Gout diet - low purine foods
author Dr. Mihola Dóra | 2018 .10.25.
Why is diet important for gout? The role of gout diet in the treatment and prevention of the disease.
What can - what can't?
Gout diet for health
In gout, the body 's uric acid levels increase, resulting in uric acid crystals precipitating in the joints. These precipitated crystals cause pain, inflammation and a so-called gout attack. The disease is most often caused by poor diet, but genetic predisposition may also play a role.
Purine diet
Diet and lifestyle changes play a key role in the management of gout disease . In such cases, it is necessary to follow a so-called low purine diet. Purine is the organic compound that the human body digests to produce uric acid. Reducing purine intake can therefore also reduce uric acid levels.
Normally, we get 600 - 1000 mg of purines a day from our diet. This amount needs to be drastically reduced if you have gout or are susceptible to gout. High levels of uric acid in the blood are an indication of a predisposition to the disease, a condition known as hyperuricaemia. In such cases , the daily intake of purine needs to be reduced to 300 mg or less in the long term. In the case of acute gout ( when there is an attack), a tightening of the diet is necessary, up to a maximum of 100 mg purine intake per day . In chronic gout, a purine intake of 200 mg is allowed.
Dr. Dóra Mihola
Rheumatologist specialist
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Gout treatment - a low purine diet
A purine-poor diet is key for gout. Excessive purine intake increases uric acid levels, the growth of uric acid crystals, joint deterioration and inflammation. However, by greatly reducing the amount of purine ingested, uric acid levels will also be reduced and this is the first and most important step towards recovery.
Whatever treatment is chosen, it must be planned and carried out in a personalised way, after the patient has been informed and in agreement with us.
The help of a specialist rheumatologist is essential
In the case of established gout , it is recommended that diet and anti-inflammatory treatment of arthritis are started immediately. However, diet alone often fails to reduce uric acid levels sufficiently and rapidly. In this case , medication may be needed to supplement the gout diet in order to reduce uric acid levels sufficiently. This is always the responsibility of the treating rheumatologist in the field of rheumatology. It is very important that the medication DOES NOT REPLACE the diet!
Prevention of gout
The gout diet plays an important rolenot only in treatment but also in prevention. High levels of uric acid in the laboratory test do not necessarily indicate the presence of gout, but merely a predisposition to it and a risk of it. For those who have elevated uric acid levels, a purine-deficient diet is recommended. By following this diet , the development of gout disease can be prevented and many painful consequences avoided!
Gout diet - What can you do, what can't you do?
Foods can be grouped according to their purine content:
- Foods with a very high purine content ( 150 mg) are banned
- Eating foods with a medium purine content ( 75 - 150 mg) is allowed in small amounts and on rare occasions
- Moderate consumption of foods with a moderate purine content ( 50 - 70 mg) is recommended with caution
- Foods with low purine content ( 50 mg) are recommended
Foods high and very high in purines are meat, fish, offal and processed products thereof. In particular, it is important to avoid fatty meat dishes. Occasionally, small amounts of lean poultry meat (chicken breast, possibly turkey breast, strictly without skin), lean fish fillets or pre-cooked minced meat are allowed. It is important to emphasise that this is not a once-a-day category, but at most once a week or less.
Gout - What not to eat?
Alcohol, sugary sweets, pastries, smoked and fatty foods, meat soup and jelly are also prohibited, and even small amounts of these are not allowed, as they can seriously impair the condition of the person with gout!
Recommended purine-free foods
The consumption of dairy products is recommended in large quantities in a low-purine diet, but also low-fat products. Cream, butter and sour cream are not included, and these three dairy products are not recommended. Of the animal foods, eggs are a major focus in the gout diet. The nutritional value of eggs is outstanding, but their purine content is almost negligible. Consumption of 6-8 eggs per week is recommended in a purine-deficient diet.
Gout diet diet
Many fruits and vegetables are prescribed, but even these should be watched out for, for example, most legumes and asparagus. Oilseeds should also be consumed rarely and in small quantities. Potatoes, rice and cereals are , however, strongly recommended in this gout diet. Potatoes in their skin are particularly recommended because they stimulate purine metabolism.
In terms of food preparation, low-fat cooking techniques are always recommended, and for meat dishes (which are rarely eaten), it is advisable to precook the meat and pour out the cooking juices.
Drinking plenty of fluids is also a key part of a low purine diet. A minimum daily intake of 2-3 litres of fluids is recommended, which could be water, non-carbonated mineral water, unsweetened tea, or 100% fruit or vegetable juice. Among the medicinal waters, Balfi and Salvus waters are highly recommended, and among the herbal teas, nettle tea is recommended daily.
High uric acid is restored
By strictly following the gout diet, the body's uric acid levels are restored. This is the first basic step in the treatment of gout. It is up to your rheumatologist to decide what to do next and what medication to take.
If you have gout or are susceptible to gout, please contact the team of specialist rheumatologists at the Budapest Musculoskeletal Private Outpatient Clinic. In addition to our Budapest clinics, our specialists can be found in the countryside, in many parts of the country (Eger, Mór, Kecskemét, Jászberény) are available. They are waiting for patients who want to heal every day of the week!
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