Gout, in addition to taking medication as prescribed, lifestyle adjustments are also crucial. If you want to control gout, it's best to avoid these 8 harmful foods!
Avoid these 8 foods if you have gout
1. Organ meats and fish
Whether during an acute attack or in the chronic phase, gouty arthritis requires patients to control their intake of high-purine foods such as organ meats, sardines, mackerel, tuna, and shrimp. These are foods that gout patients should avoid, so be careful.
2. Seasonings
Gout patients know they should eat less seafood, but many people are not aware that seasonings such as oyster sauce, abalone sauce, seafood sauce, mushroom sauce, and concentrated chicken broth also have high-purine content.
These condiments are often refined and concentrated products made from animals, seafood, and other ingredients, and their purine content is very high. Consuming foods cooked with these seasonings can quickly raise the level of uric acid in the body. Rapid increases in blood uric acid levels can trigger gout attacks.
3. High-fructose foods
In addition to foods high in purines, gout patients should also avoid foods containing fructose.
Gout patients should eat less sweet fruits, especially those with high fructose content. Increased levels of fructose in the blood can cause rapid increases in blood and urine uric acid levels. In addition, some beverages may contain "high-fructose corn syrup." Therefore, gout patients should pay attention to the ingredients list and eat fewer foods containing fructose.
4. Coffee and strong tea can worsen gout
Although beverages such as strong tea and coffee do not increase purine levels, they have a stimulating effect on the autonomic nervous system, aggravating gout and possibly triggering acute gout attacks. Gout patients should try to avoid consuming these beverages.
5. Wine
Alcohol has multiple effects on gout. Alcohol promotes the absorption of purines, and even if red wine and white wine do not contain purines, consuming them with other purine-containing meats can worsen gout. In addition, alcohol can enhance uric acid excretion, increasing the risk of gout or high uric acid levels.
6. Seeds and nuts
Many people may think that since meat dishes have high purine content, choosing vegetarian dishes would be a better option. However, caution should also be exercised when choosing vegetables. Cauliflower, spinach, mushrooms, plant seeds, and dried fruits also have significant purine content, so their intake should still be controlled.
7. Coarse grains
In addition to the common seafood, animal organs, and meat broths that gout patients should avoid, they should also avoid using coarse grains as their staple food, such as corn, buckwheat, and whole wheat. These grains have relatively high purine content in their bran, and excessive intake can cause elevated blood uric acid levels.
8. Tomatoes
Chinese medicine experts suggest that people with gout should eat fewer tomatoes, as they can worsen the condition. Chinese medicine believes that gout is often caused by cold and dampness, so gout patients should eat more warm and hot foods that can relieve and eliminate cold symptoms. Tomatoes, on the other hand, are considered cooling foods, so it's best to eat them in moderation.
What to eat if you have gout
1. Eat low-purine foods
Gout patients should eat more low-purine foods, such as whole grains, eggs, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.
2. Eat alkaline foods
Alkaline foods promote uric acid excretion. It is recommended to consume 500 grams of vegetables daily. Examples include green vegetables, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, and cabbage.
3. Eat foods rich in active enzymes
Try to consume foods rich in active enzymes, such as female radishes, which have the ability to break down purines. In addition, female radishes are rich in natural estrogen. The male-to-female ratio of gout patients is 20 to 1, and the lower incidence of gout in females is mainly due to estrogen promoting uric acid excretion and inhibiting arthritis attacks. Therefore, some experts refer to "female radishes" as the "natural enemy of gout" and attribute certain therapeutic value to them in gout treatment.
4. Eat foods rich in B vitamins and vitamin C
Increasing the intake of B vitamins and vitamin C promotes the dissolution of uric acid crystals in the body. Eating more vegetables and less rice is beneficial for reducing purine intake, increasing vitamin C, and increasing fiber. Eating less rice helps control calorie intake, restrict weight, and reduce fat.
