Eating plan for gout

Gout is a form of arthritis marked by sudden attacks of painful, inflamed joints. If it is not controlled, gout can cause severe damage to joints, tendons, and other tissues.

Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. This used to be treated with a strict diet, but now there are medicines that can control it. These medicines have largely replaced the need to restrict what you eat.

But making changes in your diet may still help with your gout. If you want to try an eating plan for gout, this Actionset can help you learn more about how to eat in ways that may help you keep your gout under control and still get the nutrition you need.

Key Points

To help control your gout:

• Limit foods that are high in purines, especially meat, seafood, and beer.
• Eat a healthy diet that provides the nutrients you need and helps you control your weight.
• Eat low-fat dairy products, which may lower your risk of gout.¹
• Drink plenty of water and other fluids. This can help your body get rid of uric acid.

 What are purines and uric acid?
 Why might you want to follow an eating plan for gout?
 How to eat to help control your gout
 Where to get more information

Now that you have read this information, you can make choices that limit high-purine foods in your diet. Talk with your doctor about the changes to your diet. He or she may have more suggestions and tips on how to avoid high-purine foods. You may also want to meet with a registered dietitian for more ideas about a healthful diet for you.

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Purines are chemical compounds that are broken down into uric acid. High levels of uric acid can cause gout attacks.

Most purines are made by the body, but some come from foods. Eating foods that have a lot of purines can raise uric acid levels in the body, which may make your gout worse.

Foods that are very high in purines include:

• Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, and brains.
• Meats, including bacon, beef, pork, and lamb.
• Game meats.
• Any other meats in large amounts.
• Anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, and scallops.
• Gravy.
• Legumes, such as dried beans and dried peas.
• Beer.

Continue to Why might you want to follow an eating plan for gout?
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Changing what you eat may help control your gout. Eating foods with a lot of fat, such as organ meats, broths, and gravy, can raise uric acid levels. High uric acid levels can cause attacks. You may be able to help control the amount of uric acid in your body by limiting high-purine foods in your diet.

Lowering your uric acid levels may also lower your chances of getting kidney stones.

Eating a healthy diet will help you stay at a healthy weight, which may help lower your risk of having future attacks of gout.

Continue to How to eat to help control your gout
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There are several things you can do as part of an eating plan for gout.

1. Avoid or limit foods that are very high in purines, especially during a gout attack. These foods include:
   • Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, and brains.
   • Meats, including bacon, beef, pork, and lamb.
   • Game meats.
   • Any other meats in large amounts.
   • Anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, and scallops.
   • Gravy.
   • Legumes, such as dried beans and dried peas.
   • Beer.
2. Eat foods that may lower your risk of gout.^{1, 2} These include:
   • Low-fat or skim milk.
   • Low-fat yogurt.
   • Tofu.
3. Choose healthy foods. These foods include:
   • A wide range of fruits and vegetables.
   • Eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds for protein.
   • Small amounts of meat. Limit your serving size to 2 to 3 ounces.
4. Drink plenty of water and other fluids. This can help your body get rid of uric acid.
5. Avoid eating habits that can raise your uric acid levels. For example:
   • Avoid crash diets and low-carbohydrate diets.
   • Do not eat too much food or drink too much alcohol.
   • Do not take large amounts of vitamin C.
   • Avoid alcohol.

You can use the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Guide or the Food Guide Pyramid to help you make a healthy eating plan.

Continue to Where to get more information
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If you would like more information on gout, the following resources are available:

Organizations

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Citations

1. Choi HK, et al. (2004). Purine-rich foods, dairy and protein intake, and the risk of gout in men. New England Journal of Medicine, 350(11): 1093–1103.

2. Dorfman L (2004). Gout section of Medical nutrition therapy for rheumatic disorders. In LK Mahan, S Escott-Stump, eds., Krause's Food, Nutrition, and Diet Therapy, 11th ed., pp. 1134–1135. Philadelphia: Saunders.