A diet for gout can help lower blood levels of uric acid. A diet for gout is not a cure. However, it can reduce the risk of recurrent gout attacks and slow the progression of joint damage. People with gout who follow a diet for gout usually still need medicines to control pain and lower uric acid levels.
Gout is a painful condition that can worsen with certain foods. However, there is one exception to this rule. Research shows that vegetables that are high in purines do not cause gout attacks (1.On the other hand, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soy products, and low-fat dairy products can help prevent gout attacks by reducing uric acid levels. Gout outbreaks are often related to diet.
Useful foods for gout include cherries, foods high in vitamin C, and foods low in purines. Foods to avoid with gout include alcohol, yeast, and foods high in purines, such as organ meat and shellfish. This knowledge has allowed the diet for gout to evolve to be more nutritious and, at the same time, useful in managing this condition. In addition to diet, there are several lifestyle changes that can help you reduce the risk of gout and gout attacks.
Avoiding or limiting foods high in purines can help reduce the duration of a gout attack, as well as the risk of recurrent outbreaks of gout. Frequent and high alcohol consumption is known to cause chronic hyperuricemia, increasing the risk of gout and gout attacks. Others, such as Dr. Hyon Choi, an internationally recognized expert in gout, and a rheumatologist at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver General Hospital and an epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, think that some people can help themselves with diet alone, especially if they have a single mild attack.
A healthy, balanced diet based on a variety of colorful whole foods, in addition to limiting highly processed foods, is beneficial for gout and overall health. The big toe is a known site of gout attacks, but gout can affect many different joints throughout the body. If you're at risk of developing gout or experiencing another gout attack, it's worth trying a low-purine diet. As such, adopting the gout diet may be part of your long-term care plan to help you spend more time in remission and less time managing pain crises.
While eating foods high in purines can contribute to high levels of uric acid, many experts believe that the role of diet in the development of gout is overemphasized. As you become familiar with the symptoms of gout, you may feel that a gout attack is coming. A well-balanced diet for gout can not only reduce the risk of an attack, but it can also slow the progression of gout-related joint damage. In addition to following the diet for gout, your healthcare provider may recommend that you make other changes to help you live comfortably with gout.
In a recent study, for example, only 37 percent of people with gout were taking allopurinol, a medication to lower uric acid; among gout patients with frequent outbreaks, only half took it. A healthy diet for a person with gout should include all food groups and be rich in nutrient-rich, minimally processed ingredients. The most popular remedy for gout is sour cherry juice, which can help lower uric acid levels and alleviate symptoms of gout.
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