Gout Diet Plans

Gout is a painful condition, resulted due to high uric acid levels in blood, which overtime leads to formation of urate crystals. These crystals start depositing in the joints and result in swelling, redness and pain. There are three major reasons for the gout - increased uric acid secretion, too much purine in diet and impaired kidney function. Purine is a chemical substance, which metabolizes to give uric acid. Considering the triggering factors, gout diet plans are purported for controlling uric acid levels and effective management of the symptoms.

Gout Diet Plan: An Overview
The main objective of this diet plan is to identify foods loaded with purine and avoid them. Also, foods that lower uric acid production are incorporated in the gout diet. Obese people are more susceptible to gout problems than others. Hence, controlling weight is another strategy in gout treatment. Again, losing weight is directly related to eating the right foods in correct amounts. Detailed information on gout diet plan is presented below.

Gout Diet Food
Food items that contain high percentage of purines are restricted for patients having recurrent gouty arthritis attacks. List of foods to avoid are:

• Sardines
• Anchovies
• Herring
• Scallops
• Meat
• Meat extracts
• Organ meat (brain, liver and kidney)
• Yeast based products
• Bear and alcoholic drinks
• Dried legumes
• Cauliflower
• Spinach and asparagus
• Mushrooms

Certain foods are known to lower or at least maintain uric acid levels in blood. List of low purine foods that can be incorporated in the gout diet are:

• Strawberries
• Citrus fruits
• Pineapple
• Cherry juice
• Breads
• Yogurt
• Low fat dairy products
• Tofu
• Peanut butter
• Nuts
• Refined grains
• low-fat cheese
• Gelatin
• Tea and coffee
• Soft drinks

Gout Meal Plans
The thumb rule followed in gout treatment is including foods rich in complex carbohydrates, low in fats and low in proteins. People with gout should drink lots of healthy fluids and eat easily digestible foods that contain low purine. Remember to add variety of foods in the diet, otherwise indulging in the same food items will be quite boring. Following is a simple reference for gout diet menus:

Breakfast Menu

• 1 bowl cereal (cornflakes, rice krispies)
• Skim milk
• 2 slices wholemeal toast
• 1 cup tea or coffee

Mid Morning Menu

• 2-3 pieces cream crackers
• 1 cup tea or coffee

Lunch Menu

• Vegetable soup
• Boiled pulse
• 1 serving plain rice (or 1 sandwich)
• 1 serving fruit salad
• 1 bowl buttermilk

Mid Afternoon Menu

• Fresh dark berries
• 1 piece of fruit (optional)
• 2 wheat biscuits
• 1 cup tea or coffee

Evening Menu

• Veggie mixture (carrots, cauliflower, celery)
• Small fillet or small chicken breast
• 1 serving plain rice or whole wheat pasta

Evening Menu

• 1 serving of fruit
• 2 plain biscuits

Note: Drink lots of water while eating and in between. A minimum of 8 glasses of water is recommended for gout patients. This will help in expelling uric acid during urination.

Gout Diet Recipes
If you understand healthy foods and restrictive foods that cause gout, choosing recipes is very easy. The key tip is to use good foods and avoid those containing moderate or high amounts of purines. Some, easy-to-cook and less time-consuming food recipes for gout patients are whole-grain pancakes (medium sweet), gazpacho soup, milk shakes and cherry smoothies. Whenever possible, add fresh vegetables, vitamin C rich food and culinary herbs in the gout diet.

Health experts are of the opinion that consuming foods and oils rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids help in reducing inflammatory responses. With dietary modifications, mild exercise and medication (if required), gout symptoms can be managed effectually. So, understand the gout diet plans, and try to follow the tips and tricks to prevent gout attacks.