems and should be consumed in small quantities.

There are certain foods that are known to reduce the levels of uric acid in the body. The daily consumption of such foods should be increased, along with the intake of water. It is important to drink at least 10 to 12 glasses of water each day, to eliminate the uric acid from your body effectively. It has also been noted that a high level of uric acid in the body, usually precedes the development of certain conditions, like chronic kidney diseases, heart problems and high blood pressure. However, medical experts are still not sure, whether the high levels of uric acid are a direct cause of the condition, or merely a symptom.

Firstly control your weight if you are above your ideal body weight. But by any means avoid crash diets and rapid weight loss as it can give rise to acute flare-ups of uric acid in the body. Keep the following points in mind for high uric acid - 

• Avoid purine-rich foods (Foods that are high in purines break down in the body to uric acid). Purines are found in many animal products with the exception of low fat dairy goods and eggs. Organ meats (liver, heart, and kidneys), herring and mackerel are particularly rich sources. Broths and gravies are also to be avoided. (Beans and peas contain a moderate amount of purine and should be limited to 1-2 servings per day).
• Limit alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol contains purines and also interferes with the body’s excretion of uric acid. Beer is particularly bad as it is rich in purines.
• Drink 2 to 3 liters of fluid each day to flush excess uric acid from your system. Water, herbal teas, vegetable juice, milk, unsweetened fruit juices and soup all contribute to your daily fluid intake.
• Add hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds to your diet; these foods contain health promoting omega 3 fatty acids, to reduce joint inflammation.
• Apples and bananas are considered very helpful for gout, have 1 apple after a meal and 2 bananas daily.
• Lemon juice prevents gout attacks by stimulating the formation of calcium carbonate in the body.