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Gout Diet
Gout is a form of arthritis usually occurring in the cooler extremities of the body, like feet or toes. It results from excessive uric acid in the bloodstream which leaves needle-like crystal deposits in the joints causing redness, swelling and extreme pain.
Normally the uric acid dissolves in the blood stream but there is a problem if:
- there is an increase in uric acid production.
- the kidneys are not functioning sufficiently to eliminate uric acid.
- there is an increased consumption of foods containing purines. Purine is a chemical found in certain foods that forms uric acid when broken down in the body.
Gout Diet and Nutrition
As Gout seems to be more prevalent in overweight people it is important to maintain a healthy body weight. Also extra fluid can help flush uric acid crystals out, but alcohol should be avoided. As well as prescribed medications it can be helpful to follow a low purine diet, avoiding foods that are high in purine and eating low purine foods moderately.
High Purine Foods – Avoid
Foods to Avoid
Beer, anchovies, organ meat (brains, kidney, liver, sweetbreads), game meats, gravies, yeast, meat extracts, sardines, herring, mackerel, scallops.
Medium Purine Foods – Eat in Moderation
Fresh and saltwater fish, shellfish, eel, meat, poultry, meat soups and broth, asparagus , mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach, legumes, oatmeal, bran, wheat germ, whole-grain breads and cereals, eggs.
Low Purine Foods – No Restriction
Breads and cereals (low-fiber, white flour, or refined grain types), nuts, peanut butter. Vegetables not high in purines, soups – cream style or vegetable without meat extract, coffee, tea, fruit juices, soft drinks, gelatin, sugar, low fat cheeses.
Gout Diet – Foods That May Help
Some people have found cherry juice or strawberries helpful. Some chemicals contained in dark berries may help reduce the inflammation and lower the uric acid.
Oily fish like salmon, or fatty acids in flax seed or olive oil or nuts may reduce inflammation too.
It has been suggested that using tofu (from soybeans) instead of meat could also be helpful.
Some have found relief with OPC3 antioxidant supplement.
A balanced diet for gout sufferers includes foods that are high in complex carbohydrates, low in protein and low in fat.
62 and have had third and by far the worst case for the last two weeks. Not much change in diet but major stress. I don’t remember the last time. When I change diet pain and swelling improves. Ice water soak (just the foot brrr) helps greatly. I use asprin, which I’m going to stop.
hi everyone i am 44 and been suffering with attacks for 4 years i dont drink beer teetotal i went to the doctor the only advise he gave me was to take allopurinol which i dont really want to take because of side effects i dont no what diet i should have . i dont no what purines are his there any herbal medicene or remeady
I am in the midst of a flare up now. My curreny doctor prescribed steriods to elevate the imflammation(did not work). I reuqest the other medication that elevate the imflammation in days. My question is do anyone ever have the flare at the same spot? My tends to affect the left side only.
I am 26 and have just had my first attack, gout runs in my family. I did have a high protein diet though as I train a lot in the gym and eat/drink protein after workouts. I need a complete lifestyle change it seems.
I feel for anyone with gout.my last flareup was so bad I could’nt walk.When I take my meds.it goes away in 6to10 days but I have bad side effects from them.Is anyone out there taking allapirrenal or endonezisen? i’d like to know how it effects your fluid output.
I’m 27 years old, so by no means is this a “old people” disease. Ha! And on top of this, I am a woman! I’ve actually been having gout attacks for the past few years and didn’t know thats what it was. I have the flare ups in my left ankle and it makes me wheel chair bound. I finally was diagnosed with gout a month ago and after an MRI have found out that the tophi or acid crystals actually ate away my bone and cartilage in my ankle. So now I am stuck in a wheel chair till my acid levels are low enough to have surgery and have a bone graft done. Thankfully I have a Doctor that didn’t just look at my one issue but the whole picture. I seriously recommend that anyone and everyone see an internalist. This is like a family doctor with hospital rites and he looks at the whole picture.
