Foods That Cause Gout -- Watch What You Eat!
There are many kinds of foods that cause gout, a form of arthritis that has historically been associated with the privileged and wealthy -- England's King Henry VIII was one of the most notable gout sufferers, and he had a reputation for being a gourmand. Nowadays, almost anyone can get gout. But knowing which types of food to avoid would help prevent aggravation or occurrence of the disease.
Foods that cause gout are rich in purines, or substances that are transformed into uric acid in the body. If the body produces too much uric acid or if the kidneys fail to excrete it, gout can occur. This is because the uric acid will crystallize into deposits that lodge themselves in the joint (most commonly the big toe); and these deposits are what cause inflammation and pain.
In a study published in the March 11, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Hyon K. Choi and his colleagues found that men who ate the greatest amount of meat and seafood were at a significantly higher risk for gout than those who consumed these food products in moderation. As a rule of thumb, if a food item has a high protein content, it is also rich in purines. Nutritionists advise against the consumption of high-purine foods like liver, brains, kidneys, and sweetbread (organ foods), game meat, as well as certain seafood such as sardines, mackerel, herring, and scallops. High-fat foods should also be avoided since being overweight can contribute to gout.
What about vegetables and nuts that are rich in protein? In Dr. Choi's study, no significant association was found between gout and consumption of some purine-rich food items like mushrooms, spinach, and beans. Nevertheless, it is recommended that one moderate his or her consumption of these types of food to be on the safe side. Interestingly, the same study found that a diet that includes large quantities of low-fat dairy foods reduced gout risk by half. However, more research is still needed to determine why this is so.
Alcohol -- especially beer -- is another thing to be avoided to prevent gout, since it contains many purines and can affect the kidneys' elimination of uric acid from the body. Alcohol can also contribute to weight gain and risk for gout. But don't go on weight loss regimens like the high-protein, popular low-carbohydrate diets as these can actually make gout worse.
Being armed with the knowledge about foods that cause gout will help people avoid contracting the disease, especially those who are at risk for it. And if you do already have gout, avoiding these foods will make for less painful and uncomfortable conditions.
