No Gout About It: Decreasing Flare-Ups Through Diet

Did you know diet can impact the frequency of gout flare-ups? In combination with medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle, a research-backed meal plan can support your joint health. We’re serving up the foods to avoid and the foods to enjoy so you can lower your number of flare-ups.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a painful condition that occurs when your body has an excess of uric acid that crystallizes in your joints. It happens suddenly and usually only affects one joint at a time, most commonly the joint in the big toe. When this happens, it’s called a flare-up.

Foods to Avoid

Your body creates uric acid when it digests foods that are high in purine, so naturally, you can decrease your risk of flare-ups by limiting your intake of certain purine-rich foods, including:

• Organ meat, such as liver and sweetbreads
• Game meat, like bison and venison
• Shellfish, such as crab and shrimp
• Beer, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic
• Liquor, such as whiskey and tequila
• Refined carbs, like white bread and baked goods
• Salty foods, such as cheese and lunch meat

Some vegetables have high levels of purine as well. However, these don’t contribute to flare-ups of gout according to a study on the effects of different types of food on men published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Foods to Enjoy

It might seem like there are a lot of foods off limits, but don’t let that put a damper on your dining! There are plenty of foods low in purine that taste great and can help you feel great, such as:

• Vegetables, like spinach and carrots
• Fruits low in fructose, such as pineapple and strawberries
• Nuts, including peanuts and walnuts
• Seeds, like quinoa and chia seeds
• Low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt
• Eggs