By no means are you alone. I had the same mindset as you when thinking gout was for “old folks” I’m currently 41, and my first attack was when I was 38. I think it may be consumption is accumulative. After my first attack, I stopped eating beef altogether including ribs. But I picked up in comsuming seafood, and ended up with a more severe attack than the first one. I don’t know about the stress issue, but I wouldn’t rule it out. I know I have a stressful job. Watch what you eat, drink plenty fluids, and GOD Bless…
Reading all these comments, I feel I am not alone. I thought that gout was for “old folks” but at 44 I am suffering terribly. I do drink beer almost every day but have a well balanced diet and drink 1/2 to 1 gallon of water a day. My question to anyone who knows is this; Are the foods and alcohol consumption accumulative? I haven’t had a flare up in a year and my eating and drinking habits haven’t changed, but here I am in pain! I’m wondering how much stress has to do with a flare up. Anyone have an answer or similar experience?
Darren, I am 34 and recently have been suffering terribly from regular gout attacks. To answer your question, the body does build up stores of uric acid. Think of it like this – if your body is only processing and get rid of 90% of your uric acid per day, then 10% per day is getting left behind. I found this article which explains it:- http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068747/
I hope this helps!
Hi, Ive had gout and stones for about four years now. I recently learned that a medication I was taking for my blood preasure was contributing to my problem. Some purified bottled waters comtain sodium bicarbinate, or baking soda, and I have started drinking them. Just check the label. I know your pain!
Reading all these comments, I feel I am not alone. I thought that gout was for “old folks” but at 44 I am suffering terribly. I do drink beer almost every day but have a well balanced diet and drink 1/2 to 1 gallon of water a day. My question to anyone who knows is this; Are the foods and alcohol consumption accumulative? I haven’t had a flare up in a year and my eating and drinking habits haven’t changed, but here I am in pain! I’m wondering how much stress has to do with a flare up. Anyone have an answer or similar experience?
A couple of years ago I was dx with a uric acid kidney stone. There were several reasons for developing this according to my kidney specialist. One, I did the Atkins high protein diet to strictly for the previous 6 years, two, I had gotten lax about drinking my 64 oz of water, three, I had a sit down job, four, I got very little exercise, five, my dad has a history of gout, and six, I have a defect of the one kidney with a split uretur coming out of the kidney draining to the bladder. (this is where the acid stone got caught, the size of a marble)
I was sent to a dietitian and was educated on the foods that caused the stone. (which would also cause a gout attack for which I am susceptable due genetics) I was told I could consume a maximum of 5 oz. of protein a day, which includes all forms of beef, pork, poultry, eggs, seafood, fish, all dairy, beans, legumes and nuts/seeds. Five ounces of protein is about the size of a deck of cards so you know the portion size I’m talking about. All forms of proteins are broken down into purines and get flushed from the blood through the kidneys. Too much and uric acid crystals form and either lodge in the kidneys as a stone or stay the bloodstream and lodge in a joint as it does in gout. Just as the crystals look in stones, so they do in the body, with many spikes and points and this is what causes the pain.
Because my kidney had shut down, I had to have a stent put in, very painful and not fun to live with, until the stone could be dissolved with baking soda tablets. It’s basic chemistry, an acid and an alkaline equal a neutral salt. It took several months but the stone eventually dissolved and the stent removed, however, I was told to take alopurinol and baking soda tablets for the rest of my life. I hate taking drugs but am ok with taking aluminum free B.S. in my water.
I haven’t been real religious with my mostly vegetarian diet, and I can feel a stone forming again. I really like eating meats, am addicted to dairy and am sensitive to wheat products. But, I know in order to get things back to normal I will need to go back to the veggie diet, the baking soda and eliminate the proteins, dairy and wheat for this to go away before it puts me back into the hospital with a stone or causes me to get gout.
I hope this helps someone!
I have had gout for 9 years and never knew it. I thought it was an old tennis ankle injury that returned every 6 months. Last year my knee swelled for no apparent reason after my ankle had swollen up and my wife insisted I see the doctor. When the doctor asked me if I had any swelling in my big toe I said, “Yes, as a matter of fact my big toe always swells up prior to me spraining an ankle or knee”. That when he told me the good news/bad news; good news – no I wouldn’t have to have corrective surgery on my perptually sprained ankle because it was gout. Now, I am on allupurinol, watch my diet and feel great, though I miss my old friends hot dogs and beer.
