10 Worse Foods To Avoid For Gout Management

Are you suffering from intense joint pain, particularly in the big toe? Have the redness and swelling of the affected joints and prevailing discomfort impacted your quality of life? Are your blood investigations showing elevated uric acid levels? If you nodded along affirmatively with concern, you might be suffering from gout. A gout is a form of arthritis resulting due to high uric acid levels in the blood, and it’s very painful. Excess uric acid forms sharp crystals that sit in your joints, thereby making you suffer from intense pain and swelling. Fortunately, you can manage this painful condition naturally and effortlessly by making some dietary modifications. Lowering the uric acid levels in your blood can help prevent the formation of new pain-causing crystals, thereby minimizing gout attacks. Following a diet plan for gout can work wonders in reducing uric acid levels in your blood, thereby relieving you from painful gout attacks remarkably.

Our body forms uric acid after it breaks down purine, which is a substance found in several foods. When making efforts to manage gout, reducing the intake of purines in your diet can help immensely. Consulting certified nutritionists can help you have a customised gout management diet plan low in purines, thereby enabling you to prevent gout attacks naturally. So, you might be wondering which foods you should avoid when trying to alleviate painful gout symptoms, aren’t you? Here’s a list of foods that you should stay away from when following a gout diet plan.

Foods to Avoid to Obtain Relief from the Pain & Discomforts of Gout:

Before we proceed to the list of foods to avoid when managing gout, let’s have a look at various types of foods to avoid to get relief from gout.

1. Foods High in Purines:

Certain animal and plant-based foods contain purines, which can worsen the pain and symptoms of gout as our body converts them into uric acid. So, it is wise to avoid animal-based foods abundant in purines to prevent or alleviate gout discomfort. Although plant-based foods comprising purines don’t make the same negative impact as animal-based foods high in purines do, it would be wise to consult a certified nutritionist before having them in your diet. To have a diet low in purine, it is good to avoid the intake of foods high in purine.

While eliminating foods abundant in purines, you may add soy products, certain plant oils, foods rich in vitamin C, and dairy products to minimize the risk of developing gout or obtain relief from it if you are already having it.

2. Foods High in Fructose:

Besides foods rich in purines, avoid having foods high in fructose in your gout diet plan. Eating foods having high levels of fructose can cause a depletion of adenosine triphosphate, which can cause excessive production of uric acid. So, individuals who suffer from gout should avoid or restrict the intake of foods containing high levels of fructose. A certified dietician can help you make the right food choices when going for a gout management diet plan.

3. High-GI Carbohydrate Foods:

Foods abundant in carbohydrates or food with a high GI (glycaemic index) have high amounts of sugar, which may cause a spike in one’s blood sugar. These high GI foods can lead to the development of insulin resistance, which has a strong link with high uric acid levels. So, it is wise to have low-GI foods in your diet plan for gout and avoid foods rich in carbohydrates or high-GI foods to prevent the risk of gout attacks.

10 Worse Foods to Avoid When Managing Gout:

Here’s a list of foods to avoid when opting for a gout management diet plan.

1. Organ Meat:

Organ meat is known to be high in purines, which are responsible for high uric acid levels in the blood. So, when dealing with gout or to prevent gout attacks, avoid eating organ meat, such as the liver.

2. Red Meat:

Red meats generally comprise high levels of purines than white meats. To avoid falling prey to painful gout attacks, keep your hands off red meat.

3. Seafood:

Certain seafood options contain purines. Scallops, trout, mussels, herring, codfish, tuna, anchovies, haddock, and sardines comprise purines. Overindulging in these seafood items can elevate uric acid levels in the blood and aggravate your gout symptoms. So, keep seafood at bay when trying to manage gout.

4. White Bread:

The sooner the rise in your blood sugar level, the worse it is for your uric acid levels. White bread and other refined carbohydrates, such as cake and cookies can cause a spike in your blood sugar. So, avoid relishing them when following a gout diet plan.

5. Honey:

Known for being high in fructose, honey is another food to avoid when dealing with gout. It is famous for being a natural sweetener which releases purines when it breaks down in your body after you consume it. So, it is advisable to have a minimum of honey or avoid it when trying to manage gout.

6. Alcohol:

The intake of alcohol raises your uric acid level, which is not favourable when trying to tackle gout. Heavy drinking is certainly not good for your health. Having alcohol often when following a diet plan for gout can be harmful. Although not all alcoholic beverages are high in purine, the intake of alcohol can prevent your kidneys from eliminating uric acid, thereby retaining it in your body and causing its accumulation that worsens gout discomforts. So, keep alcohol at bay when trying to soothe painful symptoms of gout.

7. Sweets and Sugary Drinks:

Any food or beverage having high sugar content can worsen the symptoms of gout. Even standard table sugar is known to be 50% fructose that breaks into uric acid. So, it is wise to avoid all sugary drinks and foods to minimize the risk of gout attacks.

8. Yeast and Yeast Extract:

Yeast can elevate your uric acid levels and trigger discomforting symptoms of gout. Also, yeast extracts are abundant in purine, which is harmful to your health when dealing with gout. So, keep yeast and yeast extracts at bay when on a diet plan for gout management.

9. Foods Having High Fructose Corn Syrup:

High fructose corn syrup is a concentrated form of fructose. You may find it in various packaged food products. So, it is advisable to avoid eating food products containing high fructose corn syrup. You may check the labels of the foods before purchasing them and avoid getting foods containing this concentrated form of fructose when following a gout management diet plan.

10. Gravy and Meat Sauces:

Sauces and gravies that are prepared from chicken, pork, and beef must be avoided when managing gout symptoms. These animal-based sauces and gravies are high in purine, as they are prepared using the drippings and fat from poultry and meat. Being abundant in purine, eating these gravies and sauces is bound to worsen your gout discomforts. So, strictly avoid these animal-based sauces. Instead, go for vegetable and tomato sauces.

So, if you are working hard to obtain relief from painful symptoms of gout, opt to make all the necessary dietary changes by eliminating all these potentially harmful foods from your regular diet. Avoiding these listed foods and adding soy products, foods abundant in vitamin C, certain plant oils, and dairy products can help in reducing the risk of gout attacks and alleviate gout symptoms. Consulting certified nutritionists and dieticians, such as health experts Health Total, can help you receive a customized gout management diet plan that eliminates all potentially harmful foods and includes the right foods to improve your relief. Our gout diet plan not only helps you experience relief from the pain and other symptoms of gout but also nourishes you with all essential nutrients, manages your weight, boosts your immunity, and reduces the risk of potential health risks. So, think no further, get in touch with us at Health Total, and experience immense relief from this painful condition with our personalized diet plan for gout.

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