What is Purine and How does it Affect Gout?
Purine occurs in our food and once ingested is converted into uric acid which is one of the main causes of gout. By reducing the amount of purine we ingest we can reduce the risk of a gout attack. So in which foods can you find high levels of purine?
Food rich in purine
- Meats especially offal and meat extracts such as bovril
- Fish including shellfish
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
Low Purine Diet
To reduce the risk of a gout attack, try to consume foods that are low in purine. Whilst the risk cannot be toally eliminated, by eating these foods you can at least reduce the chance of an attack occurring. Note that by increasing the intake of these foods, there may be other health consequences.
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Low-fat and fat-free cheeses
- Milk - skim or 1%
- Cream-style soups made with low-fat milk
- Fruits and juices
- Breads and cereals
- Pasta
- Rice
Also increasing your fluid intake (non-alcoholic) may also reduce the chance of a gout attack. Increasing your fluid intrake will assist your body in ridding itself of excess uric acid.