I have suffered from Gout for several years, I take Allpurinol and Indomethicin on a regular basis. One of the best ways for me to get relief, Stay off my feet! and Drink large amounts of water. Before I was on medication, I told the doctor that it seemed to help if I drank lots of water during a flare up. He recommended I drink lots of water all the time. Remember the pain is caused by the buildup of uric acid in the kidneys, keep them flushed thus it does not turn into the crystal in our blood stream. He told me he wished all his patients would drink more water, that is helps with many ailments, not just my Gout. Flushing our bodies of any and all toxins or buildup is always good. I drink the cherry juice but see no benefits, but do it anyway, and have dried tart cherries also. Avoid high purine foods
I need help with what to eat I have gout & I don’t know how to plan a meal ?
Hi there, all.
I recently found out my mom has Gout, this is so new to me and I am just searching the net for the types of food I will prepare for her. Can anyone kindly assist? noorieaum@gmail.com
Thank you and God bless you all.
Here’s what I do for my gout/
I Do NOT take aspirin.
I Stop drinking beer. I know that is hard to do for some people. I love beer .When gout flairs up. I stop the beer.
Ice is ok for me.
Elevate the problem foot.
The doctor gave me naproxen / Off the shelf try Aleve, same thing..If it’s bad I grab Aleve & don’t wait to go through the hassle of appointments & sitting & waiting.
The Doctor also gave me colchicine I can order online & skip the Doctor.
The Doctor also gave me indomethacin/ oblong green capsules.
Whatever the Doctor gives me, I just go online to see what it is & there may be an ‘off the shelf’ drug store remedy that is a lot quicker to get so I go that route..
I know how bad the pain can get &
Maybe I’m too far gone but cranberry, cherry or any other juice does nothing for me. I’m on a long course of colchicine plus something to permanently reduce the level of uric acid. attacks were becoming more and more frequent, more and more painful and more and more long and it was getting to the stage where I was more or less constantly in pain. My advice to anybody else? Sure eat the right foods and drink the right drinks but sooner or later you’ll need to do more so why not do it sooner rather than later? I wish I had.
Have only just been diagnosed with Gout, i think it’s karmars way of telling me to loose weight, and to get serious about it this time, and also for laughing at my dad years ago when he got it!
The pain is feels like i’ve broken my foot, don’t wish this apon anyone. i’ll take on some of your advice people, and i hope it works.
my mom is suffering from gout,rumatued artharitis,dibeties,she went through an engioplasty a year ago no doubt about cherry,but what else helps ,please suggest.good luck and may god brings relief to all the gout sufferers .
I am suffering with horrible pain in my thumbs and fingers, also pain in my feet, tingling right now.. i also suffer with horrible arthritis in my back, and interstitial cystitis.. i got tested for uric acid in my blood.. but didnt hear anything from my DR.. the pain never goes away.. horrible way to live.. anshog@yahoo.com..
hello, i am wondering if the pain i am experiencing is the gout.. i have horrible pain in my hands and feet.. my pain is in my thumbs and fingers , with burning and stinging.. i suffer with arthritis and back pain along with interstitial cystitis.. never ending pain… anshog@yahoo.com
guess what am one of you lot as of today…got my first gout attack on my right knee geez! what a painful experience..my doctor advise me to stay away from what just everyone mention specially booze yep booze! like my booze but i now have to stay away from it! red meat & other high purine stuff….my attack only lasted 3 days but was enough wouldn’t like to experience it again! i have notice that lot of water & crannberry juice help…being a new years eve am drinking vodka with cranberry juice!
I have had gout for about 3 years now, and it’s really gotten unbearable the last 18 months or so. My friends laugh at me and when I tell people I have gout, they look at me like I am kidding or like somehow I am suddenly a slob or glutton. I work out, or I used to before these attacks have robbed me of much mobility. My knees and my wrists are always the most painful. I’ve cried for God to end my suffering it hurts so. I drink tons of water, take potassium supplements, and have had to cut out alcohol completely. The unfortunate situation is that I have heart disease and the meds I take cause the problem to be worse. I just want to make it stop.
I am in the midst of my first attack of gout
Im 56 year old woman-My doctor tells me post menopausal women
have the same uric acid levels as men…GOOD NEWS!
