Causes of Uric Acid | Diet for Gout

Most of the time, a high uric acid level occurs when your kidneys don't eliminate uric acid efficiently. Things that may cause this slow-down in the removal of uric acid include rich foods, being overweight, having diabetes, taking certain diuretics (sometimes called water pills) and drinking too much alcohol. Other less common causes are a diet high in purine-containing items or your body producing too much uric acid.

Factors that may cause a high uric acid level in your blood include:

·         Diuretics (water retention relievers)

·         Drinking too much alcohol

·         Genetics (inherited tendencies)

·         Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

·         Immune-suppressing drugs

·         Niacin, or vitamin B-3

·         Obesity

·         Psoriasis

·         Purine-rich diet — liver, game meat, anchovies, sardines, gravy, dried beans and peas, mushrooms, and other foods

·         Renal insufficiency (inability of the kidneys to filter waste)

·         Tumor lysis syndrome (a rapid release of cells into the blood caused by certain cancers or by chemotherapy for those cancers

The 3 most common symptoms of high uric acid

1.   Joint Symptoms

Too much uric acid in the body causes joint symptoms in the form of gout, which includes pain, inflammation, swelling, redness, and tenderness when touched. Many people also say that the joint feels “hot”.

Commonly Affected Joints –

One of the most common areas affected by gout is your big toe. It is also not uncommon for it to affect the heels, ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, and elbows. It can often be experienced in one joint, and then thereafter in two or more different joints.

Duration of Joint Symptoms –

After the symptoms start, it typically takes about 12 to 24 hours for the pain in the joint to peak, whereafter it may become uncomfortable for a few days or even weeks. As they become more frequent, they pain or discomfort may linger for longer. If it is not treated, the damage to the joints may become permanent.

2.   Skin Symptoms

After a few years of continues high uric acid levels and gout attacks, the crystallized uric acid may form lumps underneath the skin. They are called tophi and are usually not painful. They commonly form in the fingers, toes, elbows, and hands. When experiencing a gout attack, the tophi might become swollen and tender.

3.   Kidney Symptoms

As mentioned, uric acid in the kidneys or the urinary tract may develop into kidney stones. They are usually more common among men, and they can lead to various symptoms like back pain, pain in the abdomen, severe pain in the groin area, a high fever, cold chills, nausea and vomiting, and blood in the urine.

Diet details

The general principles of a gout diet are essentially the same as recommendations for a balanced, healthy diet:

·         Weight loss. Being overweight increases the risk of developing gout, and losing weight lowers the risk of gout. Research suggests that reducing the number of calories and losing weight — even without a purine-restricted diet — lowers uric acid levels and reduces the number of gout attacks. Losing weight also lessens the overall stress on joints.

·         Complex carbs. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which provide complex carbohydrates. Avoid foods such as white bread, cakes, candy, sugar-sweetened beverages and products with high-fructose corn syrup.

·         Water. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking water. An increase in water consumption has been linked to fewer gout attacks. Aim for eight to 16 glasses of fluids a day with at least half of that as water. A glass is 8 ounces (237 milliliters). Talk to your doctor about appropriate fluid intake goals for you.

·         Fats. Cut back on saturated fats from red meats, fatty poultry and high-fat dairy products.

·         Proteins. Limit daily proteins from lean meat, fish and poultry to 4 to 6 ounces (113 to 170 grams). Add protein to your diet with low-fat or fat-free dairy products, such as low-fat yogurt or skim milk, which are associated with reduced uric acid levels.

Recommendations for specific foods or supplements include the following:

·         High-purine vegetables. Studies have shown that vegetables high in purines do not increase the risk of gout or recurring gout attacks. A healthy diet based on lots of fruits and vegetables can include high-purine vegetables, such as asparagus, spinach, peas, cauliflower or mushrooms. You can also eat beans or lentils, which are moderately high in purines but are also a good source of protein.

·         Organ and glandular meats. Avoid meats such as liver, kidney and sweetbreads, which have high purine levels and contribute to high blood levels of uric acid.

·         Selected seafood. Avoid the following types of seafood, which are higher in purines than others: anchovies, herring, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout, haddock, mackerel and tuna.

·         Alcohol. The metabolism of alcohol in your body is thought to increase uric acid production, and alcohol contributes to dehydration. Beer is associated with an increased risk of gout and recurring attacks, as are distilled liquors to some extent. The effect of wine is not as well-understood. If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor about what is appropriate for you.

·         Vitamin C. Vitamin C may help lower uric acid levels. Talk to your doctor about whether a 500-milligram vitamin C supplement fits into your diet and medication plan.

·         Coffee. Some research suggests that moderate coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk of gout, particularly with regular caffeinated coffee. Drinking coffee may not be appropriate for other medical conditions. Talk to your doctor about how much coffee is right for you.

·         Cherries. There is some evidence that eating cherries is associated with a reduced risk of gout attacks.

A sample menu

Here's a look at what you might eat during a typical day on a gout diet:

Breakfast

·         Whole-grain, unsweetened cereal with skim or low-fat milk

·         1 cup fresh strawberries

·         Coffee

·         Water

Lunch

·         Roasted chicken breast slices (2 ounces) on a whole-grain roll with mustard

·         Mixed green salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing

·         Skim or low-fat milk

·         Water

Afternoon snack

·         1 cup fresh cherries

·         Water

Dinner

·         Roasted salmon (3-4 ounces)

·         Roasted or steamed green beans

·         1/2 cup whole-grain pasta with olive oil and lemon pepper

·         Water

·         Low-fat yogurt

·         1 cup fresh melon

·         Caffeine-free beverage, such as herbal tea

Results

Following a gout diet can help limit uric acid production and increase its elimination. Although the diet isn't likely to lower the uric acid concentration in your blood enough to treat your gout without medication, it may help decrease the number of attacks and limit their severity.

Following the gout diet, along with limiting your calories and getting regular exercise, can also improve your overall health by helping you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Risks

The gout diet is primarily the same as standard recommendations for healthy diets that emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy and moderate lean meat consumption. Therefore, there is generally no risk associated with the diet.