Purine Free Diet

Purines are chemical substances which are not only produced naturally in the body, but also found in various types of foods. These purines are converted into uric acid during digestion which is thrown out of the body thorough the urine. However, when the body starts producing uric acid in very high quantities or if it is not able to excrete uric acid properly, a person is said to have gout. The excess uric acid in the body turns into structures that are sharp like needles called urate crystals which get accumulated in different joints of the body like the big toe, heels, fingers, elbows, thumbs, ankles, etc. Due to the presence of urate crystals, an individual having gout has to experience swelling and terrible pain in the joints. As gout is a type of arthritis, immediate treatment should be provided to the individual so that his condition does not worsen. However, treatment for gout is not only restricted to medications and therapy, but also to major changes in the person's diet and lifestyle. The health practitioner will surely discuss the purine free diet that a patient has to follow to prevent gout attacks completely.

Purine Free Diets

A purine free diet for gout includes those foods that have low purine content. As it is not possible to follow a diet that is fully free from purine, the best alternative is to opt for foods that are low in purine. Gout patients should eat foods that are high in complex carbohydrates like whole grains, vegetables and fruits and lower the consumption of foods that are high in proteins because almost all protein rich foods contain purines. Also, dietary intake of fat should be restricted because gout patients are highly prone to heart attacks and too much fat can increase the dangers. Foods that are safe for gout patients include bananas, fresh cherries, green leafy vegetables, pineapple, cabbage, oranges, bell pepper, low fat dairy products, potatoes, etc. One has to drink a lot of water and other fluids like cherry juice while following a purine free diet.

Low Purine Diet for Gout

As you now know the different types of foods that contain low levels of purine, it is also important to know about purine foods to avoid. The foods included in the list of foods that contain purine can be divided into three groups including high purine foods, medium purine foods and low purine foods. Though it is recommended that high purine foods should be completely eliminated from the diet of gout patients, the medium as well as the low purine foods can be consumed in moderate quantities. Know more about low purine diet tips.

High Purine Foods

• Organ meats- kidney, sweetbreads, brains, liver and heart
• Sardines
• Anchovies
• Broth
• Fishes- mackerel, herring and roe (fish eggs)
• Meat extracts
• Gravy
• Scallops
• Consomme
• Game meats- duck, goose, partridge, etc
• Mincemeat
• Bouillon
• Yeast supplements

Medium Purine Foods

• Mushrooms
• Whole grain cereals and breads
• Green peas
• Asparagus
• Oats and oatmeal
• Fish and shellfish
• Spinach
• Red meats- beef, lamb, pork, etc.
• Bran and wheat germ
• Cauliflower
• Lentils- peas and dried beans

Low Purine Diet Foods

• Pudding
• Skimmed milk
• Macaroni and pasta
• Cake and cookies- small quantities
• Eggs (not more than 3-4 every week)
• Carbonated drinks
• Nuts and peanut butter
• Low fat/fat free ice cream and cheeses
• Gelatin
• Sugar and sweets- small quantities
• Tea and coffee
• Oils and fats- small quantities

Other Things to Avoid in a Purine Free Diet

Other than the foods that are high in purine, individuals suffering from gout should totally avoid the consumption of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks, particularly beer has high content of purine and has the ability to increase the level of uric acid in blood. Other than beer, even drinks like vodka, rum, whiskey, gin, etc. contain purine and hence, should either be avoided or taken in very little quantities. Moreover, gout patients who are overweight should try to bring back their weight to a normal level. This is important because losing weight helps in releasing the pressure caused by the urate crystals from the joints, thus relieving the person from the pain caused by it. Hence, it is necessary to exercise regularly and avoid foods like fats to prevent from putting in too much weight.

Purine Free Recipes

People suffering from gout feel disheartened due to the foods that they have to avoid during the recovery process. However, you must not think that purine free foods are bland and do not taste good, rather you can make them interesting by the way you cook them. Here are some purine free recipes you can try to make delicious purine free foods.

Cheese Potato Casserole

Ingredients

• 26 ounces hash brown potatoes, frozen
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 chopped green pepper
• 8 ounces milk
• 3 teaspoons olive oil
• dash of hot sauce
• 10 ounces cheddar soup concentrate
• salt- as per taste
• 1 chopped onion

Preparation

Heat olive oil in a frying pan and fry onions in a medium to low flame. Once the onions become transparent, add the potatoes, green pepper, salt and milk into it. Stir for some time and shift all the ingredients to a casserole that is greased lightly. Add the cheddar cheese concentrate, grated Parmesan cheese and hot sauce over it. Cook for 40-50 minutes in the casserole at a temperature of 375 degrees F. Before taking the food out of the casserole, check whether it is fully cooked.

Now you can see how you can make your purine food diet interesting by trying out some low purine diet gout recipes. You may find the purine free diet a little difficult in the beginning, however, once you find relief from the pain caused by gout, you will surely understand the importance of following this diet strictly.