The Uric Acid Diet: What You Should Eat and What You Shouldn't

You can get help to normalize uric acid levels through diet. Many foods are high in purines (a chemical found in food that causes gout), purines are naturally found in foods. When your body digests purines, uric acid is formed in your body as waste. However, uric acid is not a matter of concern for healthy people, because healthy people easily excrete uric acid as waste. But people who suffer from gout are not able to excrete uric acid completely. Therefore, a diet high in purines leads to accumulation of uric acid and increases the risk of gout attack. Therefore, foods high in purines should not be eaten.

Certain types of meat (particularly organs like liver, veggies, etc.), seafood, alcohol and beer are high in purines. However, according to a study, vegetables high in purines do not increase uric acid. Apart from this, fructose (natural sugar in fruits) and sugary beverages also increase uric acid, whereas these foods do not contain purines. In a study, 125,000 participants were fed fructose. After this, a 62% risk of uric acid was seen in these people.

Apart from this, another research also showed that low-fat dairy products, soy products and vitamin C supplements reduce blood uric acid levels, which reduces uric acid levels. But keep in mind that high-fat dairy products increase uric acid.

(Read more - Uric Acid Test: Procedure, Purpose)

Eat all types of meat in very small quantities. Do not eat more than 100 to 200 grams of them in a week. Meat contains less amount of purine. 100 grams of meat contains 100 to 200 mg of purine. Therefore, eat it in small quantities. You can eat the following types of meat -

• Meat - Chicken, red meat, pork, lamb etc.
• Fish - Fresh fish and salmon (a type of fish) Fish contains less amount of purine.

(Read more - What to eat to reduce uric acid levels )

If your uric acid level is high, do not eat foods rich in protein. 100 grams of protein-rich foods contain 200 mg of purine. Apart from this, you should also not eat foods with high fructose. Eating these foods increases the level of uric acid. Do not eat the following foods in case of uric acid problem -

• Special types of meat - Some internal organs like liver, kidney and brain etc. should not be eaten. Apart from this, do not eat partridge and deer meat. Eating these increases the level of uric acid.
• Fish - Do not eat herring, trout, mackerel, tuna (all these are types of fish). These also work to increase the level of uric acid. 
• Sea foods - Sea foods like crab, shrimp should also not be eaten.
• Sugar-rich beverages - Especially do not drink the juice of fruits which have high amounts of sugar. Apart from this, do not drink beverages like sugar-rich soda. Drinking these also increases uric acid.
• Sugar - Do not eat foods containing honey and high fructose corn syrup.
• Yeast - Do not eat any type of yeast.

Apart from the foods mentioned above, do not eat refined carbohydrates, white bread, cakes and biscuits. Although they do not contain much purine and fructose, they contain very little nutrients and can increase uric acid.

(Read more - Natural Ways to Lower Uric Acid)

Above you learned which foods with high purines should not be eaten. So now you can eat foods with low purines. Foods that contain 100 mg of purine in 100 grams are counted as low purine foods.In the problem of uric acid, you can eat the following foods -

• Fruits - All types of fruits are beneficial in uric acid problems. Cherry reduces the level of uric acid. Along with this, it also helps in curing inflammation. 
• Vegetables - All types of vegetables can be eaten in uric acid problems. In vegetables, you can also eat potatoes, peas, mushrooms, brinjal and green leafy vegetables.
• Legumes - All types of legumes like lentils, beans, soybean and tofu etc. can be eaten in uric acid problems. 
• Dry fruits - All types of dry fruits and seeds can be eaten.
• Whole grains - Eat oats, brown rice and barley in whole grains. 
• Dairy products - All low-fat dairy products are beneficial for uric acid patients.
• Eggs - Eggs should also be eaten by uric acid patients. 
• Beverages - Drink coffee, tea and green tea.
• Herbs and spices - All types of spices and herbs can be consumed. 
• Plant oils - Eat canola oil, coconut oil, olive oil and flaxseed oil.

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Dietary care is important to control uric acid levels. Foods that are high in purines, such as red meat, seafood, and pulses (lentils, peas), should be reduced as these can increase uric acid. Fried and processed foods should also be avoided. Instead, foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains help reduce uric acid levels. Vitamin C-rich fruits, such as oranges and lemons, and drinking adequate water increase the excretion of uric acid in the body. Apart from this, alcohol and sugar-rich beverages should also be avoided.