Foods High in Uric Acid

A by-product of purine metabolism, high levels of uric acid or hyperuricemia in the body, can lead to development and aggravation of diseases such as gout. They also result in the joint deformation and kidney damage along with diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). In normal circumstances the uric acid is eliminated from the body by the kidneys. However, the failure to do so, results in the development of uric acid and the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. While there are other causes for excess uric acid formation in the body, diet may also be an important factor for increased level of uric acids. Usually, the purines in food, break down to form uric acid during digestion. So, when people susceptible to excess uric acid production, intake foods high in purine, it results in hyperuricemia and conditions of gout arthritis. Here, is a list of all the foods high in uric acid.

Foods High in Uric Acid Levels

Meat: All meat products especially sweetbreads and organ meats such as livers and hearts have the highest level of purines and are therefore the most likely culprits of disorders caused by high uric levels. While animal meats or the "red meats" such as beef, pork and seafood should be completely avoided, "white meats" such as poultry and ham can be eaten in moderate amounts. Processed meat such as bacon, is very high in purines and therefore a strict no-no for the people suffering from gout.

Yeast: Foods which contain yeast such as breads, beer and alcohol beverages, contain high amount of uric acid. Alcohol in particular is known to hamper the renal excretion in the kidneys, thus resulting in high levels of uric acid.

Seafood: Seafood such as sardines, trout, tuna, ocean perch, anchovies, herring, halibut, salmon, shrimp and lobster have high levels of purine.

Lentils: It is advisable to eat legumes such as dried beans in moderate amounts to control the levels of uric acid.

Vegetables: Vegetables like asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms and spinach are also moderate purine foods containing 9-100 mg purine in 100 g food.

Caffeine: Intake of caffeine found in coffee, tea, beans and leaves of many plants is known to increase the uric acid levels and aggravate conditions of grout. Instead, try the decaffeinated coffee which actually helps reduce uric acid levels.

In addition to these, people prone to having high uric levels should also avoid some acid-forming foods such as processed syrups, packaged fruit juices, sauces, commercial pickles and artificial sweeteners.

How to Avoid Foods High in Uric Acid

In order to avoid foods high in uric acid, the diet should be fashioned to eliminate all the high purine foods and instead include foods with moderate to low amounts of purine. This uric acid reduction diet should include, a liberal carbohydrate intake, such as pasta and rice and foods low in protein and fats. Eating plenty of raw fruits such as bananas and apples and vegetables such as celery and tomatoes have also known to be beneficial for reducing uric acid levels. In addition to this, remember that dehydration reduces kidney function, allowing uric acid to build up and hence, drinking lots of fluids especially water, will help keep the organs hydrated and dilute the amount of uric acid in the body. Juices made of black cherry, celery, birch leaf and parsley are very effective gout remedies, for combating and flushing out uric acid from the tissues. Check out some of these low purine diet gout recipes for controlling uric acid formation.

With the appropriate dietary changes, the levels of uric acid in the body may be controlled. So once the diagnosed, it is prudent that one takes care of it, since the condition can recur and if not treated well, may lead to other complications. These diets, should be worked out in conjunction with other changes in diet and lifestyle, to relieve the body from the problems occurring due to high uric acid.