Table of contents:
- List of foods that are taboo for uric acid
- 1. Offal such as liver, heart and gizzard
- 2. Seafood, including shellfish, shrimp and anchovies
- 3. Red meat, such as beef, goat and lamb
- 4. Processed meats, including salami and ham
- 5. Sweet drinks, such as soda and fruit juices
- 6. Drinks contain alcohol
- Food that can be consumed on a limited basis
- Salmon, tuna and lobster
- Red beans, green beans and bean sprouts
- Spinach
- Another uric acid abstinence that you also need to avoid
- Dehydration
- Lazy to move
- Take medication without the doctor's knowledge
Gout is an inflammation of the joints caused by high levels of uric acid (uric acid) inside the body. The causes of high uric acid can be various, one of which is the food you consume. Therefore, you need to avoid various foods that are taboo on this disease to prevent uric acid from recurring in the future.
So, what foods should gout sufferers avoid? Are there any other restrictions or restrictions that also need to be avoided?
List of foods that are taboo for uric acid
Uric acid is a substance that results from the breakdown of purines in the body. Purines are naturally produced by your body. However, purines can also be found in various foods and beverages.
Under normal circumstances, uric acid is processed by the kidneys and excreted by the body in the form of urine. If the uric acid level is excess or the kidneys cannot excrete uric acid properly, uric acid buildup will occur which then forms crystals in the joints. It is these uric crystals that cause uric acid symptoms in you.
One of the factors that can increase uric acid levels, namely foods and drinks that contain purines. The more extra purine you intake, the more uric acid is formed and the kidneys will be overwhelmed to pass it through the urine.
Therefore, gout sufferers should avoid foods containing purines to reduce the risk of recurrence in the future. A food can be said to contain high purines if it has purine levels of more than 200 mg per 100 grams of food weight.
You also need to avoid foods with moderate purine content, with a range of 100-200 mg of purine per 100 grams of food weight. The list of foods that are classified as having moderate to high purine levels and are taboo for gout sufferers are:
1. Offal such as liver, heart and gizzard
Animal offal, such as liver, heart, gizzard, including foods that cause high uric acid. In addition, you also need to avoid other offal, such as brain, tripe, spleen, intestines and lungs. The reason is, offal contains high purines so it should be avoided by gout sufferers.
For example, chicken liver per 100 grams contains 312.2 mg of purines and is categorized as a food with very high purine levels. Meanwhile, 100 grams of beef liver are 219.8 mg of purines.
2. Seafood, including shellfish, shrimp and anchovies
Several types of seafood, such as shrimp and anchovies are the cause of gout because they have high levels of purines. Likewise sardines, mackerel, herring. and Of all these types, dried anchovies contain the highest purines, reaching 1,108.6 mg per 100 grams, while fresh sardines contain 210.4 mg of purines.
Therefore, seafood is a taboo that sufferers of gout need to avoid. However, not all seafood should be avoided by gout sufferers. You can still eat types of fish that contain lower purines, such as salmon.
3. Red meat, such as beef, goat and lamb
Food sources in the form of red meat (beef, goat, lamb) and certain white meats (duck, turkey, goose, quail, and rabbit) can cause gout. This type of food is classified as having moderate purine content or is above 100 mg per 100 grams of raw meat.
4. Processed meats, including salami and ham
Not only foods that are processed from fresh meat that sufferers of gout should avoid, processed meat products, such as salami or ham are also included as foods that trigger uric acid recurrences. Per 100 grams of salami is known to contain 120.4 mg of purines, while ham contains 138.3 mg of purines.
In addition, meat and processed meats also contain very high saturated fat. Eating too many fatty foods can lead to excess weight gain. When a person is overweight or obese, their body produces more insulin. This will interfere with the work of the kidneys to get rid of uric acid, so that it accumulates and settles until it forms crystals in the joints.
5. Sweet drinks, such as soda and fruit juices
Sweetened drinks, such as soda or fruit juice, do not contain purines. However, this type of drink contains high fructose (sugar from corn syrup). Your body breaks down fructose and produces purines, so this drink is also a taboo for gout sufferers.
A study published in the BMJ Open found that the risk of high uric acid increased by about 85 percent in men who drank more than two servings of soda per day, compared to those who only drank one glass of sweetened drinks a month.
6. Drinks contain alcohol
Alcoholic drinks, such as beer, are also part of food or drinks that gout sufferers should avoid. A study from Boston University School of Medicine found that the more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of developing gout.
The causes of alcohol to increase uric acid levels are not well understood. However, some types of alcoholic drinks, such as beer, are said to be high in purines, although not as high as other foods. Alcohol is also said to reduce the body's ability to excrete uric acid.
Food that can be consumed on a limited basis
In addition to avoiding foods that are above uric acid restrictions, you can still eat some foods that contain purines, but in a limited manner. If consumed too much, these foods can also cause your uric acid to recur.
At least, consume the types of foods below no more than once or twice a week to reduce the risk of uric acid recurrence in yourself. Some foods contain purines that you can still consume on a limited basis, namely:
Not all types of fish contain high purines. You can still consume several types of fish with a lower purine content, such as salmon, tuna and lobster.
You can consume legumes, such as red beans, green beans, peanuts, bean sprouts, and melinjo. In fact, processed foods from soybeans, such as tofu and tempeh, are not foods that gout sufferers need to completely avoid.
Based on published research Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, consuming soy products can increase purine levels in the body, but so far it has not been proven to develop gout. However, you should still limit these types of foods to maintain normal uric acid levels in yourself.
Some vegetables, such as asparagus and spinach, are high in purines. Every 100 grams of young spinach leaves are known to have a purine content of 171.8 mg.
However, several studies do not prove that consumption of spinach can increase the risk of gout attacks. Therefore, this vegetable is not a taboo for gout sufferers. You can still eat these vegetables, but still on a limited basis so that your uric acid levels do not increase sharply.
Apart from the foods mentioned above, you can still consume some other foods on a limited basis, such as:
- Mushroom.
- Whole grains, such as cereals and oatmeal.
- Processed baked goods.
- Poultry, such as chicken and duck.
Another uric acid abstinence that you also need to avoid
Apart from food, you also need to avoid several other things to reduce the risk of a recurrence of gout attacks on yourself. Some of the restrictions for gout sufferers, namely:
Lack of fluids or dehydration can increase uric acid levels in your body, so this is one taboo that you need to avoid. The reason is, lack of fluids can reduce the removal of uric acid through urine, so uric acid substances tend to accumulate in the body.
Conversely, adequate water intake can help increase the removal of excess uric acid. Therefore, you should meet the needs of sufficient water for the body, but with healthy water, such as mineral water.
Lazy to move, including exercising, is taboo for everyone, including gout sufferers. The reason is, this can increase your weight. As for having excess body weight can increase the risk of gout attacks.
However, you are not advised to exercise when gout pain is recurring. Doing so can actually make the joint pain worse. Consult with your doctor about the right time and type of exercise according to your condition.
Taking certain medications, such as aspirin or diuretic drugs, is a taboo that people with gout should avoid. The reason is, these two drugs can increase uric acid levels. Therefore, you should avoid taking this drug unless on a doctor's recommendation.
