7 Foods Banned In The Gout Diet
Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis, being caused by the accumulation of microscopic crystals of uric acid in the body. In this sense, nutrition plays a key role. Here are the foods to avoid in the gout diet.
Gout also tends to affect the knees, ankles and other parts of the body prone to uric acid buildup. This disease mainly affects the joints, but also has negative effects on the soft tissues of the body and the kidneys.
Gout makes its presence felt especially at night, when the patient feels sharp pain and the big toe turns red.
In addition, it is estimated that about 20% of people with gout develop kidney problems and kidney stones.
As gout causes inflammation, it is often accompanied by a continuous sensation of pain, difficulty moving and damage to the affected areas.
Specialists have not established an exact cause of the condition, but it has been associated with:
- Hereditary factors
- Alcohol consumption
- Changes caused by menopause in the body of women.
In addition, harmful eating habits and obesity are factors that trigger gout attacks . Therefore, it is very important to know which foods aggravate the symptoms in order to avoid them as much as possible.
Find out below the main foods banned in the gout diet.
1. Red meat is prohibited in the gout diet
Excessive consumption of red meat increases the risk of gout and causes various complications to people already diagnosed with this condition.
The reason is simple. Red meat contains purines and other components that increase cholesterol levels and predispose you to obesity.
Consumption of this food causes problems in the inflammatory processes in the body, contributing to the retention of uric acid and the appearance of pain.
2. Seafood
Crustaceans, known generically as seafood, are forbidden foods in the gout diet.
Although many of their compounds are healthy, seafood also contains a high amount of purines, substances that break down into uric acid in the body. Thus, crustaceans increase the level of this substance in the body, intensifying inflammation and pain.
3. His
Although many of the beer’s ingredients are healthy, they can cause problems for patients with gout. Beer increases the level of uric acid in the body and hinders the processes that eliminate this substance.
In addition, beer compounds directly affect the inflammatory processes in the joints, causing stiffness and difficulty moving.
4. Sweet drinks
Soft and sweet drinks contain corn syrup and fructose, but also artificial sweeteners that increase the production of uric acid.
Daily consumption of sweet juices increases the risk of developing metabolic diseases, but also inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and gout.
In fact, the consumption of carbonated beverages is associated with a predisposition to bone disease in adults.
5. White fish
Although some types of fish help relieve inflammation and pain, white fish is not recommended for people who have high levels of uric acid in their body. This food contains between 50 and 150 mg of purines, causing difficulties in treating gout.
White fish includes the following species:
- Code
- Bass
- Blue whiting
- seabream
- HAKE
6. Mushrooms
Delicious, exotic and low in calories, mushrooms are an excellent source of nutrients that are part of many people’s diets.
People suffering from gout should limit the consumption of mushrooms because this food increases the concentration of uric acid crystals in the joints.
7. The liver
This food is recommended for people suffering from anemia, a condition caused by a lack of iron, but it is not the best choice in the gout diet.
Like other food sources of animal origin, the liver contains a high concentration of purines which, as already mentioned, are harmful.
To treat gout and relieve its symptoms, it is essential to avoid the foods mentioned above. Instead, we recommend eating foods with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and detoxifying properties that help eliminate uric acid from the body.
