Diet to prevent uric acid and gout
Uric acid is a waste by-product of purine metabolism. Some people whose uric acid level in blood is high are prone to gout a painful type of arthritis. High blood levels of uric acid or hyperuricemia is also possibly a warning to increased risks of hypertension, diabetes, heart and kidney diseases.
Uric acid increases in the blood primarily due to over production or decreased excretion.
The following are the causes:
1) Medications – Diuretics, immune suppressing
2) Excessive alcohol intake especially beer (binge drinking)
3) Excessive soft drinks
4) Obesity, eating heavy meals (binging)
5) Genetic susceptibility
6) Consuming purine rich foods
7) Some illnesses like Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukaemia, hypothyroidism, psoriasis
Although genetics play a big role in someone getting hyperuricemia and gout, lifestyle and eating habits are shown in several scientific studies as contributing to gout. And these are modifiable, so let us take a look at how to eat.
If you are overweight, reduce the weight gradually, with moderate exercise and diet (walking 30 – 45 min. daily) by eating low fat foods, and avoiding rich desserts and snacks. A sudden weight loss will cause a hike in blood uric acid levels and aggravate gout, so slow and steady is the rule here.
Ayurvedic remedies for gout
Totally avoid organ meats (liver, kidney, heart), hamburger, caviar, ground beef, corned beef, sardines, mackerel, sausages, anchovies, shrimps, meat soups and gravies.
Also avoid rich desserts, refined flours, sugars and soft drinks.
Avoid spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, oats during acute gout attacks. Otherwise you may eat these twice or three times a week.
Go vegetarian if you can or at least reduce eating meat to 3 times a week, and not more than 60gm of meat, fish or chicken at a time.
Do not overeat at any meal or starve in the day. Regular intake of consistent amounts of high fibre, low fat foods is required to prevent a gout attack.
Drink at least 2 litre of water daily. This helps to remove uric acid from the body.
You may eat all kinds of fruits, vegetables, milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, high fibre cereals, grains.
Stop binge drinking. Not more than two drinks a day.
Parvathy R Krishnan
The author is a trained Nutrition & Dietetics expert with over 20 years’ of experience in hospitals like Vijaya Hospital in Chennai and the Armed Forces Hospital and New Mowasat Hospitals in Kuwait. She is presently a member of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India. Parvathy blogs at http://premadiet.blogspot.in/
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