Gout is due to deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints mainly in small joints of hands and feet. Commonest site is the joints of big toe. Due to deposition of uric acid crystals joints become inflamed, swollen and painful. Aim of treatment of gout is to reduce uric acid level in blood to within normal limit. For these along with drugs patients should understand the disease itself.
Uric acid is formed from breakdown of nucleus of a cell (Purine). So a patient of gout should know what type of food contain high purine content and which type contain low purine (consume them liberally).
High-purine food (to be avoided in gout)
- All types of meat and meat products, including organ meat like liver, sea food, meat extracts and gravies.
- Peas, lentils, beans, spinach, cauliflower, mushrooms, asparagus, oatmeal.
- Beer and other alcoholic beverages, yeast and yeast extracts.
Low-purine foods (to be consumed in gout)
- Milk, milk products, and dairy products and eggs.
- Cereals and cereal products like cornflakes, flour, whit bread, arrowroot, cakes, tapioca, pasta etc.
- Sugar, sweets, carbonated drinks, fruit juice, cordials, gelatin.
- Butter, margarine and any other fats.
- Fruits and nuts.
- Tomatoes, lettuce and green vegetables (except those listed above in high-pruine foods).
- Soup, cream made up without meat or meat products and without vegetables listed in high purine foods.
The purine content of the food is its turn over of nucleoprotein content. Food containing large number of nuclei like liver and fast growing vegetables like asparagus contains large purine content. It should be kept in mind that consumption of large amount of food containing less purine may supply more purine than small amount of food that contain large quantity of purine. So, patients of gout should under stand this practical problem.
Beer consumption has higher risk in gout than consumption of whisky or wine. Liberal amount of fluid should be taken daily so that urine out put is at least 2 liters per day .This can be achieved by consuming at least 2 litters of water per day. Sweat, perspiration requirements will be met by the water content of food. If you are in tropical area you will require more amount of water. More than 2 liters of urine output is required to excrete uric acid and to minimize uric acid precipitation in urinary tract.
