Foods that reduce uric acid naturally
Excessive production of uric
acid, or the body's difficulty in eliminating this acid from the body, can be
responsible for health problems. And as is the case in many other cases,
nutrition plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of the condition.
What exactly is uric acid?
Uric acid is a natural waste product that results from the
digestion of foods with purines, such as fish, seafood, certain types of meat,
and alcohol. Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric
acid levels in the blood are high. In particular, uric acid accumulates in
the joints in "crystals", causing inflammation mainly in the lower
limbs, resulting in severe pain and swelling. It has similar pain to that of arthritis and depends
on many factors, one of which is diet and general lifestyle.
Fortunately, you can take care of reducing the amount of
uric acid in your body by following a low-purine diet. Lowering uric
acid levels can help prevent new crystals from forming, reducing gout attacks.
What is a low purine diet?
Purines are chemicals found
naturally in certain foods and beverages. When the body breaks down these
chemicals, uric acid is the byproduct. A low-purine diet therefore limits foods
and drinks with the highest purine content to reduce uric acid. It also
encourages the consumption of certain foods, which can lower uric acid levels
in the body.
Anyone with high levels of
uric acid in their blood (hyperuricemia) may benefit from reducing foods high
in purines. This can help prevent gout in people with hyperuricemia who have
not yet developed the disease. It may also help prevent the progression of
existing gout and prevent other complications of hyperuricemia, such as kidney
stones.
What
foods increase uric acid?
The top 10 foods and drinks
that cause gout are:
Sugary
drinks and sweets: Standard
table sugar breaks down into uric acid. Any food or drink with a higher sugar
content can increase uric acid levels in the body, leading to gout.
Alcohol:
Although not all alcoholic beverages are rich in purines, alcohol prevents the
kidneys from excreting uric acid into the body, where it continues to
accumulate.
Red
meats and animal organs: For example, liver
Certain fish and seafood such
as herring, scallops, mussels, trout and
cod.
Turkey: This lean meat is still rich in purines.
What
are the best foods that lower uric acid?
Although eating specific foods
is not enough to make gout go away, studies show that certain foods and drinks
may help reduce uric acid in the body. For example:
Milk: Research
suggests that drinking low-fat milk can help reduce uric acid and gout
flare-ups.
Cherries:
Cherries have known anti-inflammatory properties and may also help reduce uric
acid in the body.
Coffee: Daily
coffee consumption can lower uric acid levels in several ways. It slows down
the breakdown of purine into uric acid and accelerates the rate of excretion.
Water:
People who drink 5 to 8 glasses of water a day are less likely to experience
gout symptoms. This makes sense, since the kidneys use water to excrete uric
acid in the urine. Water is also good for kidney health.
Experts
also recommend:
Vary
your protein sources: Some meats and seafood are higher in uric
acid. However, if you eat a variety of high-protein foods and avoid frequent consumption
of the above, you have nothing to worry about.
Enjoy
fruits and vegetables. Most of your fruit and vegetable choices
are low in purines, but even those that are higher have not been shown to
affect gout symptoms. And the overall benefits they provide to the body are
definitely worth it.
Say yes to grains and legumes: Rice, pasta, and legumes are all gout-friendly. Choose whole grains to help control blood sugar.
