How These Foods Can Cause a Gout Attack

A major factor in having a gout attack is ingesting large amounts of foods that have a high purine content. Your body metabolizes purines into uric acid. When this acid gets out of control it settles in your joints and causes painful gout. Not eating foods with high purine levels can help you avoid an attack.

Bacon may be a popular breakfast food, but it is a food you should avoid if you are prone to gout. Bacon is very high in purines and nitrates. Not to mention the sodium can dehydrate you which increases your risk of having a an acute attack.

It doesn’t matter what type of hot dogs you choose to eat, they all can contribute to gout. Turkey, chicken, and beef all have decent amounts of purines. Not to mention that hot dogs usually come from the organs and the organs are where the highest amounts of purines exist.

Wild game such as venison, pheasant, squirrel, and grouse should also be avoided due to their high purine content. While you would think that these animals would not cause us havoc, especially since they are not steroid filled as some meat products are, unfortunately, they tend to be very bad for those with this problem. If you eat game foods in excess, your attacks can be quite severe and disabling.

Turkey and chicken contain moderate amounts of purines. These two are usually different for each person. There are people who can handle chicken, but not turkey. Then chicken can cause terrible attacks for other people. If you are unsure, test in small amounts.

Certain fish and shellfish are not good at all for you if you are susceptible to gout. Salmon has high levels as does shrimp and crab. In fact, salmon has twice the levels as chicken. It is a shame salmon is bad for gout patients, as this otherwise excellent food has healthy doses of omega 3 oils that actually help in treating gout. I suggest you use supplements instead.

Alcohol when ingested in excessive amounts is infamous for causing an acute gout attack. If you are susceptible to this problem you should avoid drinking alcohol or at the most keep it to small amounts. Beer, for instance, has a lot more purines than alcohol.

Legumes can cause you grief. You should consider eating legumes in small to moderate amounts if you enjoy eating them. Each person can tolerate different amounts and some people can tolerate legumes without any complications.