Foods You Should Avoid to Prevent Gout Attacks

Watching your diet is a crucial part in reducing your uric acid and preventing gout. Knowing which foods to avoid can sometimes be more important than knowing how to reduce uric your acid - as the old adage says, prevention is better than cure. Learning which foods to avoid with gout will help you considerably in the long run.

A high purine content in the diet will significantly increase gout sufferer's chances of having a painful gout attack. Uric acid comes from the breakdown of purines from the food that we eat. If you have gout, you should know the purine content of the food you usually eat. Knowing which foods to avoid with gout can significantly help prevent gout attacks. You should avoid foods with high purine content to prevent gout attacks. There are a lot of sources on the internet you can check to see the purine content of common foods.

Generally you should avoid eating liver, small and large intestines, spleen, heart, kidneys and other animal organ meats. Seafood you should avoid are sardines, mackerel, herring, clams and mussels. Red meats should be consumed moderately. Fatty foods and fried foods should generally be avoided.

You should also refrain from drinking alcohol, as it not only increases your uric acid but is also a diuretic, which means it dehydrates you - making it harder for your body to expel excess uric acid. You should also moderate your consumption of coffee and sodas and sweets, especially chocolate. Beverages that are caffeinated and are artificially acidified with citric acid can also aggravate your situation. Foods that you can consume in moderation should be avoided during a gout episode.

Discipline is the key to maintain a healthy purine content in your diet. You should also take the time to learn about the food you eat, and take note of foods that seem to trigger your gout. There is no set uric acid level that triggers gout attacks, each person has a different threshold so you should pay attention to how your body reacts. You should also form some healthy habits to reduce your uric acid level and prevent gout attacks.