What Foods and Beverages Cause Gout?

When you get a gout attack in your foot, you are likely to be screaming in pain. Gout causes redness, swelling, and extreme tenderness in your joints. Some people will have an attack every couple of weeks, some will go for years without ever having one.
Gout is caused by a build-up of excess uric acid in the blood and tissues. Uric acid develops into crystals, which commonly cause kidney stones. When it occurs in the joints, you have gout. There are three reasons you might be prone to a gout attack:

• You eat a lot of foods rich with purines, which the body turns into uric acid.
• You naturally produce a lot of uric acid.
• Your kidneys don't get rid of the uric acid like they should.

There is nothing you can do about your body's make-up, but there are several things you can do about your diet. Some foods and beverages you should avoid are:

• Anchoives
• Sardines
• Oils
• Herring
• Organ meats (liver, kidneys, and sweetbreads)
• Dried beans and peas
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Asparagus
• Califlower
• Yeast
• Alcohol (beer, wine)

Limit your drinking of alcohol and stay hydrated with water. Eat balanced meals devoid of the above mentioned items. Even if you are careful about your diet, you can still get a gout attack. If you are prone to attacks even while eating well, keep non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on hand (Advil, Tylenol, ibuprofen). After attacks that are frequent or severe you should schedule an appointment with a podiatrist.
If you are are experiencing pain from gout, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
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