Gout is a term that many arthritis patients know about. It is a very complex form of this disease that can affect both men and women. The condition occurs due to the presence of uric acid in the blood. This acid is a product of purine, a substance you can find in certain foods. As such, there is also a special diet for gout treatment.
Low Purine Diet
Also known as low purine diet, this diet for gout treatment doesn’t have a strict, predefined eating plan. Its main purpose is to lower the amount of purine you consume with your food. Seafood, variety meats, and steak have very high levels of purine. Earlier versions of the diet would completely eliminate these.
But recent research shows that a low purine diet might, in fact, be better than a no-purine diet. That’s because some foods that have high purine content help control the levels of uric acid in the blood. One of the finest examples of a low purine diet is the popular Mediterranean diet.
Mediterranean Diet for Gout Treatment
A 2012 study found many benefits of the Mediterranean diet for gout treatment. This isn’t a weight loss diet, but rather a reflection of the dietary habits of people from countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. As a rule, it’s rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains.
Studies show that beer also has high purine content, which is why gout patients need to avoid it. The Mediterranean diet replaces it with wine, but you still need to be cautious. That’s because scientists still don’t know how wine may affect gout patients.
Other Gout Diet Tips
Before you go on a diet for gout treatment, you need to know which foods will work for you and which won’t. For example, there is proof that eating cherries can lower the risk of gout attacks. But if you have high blood sugar, they may not be the best option.
You should also know that a gout diet won’t cure you of this condition. It can only help alleviate the symptoms and prevent possible gout attacks. Moreover, it is by no means a replacement for proper medication prescribed by your doctor. That’s why you should talk to them to find out if this diet is safe for you.
