Uric Acid Reduction Diet

Uric acid is a chemical which is created in the body by the breaking down of substances known as purines. It is flushed out of the body by the kidneys, through urine, after it dissolves in the blood. If it is not flushed out of the body properly, high levels of uric acid get accumulated which cause ailments like gout and kidney diseases. High uric acid levels in the body is known as 'hyperuricemia' and it may also worsen conditions like diabetes, leukemia and hypertension. Hyperuricemia is usually caused due to the regular intake of purine rich foods and conditions such as hypoparathyroidism, lead poisoning, renal failure and as side effects of chemotherapy.

Uric Acid Reduction Diet
Diet plays an important role in maintaining the level of uric acid in the body. High levels of uric acid in the body can be reduced by consuming certain foods and reducing, or completely avoiding purine rich foods. An ideal diet for uric acid reduction should include a profusion of carbohydrates, a moderate intake of protein and a very low intake of fat. An uric acid reduction diet can also help reduce the risk of developing arthritis, gout and kidney disorders that are caused due to hyperuricemia.

What to Eat
Include some of these uric acid foods to reduce the level and production of uric acid in your system.

Potassium-Rich Foods

A uric acid diet should consist of foods that are rich in potassium. Here are some of the foods that you can include in your diet.

Potatoes Avocados Dried peaches Orange juice Apples

Bananas Skimmed milk Yogurt Kidney beans Yam

Complex Protein-Rich Foods

It is usually advised that the diet for reduction of uric acid should contain foods rich in complex protein. These include.

Tofu Berries Bananas Tea

Celery Parsley Cabbage Tomatoes

Low Purine and Protein Foods

People who are suffering from hyperuricemia should ideally be including these foods in their uric acid diet which are known to be low in purines.

Eggs Butter Cheese Corn Gelatin Peanut butter

Tart cherries Vinegar Rice Pasta Whole wheat breads Cereals

Uric Acid Reduction Foods

Foods rich in bromelain and vitamin C can also be very effective in reducing uric acid. These include products like.

Soy products Lemon juice Fibrous foods Chocolate Carbonated beverages Pineapples

Red cabbage Red bell peppers Salmon (Profusion of fatty acids known to reduce uric acid levels) Olive oil (Profusion of fatty acids) Flax seeds (Profusion of fatty acids) Varied Nuts (Profusion of fatty acids)

Along with these steps, plenty of water should be consumed to ensure elimination of uric acid through urine as well.

What Not to Eat
Along with consuming foods that lower uric acid in the body, there has to be stress laid on avoiding certain foods that will lead to a rise in the uric acid levels in the body as well. When following a diet for the reduction of uric acid, foods that are extremely high and moderately high in purines and protein, especially some kinds of meat and seafood, should be strictly eliminated.

Foods with High Levels of Purine

Foods extremely high in purines and protein would include foods like the following.

Yeast Pork Lamb Shrimp Anchovies

Mussels Tuna Sardines Organ meats (kidney, liver) Sweetbreads

Foods with Medium Levels of Purine

Those foods which are moderately high in purines and proteins include some of these.

Mushroom Spinach Cauliflower Dried beans Lentils and legumes Peas Asparagus

Turkey Goose Chicken Oatmeal Bacon Beer Soft drinks

Alcohol of any form should be avoided completely when consuming an uric acid reduction diet. It increases the levels of uric acid in the body, thus hindering the process of uric acid reduction.

Foods with Low Levels of Purine

Foods that have low levels of purine would include these.

Eggs Milk Cheese Yogurt Potatoes White bread Pasta

Biscuits Olives Chocolate Ice cream Berries Spaghetti Noodles

Foods that contain high levels of purines are best avoided, while those that contain medium and low levels of purines must be consumed moderately. There has to be a strict watch kept on the amount and the consistency of consumption.

Consult a doctor who will be better able to guide you on the kind of food that you must eat and what you must avoid. With the help of the list provided above, you can form your own diet plan. For example, milk and eggs for breakfast, along with a helping of the recommended fruits. At lunch, whole wheat bread with kidney beans and at dinner a dish of tofu. This is only a sample that you can use to form your own diet plan. Be extra careful in cutting down and ideally eliminating all those foods that can increase the uric acid levels in the body.

All in all, an uric acid reduction diet should be low in proteins and purines and high in potassium and complex carbohydrates. It is also essential to maintain a moderate body weight for the reduction of uric acid in the body. The diet, along with medication and exercise, should be able to successfully lower uric acid levels in the body.