Introduction:

Gout is a type of arthritis that develops when the blood contains too much uric acid, causing crystals to form and build in and around the joints.

When the body breaks down a molecule called purine, uric acid is formed. Purine is found in your body naturally, but it can also be found in some foods. Urinary uric acid is excreted from the body.

Gout was formerly recognized as the ailment of the affluent in the Middle Ages. Gout is caused by an abnormally high quantity of uric acid in the blood.

What is gout?

It is an arthritic condition caused by an accumulation of uric acid in the blood. 

When uric acid levels rise, it can lead to the formation of uric acid crystals, which lodge in joints and cause irritation, inflammation, and edema. 

There are various reasons why uric acid levels in the blood may be high. It might be due to the kidneys’ decreased capacity to remove uric acid. It might be due to an excess of purine-like chemicals. It might be a mix of the two.

Diet in gout

While drugs are vital in treating and managing gout, dietary variables can also play a role. A gout diet may aid in lowering blood uric acid levels but it isn’t a treatment for the disease. However, it can reduce the incidence of recurrent gout episodes and decrease the course of joint damage.

The goal of a gout diet is to assist you:

• Develop healthy eating habits and a healthy weight.
• Purine-containing foods should be avoided in some cases, but not all.
• Include meals that can help you regulate your uric acid levels.
• Eating reasonable quantities of healthful meals is a good rule of thumb.

The main guidelines of a gout diet are similar to those of a healthy diet:

• Loss of weight: Gout is more likely to develop if you are overweight, while gout is less likely to lose weight. Even without a purine-restricted diet, research shows that cutting calories and lowering weight can lower uric acid levels and lessen the incidence of gout attacks. Losing weight also reduces total joint stress.
• Complex carbohydrates: Increase your intake of complex carbs by eating more fruits, veggies, and whole grains. 
• Water: Stay hydrated
• Fats: Decrease the number of saturated fats in your diet by avoiding red meat, fatty fowl, and high-fat dairy products.
• Proteins: Protein foods should include lean meat and poultry, low-fat dairy, and lentils.

Specific meals or supplements that are recommended include:

• Meats from the organs and glands: Avoid meats with high purine contents, such as liver, kidney, and sweetbreads, which lead to elevated uric acid levels in the blood.
• Meat red in color: Beef, lamb, and pork serving portions should be kept to a minimum.
• Seafood: Purines are found in more significant concentrations in several types of seafood, such as anchovies, shellfish, sardines, and tuna. However, for persons with gout, the overall health advantages of consuming fish may exceed the dangers. A gout diet can include moderate amounts of fish.
• Alcohol: Beer and distilled spirits have been linked to a higher incidence of gout and recurrent bouts. Wine intake in moderation does not appear to raise the risk of gout episodes. During gout episodes, stay away from alcohol and drink in moderation, especially beer.
• Vegetables with a high purine content: Purine-rich plants like asparagus and spinach, according to research, do not raise the risk of gout or recurrent gout episodes.
• Foods and drinks that are high in sugar: Sugar-sweetened foods should be limited or avoided, such as sweetened cereals, baked goods, and sweets. 
• Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin C may aid in the reduction of uric acid levels.
• Coffee: According to several studies, consuming coffee in moderation, commonplace caffeinated coffee, may lower the incidence of gout. 
• Cherries: There is some evidence that cherry consumption is linked to a lower incidence of gout episodes.

Tips for increased uric acid levels:

• Keep an eye on your weight. Slowly decrease weight if possible.
• Every day, consume fresh fruit, vegetables, whole wheat products, and some purine-rich legumes.
• Low-fat milk and dairy products should be consumed regularly.
• Keep an eye on the amount of purine in your meals. 
• Offal shellfish, crustaceans, and canned fish like sardines in oil should be avoided.
• A daily limit of 100g of meat, sausages, fish, and poultry is recommended.
• Only drink alcohol on rare occasions since it interferes with uric acid removal.
• Consume low-fat foods. 
• The eating of high-fat meals aids weight growth.
• At least two liters of low-calorie fluids should be consumed each day. 
• Water, tea, and fruit juice are all recommended fluids.

Conclusion:

A gout diet can help reduce uric acid production while also increasing elimination. A gout diet is unlikely to reduce uric acid levels in your blood sufficiently to treat gout without medication. However, it may aid in reducing the number of attacks and limiting the severity of those that do occur.

A gout diet, along with calorie restriction and moderate exercise, can help you attain and maintain a healthy weight, improving your overall health. Preventing gout attacks can be as simple as lowering uric acid levels in the blood. 

It may be accomplished by:

• Getting to a healthy weight.
• Keeping alcohol to a minimum.
• Purine-rich foods should be avoided or reduced.
• Drinking a lot of water.
• Add foods that can help control uric acid levels
• Limiting fructose-sweetened foods.
• Consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables.
• Consuming low-fat dairy products.