What Foods Should I Avoid If I Have Gout?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

You want to avoid foods high in purines because they get broken down into uric acid which can then lead to a gout flare as the uric acid crystals build up in your joints.

Explanation

Gout is a disease where a high level of uric acid in the blood persists leading to the formation of crystals in the joints. Therefore, it is important to try to avoid foods high in purines that ultimately get broken down into uric acid by the body. Foods high in purines include:

Red meats (beef, lamb, pork)
Organ meats (liver, kidneys, heart)
Seafoods
Alcohol (especially beer and spirits)
Sugary drinks
High-fructose corn syrup

For those with gout, it is recommended to keep daily purine intake to 400mg or less.

(References)

Li R, Yu K, Li C. Dietary factors and risk of gout and hyperuricemia: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2018;27(6):1344-1356. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.201811_27(6).0022. PMID: 30485934.
Zhang Y, Chen S, Yuan M, Xu Y, Xu H. Gout and Diet: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms and Management. Nutrients. 2022 Aug 26;14(17):3525. doi: 10.3390/nu14173525. PMID: 36079783; PMCID: PMC9459802.
Schlesinger N. Dietary factors and hyperuricaemia. Curr Pharm Des. 2005;11(32):4133-8. doi: 10.2174/138161205774913273. PMID: 16375734.

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