Arthritis comes in many forms, 200 to be precise, and Gout is perhaps on of the more abundant forms of arthritis that we see in the US today. While most forms of arthritis are caused by an immune response or overuse of the joint, gout is caused by excess levels of uric acid which build up within the joints.

Purines in food are what is responsible for the build up of uric acid. If a person eats too many purines or their liver and kidneys are unable to process them as waste, then when those purines are broken down into uric acid they have nowhere to go. Uric acid then often builds up within the joints, particularly the big toe but also in the fingers, other toes, ankles, wrists, elbows and knees. If the condition becomes particularly bad then the individual may develop tophi, which are growths made up of uric acid crystals in or around the joints. At this point gout is usually so painful that the person can't stand to put any pressure on their joint or have it touched in any way. Being overweight is another huge factor affecting gout as the extra weight puts unnecessary pressure on joints, causing them to wear away faster and more easily.

Thankfully, there are foods to avoid gout out there and changing your diet is the number one best thing you can do for the condition. It is important to have a balanced diet with arthritis, so that the body is strong enough to repair the damage that has already been caused. This means that if you take away one food from your diet because it is high in purines then you should replace it with a healthier option, but one that contains the same nutrients so you don't become deficient. The first example of this is red meat. Red meats such as beef, venison and lamb are all high in purines and so should be replaced with something that is high in protein but low in purines. Examples here include eggs, nuts and pulses and soya. You should also avoid pork and especially bacon which are the worst culprits for gout and you can replace all these meats with white alternatives such as chicken, turkey and duck. Unfortunately those suffering from gout are unable to substitute their lack of red meat and pork with seafood and fish because these are very high in purines too. These come under the same food group as meat so you can still replace them with eggs, nuts and soya.

The only other type of food that people suffering from gout should avoid is anything containing yeast. This includes beer, lager and ale and also bread. You can substitute the alcohol with ones that don't contain yeast (wine, spirits for example) but do be careful not to overdo it as alcohol has a negative effect on the body's ability to repair damaged joints. You should also be working to replace the starch and carbohydrates found in bread with things like pasta and rice (which is best wholegrain) and potatoes.

We have identified the foods to avoid gout wise and if you implement these suggestions into your current diet you should find the symptoms of gout decrease significantly. Do visit your doctor for further advice on the condition as they may be able to ease any pain you are in and speed up recovery.

Stan Tian

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