My father had gout most of his adult life,and i have been told there is a strong genetic component also
I have had it for 5 days now…i think the excruciating pain is
subsiding, but my whole foot is still awfully swollen
(
It started in my big toe)Voltaren has been my only solace.
I’m really curious why the gout presents in the right big toe. I’ve had it over the years to varying degrees, but my guess is the severity has something to do with a compromised immune system. I was a big red wino and the attacks used to cripple me. Then when I quit alcohol entirely, assumed a plant-based diet, cut out dairy, etc, the attacks subsided. You have to be religious about prevention. Memorize the food charts–tape them to the refrigerator. Cherries definitely ease the risk. Advil and colchicine if you must, but a couple of years ago, I had an attack–it was after midnight, and all I could get to eat was a cheese burrito, which took about twenty minutes to bring it on–upshot-I had to go to the ER and they gave me a shot of something-But please, fellow sufferers, try to find the willpower to follow the diet. This is the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. I also wonder about the liver connection–if gout is a danger sign of deeper problems. Good luck!!
I’ve had diagnosed gout for about 18 months now. Probably longer if I count the strange pains I used to get in my feet. I found I used to initially get pains in the bottom of my left foot from depressing the clutch pedal on the car initially. It was later diagnosed when I got it in my big toes not long after.
Recently I have had pains in my ankles, knuckles & wrist. I’ve tried Colchicine, allopurinol and Indometicin but it keeps coming back and appears to be spreading around my body now. I must admit, the Indometicin is the only anti-inflammatory that does offer some slight pain relief.
The colchicine tablet is an alkaloid that was first isolated as far back as 1820 by the two French chemists and is a highly poisonous natural product, so after taking a few of these you end up with diarrhea and have to stop.
It is very worrying because I work as an engineer using my hands with lots of heavy lifting and I can envisage a day at this rate when it puts me out of work permanently.
There is also the strain that this illness places on ones family. Due to the excruciating pain and the fear of permanent disability it makes the sufferer unbearable to live with. This is as big a problem as the pain itself.
I do drink beer regular, but I have found in the past that when I cut beer out I get an attack within 48 hours, maybe that’s just a coincidence?
I’m giving the Apple Cider Vinegar & Honey (Honegar)a try now during my latest attack, and I’ve just eaten some cherries which cost around £2.99 for approx 20. So I’ll have to wait and see. I have tried some tablets called Uricinex, but they didn’t work either.
I did give the Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) a try the other day, but it made me sick. I’ve since found that using 1 teaspoon in a glass of water as I was can be way too much, and can lead to congestive heart failure… 1/4 of a teaspoon is more realistic.
I’m off back to the doctors soon but they don’t seem to be able to help.
Other than living on water, sunlight & fresh-air it’s impossible to say what’s exactly causing and what you exactly need to do to stop it coming back. Other than travel back in time…
Do any of you take meds for your gout? I have had gastric bypass surgery and have to have high protien foods in order to live. I have been in pain for over 2 months now and was just diagnosed with it. The doc said only meds effectively help. Who do I beleive?
I;m having a lot of trouble with gout…it travels from joint to joint. Right now I have it in my jaw, right in front of my ear! The pain is like an icepick stabbing my inner ear, and I can hardly move my mouth to talk. It’s horrible and I fell like I’m doomed…
I’ve had gout for about 5 years now. About six months ago I had an attack that wouldn’t go away until I had a cortisone shot in the toe joint. Since then I have been on allipurinol and have not had a problem. Over the last week or so I stopped taking the allipurinol and I’m starting to get some pain starting. My biggest problem is alcohol consumption. Each time I had an attack it’s been during a time where I was doing a lot of drinking as well as eating a lot of purine rich foods. I wonder just how many people that have a problem with gout also have a problem with drinking?
my grandpa has gout and he tried tofu one night and he spit it back on the plate and told my granny if she ever made that crap again he was going to make sure she ate nothing but sardines for a year.
yuck to both.
he has found that icy hot relieves some of the pain and he eats cheeses all day. the man loves his cheese. you’ll find more cheese that milk in our fridge at any given point. that helps.
the cheese relieved some of the pain and he felt better.