Gout problems generally occur when you follow an improper diet. However, if you change your diet and intake more cherries, low purine foods, or vitamin C-rich foods, chances are high you will suffer fewer gout problems. Also, if you are taking in more alcohol, organ meat, shellfish or yeast, avoid the intake.
Gout problems can be extremely painful and one can suffer for days or weeks. If you modify your diet, you will be able to shorten gout flare-ups. Here, we will discuss the top foods that are good for gout health and have been known to reduce symptoms in the past.
Top Foods to Improve Gout Health
By adopting a food diet with lower uric acid levels, you can get faster relief from gout problems and reduce future attacks. The condition generally occurs when your body starts to build up uric acid in the blood.
When your body starts accumulating more purines than it can process, the uric acid starts building up. The development of uric acid causes crystals to form in the joints, resulting in gout problems.
Here are a few food products that ease gout and reduce purine intake.
Cherries
Cherries are good for people dealing with gout problems. The red color fruit carries natural compounds called anthocyanins that help in preventing and managing gout. The natural compounds carry contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that further help reduce uric acid levels and inflammation. With its excellent properties, you can lower the risk of future gout attacks.
Tart cherries are the best and most suitable ones for group or Montmorency or Balaton varieties.
Try consuming them fresh, frozen, or in the form of juice to see better and quick results. There is no specific amount that you must consume a day as per the research but serving 1/2 cup of fresh cherries or around 1 cup in the juice per day would be enough to prevent gout.
High-Vitamin C Foods
Vitamin C is less known for its potential in treating gout but it carries some of the well-known antioxidants that can help lower blood uric acid levels and reduce gout attacks.
In 2009 researchers stated that by intaking higher Vitamin C foods, you will be able to lower the risk of developing gout. If you are consuming 1,500 milligrams or more of vitamin C on a daily basis, chances are you can lower around 45% of your risk.
Another study stated that vitamin C supplementation with a minimum dose of 500 milligrams per day can reduce serum uric acid levels.
In both cases, whether the amount you intake is equal or not, chances are high the body will generate less uric acid and prevent gout attacks. Here are a few foods that are rich in Vitamin C and must be consumed:
- Cherries
- Broccoli
- Orange, lemon, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits
- Spinach
- Sweet bell peppers
- Kale
- Tomato
- Strawberries
Remember, if you have an increased risk for kidney stones, avoid taking high doses of vitamin C supplements on a regular basis.
Read More: Benefits of Broccoli
Coffee
Coffee is one of the most common and widely consumed beverages. As per a research, it may decrease the gout risk and has various effects on our health. Based on sex, the results may vary but overall it is good for reducing gout attacks.
A study was conducted in 2015 in which men who drank 4-5 cups on a daily basis noticed a 40% fall in the gout risk, whereas the ones who drank 6 cups or more noticed a 59% fall on comparing the ones with no coffee consumption.
In the case of women, the women who intake 1-3 cups of coffee on a daily basis, noticed a 22% fall in the gout risk, and 4 or more had a 57% fall on comparing the ones with no coffee consumption.
From this, it is easy to conclude that drinking coffee per day decreases gout risk.
Low-Purine Foods
Another recommended and widely used foods for managing gout is low-purine foods. Reduce purine intake and prevent blood uric acid levels from getting too high with low-purine foods. Here are a few low-purine foods:
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Cherries and other citrus fruits
- Nuts, seeds, or legumes
- Low-fat dairy
Plant-Based Foods
There is also various plant-based food that includes fewer purines. You can also depend on such food and enjoy a healthy gout-friendly diet. Nuts, beans, and whole-grains are a few popular plant-based fruits that contain important vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Here are a few more plant-based foods, you can add to the diet:
- Vegetable-based oils
- Vegetables
- Tofu or other soy-based protein
- Seeds
These foods have shown a good reduction in gout risk in the past.
There are many vegetables that are high in purines but when talking about plant-based purines, the body consumes them differently. Reasonable consumption of vegetables that are high in purines can be safe for your body.
Low-Fat Dairy
Do you know dairy products can also benefit your health and reduce gout risk? Well! If you start intaking low-fat or non-fat dairy products, you will be able to prevent yourself from recurrent gout flares.
They contain anti-inflammatory properties that not only help reduce uric acid levels but also minimize the inflammatory response to monosodium urate crystals accumulated within the joint.
As per research, if a person intakes 3 servings of dairy per day, including yogurt, cheese, low-fat milk, or cottage cheese, chances are high he will lower the risk of a gout attack.
Water
If you properly maintain your health and stay hydrated, your gout will remain in a better state. As per research, water intake is known to reduce uric acid levels in people. As we all know our body is 3/4th made of water. If you consume a good amount of water every day, there are fewer chances that you will fall ill or suffer health problems like gout flaring up.
Conclusion
Gout mostly affects the joints and causes intense pain and swelling around the area. Arthritis, kidney stones, and heart disease are a few health conditions that may arise due to a Gout attack. Hence, we have listed a few at-home remedies that will help prevent a gout attack.
Limit processed food and intake more than the ones listed in the post to improve gout and overall health. Check out and try these foods to overcome gout and save yourself from extreme pain.
Also, talk with your healthcare provider before making any drastic change to your diet or if you are already following a treatment plan.
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