Gout is caused by excess uric acid crystallizing in the joints, and purine-rich foods can exacerbate the condition. A diet with no more than 15% protein intake per day is recommended, and high-purine foods such as sweetbreads, anchovies, and canned liver should be avoided. Eating excessive amounts of purine-rich foods should be limited.
In the same way that carbohydrate-rich foods can negatively affect diabetics, purine-rich foods can have a serious impact on those with a condition called gout. Gout is essentially a crystallization of excess uric acid not processed by the intestines and kidneys. These crystalline deposits tend to accumulate in the feet and other major joints, leaving the sufferer in a state of almost constant pain unless medications that destroy the deposits are prescribed.
Originally, gout was considered a disease of wealth, because only those who could afford a high-purine diet seemed to get it.
Today we know that purine-rich foods are just one of several contributors to gout. Compromised kidney function or circulatory problems may also be factors. Standard medical advice for gout patients is to start a diet with no more than 15% protein intake per day. Not all meats are high in purine levels, but it’s still best to restrict your protein intake rather than risk the temptation of richer meats and protein.
Some of the foods that are high in purine include the following: sweetbreads (internal organs), anchovies, sardines, canned liver, kidneys, hearts, meat extracts (broths and broths), sauces, and various canned seafood. Other foods that contain slightly lower purine levels include wild game and lentils. These are generally the items found on a typical do not eat list for gout patients. Other protein sources like nuts or ground beef are limited to one serving per day.
As with other restrictive diets, the idea is to reduce the amount of a substance that may not be naturally harmless. Many healthy people can safely consume large amounts of purine-rich foods with little problem. Those who follow high-protein diets for weight loss are often encouraged to consume purine-rich foods. As long as the body continues to eliminate excess uric acid through the kidneys, high-protein diets only increase the risk of developing gout, but do not directly cause the condition.
Eating excessive amounts of any food, whether processed carbohydrates or purines, is rarely a good idea from a health perspective, but purine-rich foods should be limited to an occasional treat, not a daily part of an average diet. .
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