Foods that Cause Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that is caused by buildup of uric acid crystals in blood. The excess uric acid in the body gets deposited in the joints and tendons, in the form of sharp crystals. These deposits cause swelling and pain in the affected sites and the condition is called gout. Normally, the uric acid produced in the body, dissolves in the blood. The blood passes through the kidneys, which remove the uric acid and expel it through urine. In some people, either the body makes too much uric acid to be expelled or the kidneys do not function properly and fail to expel uric acid. Whatever may be the cause, uric acid level in the body goes up, leading to formation of crystals that are deposited in the joints, causing symptoms like, pain, inflammation, redness, etc. In the long run, chronic gout may cause formation of lumps on the skin (tophi), damage to joints and loss of motion. Even kidney stones are formed with these uric acid crystals. Apart from various other causal factors, certain foods are also linked to the excess levels of uric acid in the body. Scroll down to know more about the foods that cause gout.

Gout and Diet

Gout has long been known as the 'disease of kings' or 'rich man's disease'. The disease has always been linked to food and it is said that those who indulge in rich food and beverages, develop this condition. This is the reason why the condition is known as rich man's disease. Though, it is a fact that certain foods trigger gout, this does not mean that the condition is caused by foods only. According to statistics, around 12% of gout cases are caused by dietary factors.

The basic link between food and gout is 'purines', which are organic compounds found in the body cells. Most of the foods too contain purine in different amounts. A diet rich in foods with purines may increase the risk of gout. When purines break down, uric acid is produced and this uric acid is flushed out of the body through urine. Increased intake of foods rich in purines will raise the levels of uric acid in the blood and this condition may lead to gout in some people. Gout may be acute or chronic. While acute gout is characterized by sudden onset of symptoms (usually affects a single joint and subsides within a week), chronic gout causes repeated episodes of joint inflammation and pain and involves more than one joint. If left untreated, acute gout may lead to chronic ones. So, it is very much necessary to avoid triggering factors like foods that cause gout.

What Foods Cause Gout?

As mentioned earlier, certain foods may lead to gout, as they have high purine content. Though, most of the foods contain purine, the levels may vary and in general, it is said that foods with high fat and cholesterol, have high purine content too. While some foods like red meat, contain high levels of purine, some others have moderate or low amounts. The following is a list of some types of food that cause gout. In each section, foods given in the top boxes have high purine content, as compared to those in the lower ones.

Foods With Excessive Purine Levels	Foods With High Purine Levels	Foods With Moderate Level of Purine	Low Purine Foods
Alcoholic Beverages, Beer	Mutton, Veal, Bacon	Chicken, Pork, Beef	Eggs, Nuts, Peanut Butter
Anchovies, Smelt, Fish Eggs (roe)	Salmon, Trout	Tuna, Hotdogs, Cold cuts	Low Fat Dairy Products, Cheese, Ice cream
Herring, Mackerel, Sardine	Grouse, Turkey, Partridge	Dried Beans, Peas, Lentils	Cherries, Breads, Cereals
Sweetbread, Liver, Kidney	Goose, Haddock, Pheasant	Cauliflower, Spinach, Ham	Cooked Rice, Pasta, Macaroni
Yeast, Meat Extract, Gravy	Scallops, Shrimp, Lobster	Asparagus, Mushroom, Halibut	Whole Grains, Gelatin, Sugar
Broth, Bouillon, Consomme	Mincemeat, Brain, Bluefish	Oats, Wheat Germ, Bran	Water, Fruit Juice, Plain Yogurt

This is only a concise list of foods that cause gout. While excessive intake of high purine foods may cause gout in some people, such foods may worsen the condition of those, who are already affected with the disease. So, gout patients must avoid intake of foods with high amounts of purine. While foods with moderate levels of purine can be consumed in moderation, these people must adopt a diet with low purine foods. Gout is such a painful condition that people try anything that reduce its severity. Certain types of foods trigger gout attacks and so, they must be avoided. Does coffee cause gout? This is one of the common doubts with regard to the disease. Though it is said that coffee can worsen the condition, recent studies suggest that this beverage may lower the risk of gout.

The above mentioned is only a brief overview about foods that are said to cause gout. While, there is no conclusive proof for these claims, it has been observed that intake of high purine foods worsens gout symptoms. Instead of avoiding all these foods, it will be better to identify the specific ones that trigger the symptoms and avoid them. Such gout triggering foods may not be same for all. So, consult your doctor, dietician or nutritionist for a detailed information about such foods. In general, you can lower the intake of fatty foods and increase intake of water.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. Visiting your physician is the safest way to diagnose and treat any health condition.