Gout: What Not to Consume
Top Foods and Beverages You Should Avoid if You Suffer with Gout
Meat and Seafood
In the event of a gout flare up, Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, recommends cutting back on both seafoods and meats. Most animal tissue is high in purine levels, making it a top food to avoid during a bout of gout. When the pain has receded, you may limit your intake of these foods to four to six ounces a day. Although scallops and salmon are safe to enjoy occasionally, you will want to completely avoid herring, tuna and anchovies. As for meats, choose beef or pork over lamb and turkey.
Alcohols
While you are suffering from a gout attack, most doctors will recommend that you completely avoid all alcoholic beverages. Although wine is a better choice than beer, it is still not recommended by the American Dietetic Association. Not only will beer increase uric acid levels in the body, but it can also make it more difficult for your body to recover from gout pain. Beer consumption makes it difficult for you to break down uric acid, so it's best to stay away from drinking it if you have a history of gout.
Vegetables
Although diets that have a high intake of vegetables are likely to clear the body of purines, there are some that you may want to avoid. Limit the amount of asparagus, cauliflower, spinach and mushrooms in your diet if you have issues with gout pain. Keep in mind, you don't have to cut them out of your diet altogether. Just keep your intake of high-purine vegetables to a minimum and you should be OK. You may also want to limit your intake of dried beans and peas. Fruits, on the other hand, are perfectly fine - especially those of the citrus variety!
Maintaining a diet that limits your intake of the foods listed above can decrease your risk of suffering a flare up of gout. While you are experiencing a painful bout, be sure to completely avoid all of these. Regularly using natural remedies such as Gout-Relief may also prove beneficial for individuals with personal and family histories involving gout. You can swap alcohol and high-fructose liquids out for water, unsweetened tea or juice, and even coffee.