One of the most important reasons to have taste is to eat a diet rich in purines. This is because purines are converted to uric acid which can build up in the joints and lead to painful attacks. One of the best ways to prevent this disease is to eat properly. The following is a list of 7 common foods that cause gout:
1. Bacon. This popular breakfast food can cause very painful problems because it is high in purines and nitrates. Not to mention, the sodium can dehydrate you, increasing your risk of a flare-up.
2. Hot dogs. Hot dogs, whether turkey, chicken, or beef, can be very detrimental to your treatment efforts. All three meats are at least moderately high in purines. Hot dogs also contain organ parts. This is where the highest levels exist.
3. Game food. Wild game such as deer, pheasant, squirrel, and grouse should also be avoided due to their high numbers. While you’d think these animals wouldn’t wreak havoc on us, especially since they’re not packed with steroids like some meat products, unfortunately, they tend to have pretty high levels. In fact, the most severe and long-lasting case of taste I’ve ever had was from eating venison every day for a few days for a change of pace, as I didn’t know it wasn’t good for my condition at the time I ate it. My attack lasted a month.
4. Poultry. As mentioned above, turkey and chicken are considered to have moderately high amounts. They are also dependent people. I know of people who can’t eat chicken at all while it’s my staple meat and I don’t recall having a seizure because I ate chicken, however I had a seizure after eating turkey. Again, eat in moderation if you’re not sure if chicken or any of these foods will trigger an attack.
5. Certain shellfish. Certain fish and shellfish are not good for you if you are sensitive to the taste. Salmon have high levels as do shrimp and crab. In fact, salmon has twice the levels of chicken. It’s a shame that salmon is bad for gout patients, as this excellent food has healthy doses of omega 3 oils that really help treat gout. I suggest you use supplements instead.
6. Alcoholic beverages Alcohol is perhaps one of the most common causes of gout. Beer tends to cause more problems than wine. Beer contains almost 8 times more purines than alcohol.
7. Peas/Lentils Vegetables are not good for you to eat if you suffer from the taste. Peas are slightly higher in purines than chicken, however black peas are considerably higher than chicken. Once again, everyone is different. Some can eat these foods without any problem and some will suffer greatly from it.
It’s important to try foods in moderation until you find out what your body can tolerate. Knowing which foods can give you a gout flare will definitely help you with your gout prevention diet.