A fantastic gout diet avoids foods that are high in purines and high in proteins. These types of foods have been shown to increase a person’s risk of gout or precipitate another attack and should be excluded from any gout diet. This is a good rule of thumb to follow.
There is a study that studied groups on different diets. It found that those eating the most amount of meat and those with the most seafood were the most susceptible to developing symptoms of gout. The group that stuck to vegetables such as beans, peas, mushrooms, cauliflower, and spinach showed no increased risk. Based on these results, a good gout diet is rich in a variety of vegetables and low in most kinds of meats. Throwing in a serving or two of any kind of dairy product actually lowered a person’s risk of developing gout. Therefore, a gout diet looks very similar to the diets recommended for cardiovascular patients.
Some of the myths of a gout diet can also be dispelled. First, it is true that obesity can be linked to the development of gout. However, rapid weight loss schemes can result in increased uric acid formation resulting in gout. Weight loss should be gradual and monitored by a physician.
Coffee and tea do not necessarily raise uric acid levels so they can be part of an effective gout diet. Alcohol must be eliminated from a gout diet as it can raise uric acid levels and precipitate gout. As with all healthy diets, it is important to flush your system with as much water as you can take.
Gout diets are easy to follow. Everything in moderation is a good rule of thumb though it is important to choose vegetables over meat when you go for seconds. A gout diet is low in meats and alcohol and high in vegetables.