10 Foods to Avoid with Gout

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis characterized by the accumulation of uric acid (monosodium urate) crystals in the joints, causing pain and inflammation. The condition causes severe attacks of pain, redness, warmth, tenderness, and swelling in one or more joints that come on suddenly. Gout frequently affects the big toe but can occur in other joints as well. While gout flares come and go, there can be lingering discomfort for several days to weeks after a gout attack.

Eating a gout-friendly diet can help lower uric acid levels in the body and reduce the frequency and severity of future gout attacks.

Please continue reading to learn more about which foods to avoid with gout that can lead to high uric acid levels in the body. We will also list some foods that can help to decrease uric acid levels and lower your risk of gout.

Who is at an increased risk of gout?

Risk factors for developing gout include male gender, obesity, certain health conditions such as poor kidney function, high blood pressure, diabetes, and congestive heart failure, taking certain medications such as diuretics (water pills), drinking alcohol, and eating high purine foods.

Can diet affect uric acid levels?

Yes, diet can affect uric acid levels in the body. Food contains chemicals called purines, which are broken down by the body into uric acid. High purine foods can lead to high uric acid levels, which can lead to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints. Therefore, eating a high-purine diet can lead to too much uric acid in the body and gout flare-ups. On the other hand, eating a low-purine diet can lower the risk of gout attacks.

What is a gout diet?

As mentioned, the body makes uric acid from chemicals called purines found in food. A gout diet is, therefore, a low-purine diet. This diet helps to reduce uric acid levels in the body, thus preventing uric acid crystals from forming in the joints, reducing the risk of the inflammatory arthritis called gout.

A low-purine diet for people with gout excludes or reduces the consumption of high-purine foods that can raise uric acid levels in the body. It also encourages the consumption of certain foods that can help lower uric acid levels.

Anybody with hyperuricemia (high levels of uric acid) can benefit from a low purine diet, including people with gout, to decrease the frequency and severity of gout flares and people with excess uric acid who do not have gout symptoms yet.

What foods help clear up gout symptoms?

Specific foods cannot make a gout attack go away or prevent gout completely. However, certain foods and drinks can help to control uric acid levels in the body. Foods to eat if you have hyperuricemia (too much uric acid) or gout include:

Low-fat dairy: Research suggests skimmed milk helps to remove uric acid from the body in urine. It also lowers the body’s inflammatory response to uric acid crystals that have collected in the joints.
Coffee: While coffee is acidic, it differs from uric acid. Drinking coffee daily can reduce uric acid levels by slowing the breakdown of purine into uric acid and speeding up the removal of uric acid from the body.
Water: Staying well-hydrated by drinking 5-8 glasses of water a day can prevent too much uric acid from accumulating in the body. The kidneys need water to make urine and remove uric acid from the body. In addition, hydration is important for kidney health. Poor kidney function can contribute to gout.
Cherries: Early research has shown promising benefits of cherry consumption (both whole fruit and cherry juice) in managing gout symptoms. This may be due to the anti-inflammatory properties of cherries as well as their ability to lower uric acid levels.
Whole grains: Grains, especially whole grains (except oats), are good for people with gout. However, it’s important to check the package labels of processed foods like breads, pastas, cereals, and rice to ensure they don’t contain high fructose corn syrup.
Plant-based foods: Most fruits and vegetables are low in purine and should be a part of a gout-friendly diet.

It is worth noting that the foods to eat if you have gout, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk, are also part of an overall healthy diet and can help with weight loss.

What foods to avoid if you are prone to gout?

Certain foods high in purine can trigger gout attacks. You should avoid the following foods if you have recurrent gout attacks:

High fructose corn syrup (fructose is broken down into uric acid in the body)
Sugary foods
Sugar-sweetened beverages like fruit juices
Alcohol (some alcoholic drinks are high in purines. Alcohol also prevents the kidneys from eliminating uric acid)
Organ meats (liver, brain, kidneys)
Game meats (goose, veal, venison)
Red meats (beef, pork, lamb)
Certain lean meats, such as turkey
Meat sauce and gravy
Yeast and yeast extract

Can a gout diet prevent gout?

In many people with gout, a gout diet alone is not enough for gout management. A low-purine diet cannot completely eliminate the risk of developing gout or prevent gout attacks. It is not a substitute for prescribed gout treatment.

However, a gout diet can help to lower the frequency and severity of gout flare-ups and minimize the need for gout medications. It can also help in maintaining a healthy weight by eliminating sugary drinks and foods, red meat, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates in processed foods.

What aggravates gout the most?

One of the things that aggravates gout the most is foods and drinks that contain high levels of fructose (a type of sugar). Almost half of table sugar is fructose. Fructose is present in high fructose corn syrup and sugary drinks and foods.

Are tomatoes bad for gout?

There are anecdotal reports of tomatoes triggering gout attacks. Small studies have shown that eating tomatoes can increase uric acid levels in the body. However, more research is needed to confirm a positive association between tomatoes and high uric acid levels.

Can supplemental vitamin C lower the risk of gout?

Some studies have shown that taking vitamin C supplements is associated with a lower risk of developing gout symptoms. Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplement, including vitamin C.

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