What is gout?

Gout is caused by having too much of the chemical, uric acid, in your bloodstream. Uric acid is the waste product created when the body breaks down purines (a type of protein found in many foods and all of your cells).

Increased levels of uric acid in your blood may occur if, for example, your kidneys cannot efficiently remove it, you have a rare genetic abnormality, or because your diet and lifestyle increase the amount of uric acid that you produce.

If levels of uric acid are high for prolonged periods, needle-like crystals can start to form in your tissues, resulting in swollen, painful joints. If you already suffer from gout, eating a diet that is rich in purines can result in a five-fold increase in gout attacks.
Are other illnesses associated with the development of gout? Elevated uric acid is seen in many other conditions, and people who have gout may also have raised cholesterol, raised triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood), high blood pressure and poor glucose tolerance.

Can losing weight help my gout?

Losing weight alone can reduce blood uric acid levels, and the number of acute attacks suffered. Weight-loss will also help to reduce the stress on weight–bearing joints e.g. hips, knees, ankles and feet.

Which foods should be avoided?

Eating a balanced diet is important for everyone. A healthy diet helps to control weight and provides all the necessary nutrients needed for maintaining good health.
It is advisable to reduce the amounts of foods that you eat that are high purines. Avod high purine foods including: liver and kidneys, sardines, crab, shrimps and other shellfish, meat and yeast extract.
Moderate purine foods (eat in moderation) •Meat - beef, pork •Poultry - chicken and turkey •Dried peas, beans and legumes - baked beans, kidney beans, soya beans and peas etc. •Mushrooms •Wholegrains - bran, oatbran, wholemeal bread
Low purine foods •Dairy - milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter •Eggs •Bread and cereals - (except wholegrain) •Pasta and noodles •Fruit and vegetables

Beware sweetened foods and beverages Foods and drinks sweetened with fructose (often seen labelled as glucose-fructose syrup or corn syrup), as well as sweetened soft drinks, increase the risk of developing gout, as well as the number gout attacks. Sweetened soft drinks, and many commercial fruit juices (especially those from concentrate), are a poor substitute for fruit, as they do not contain any fibre and are ‘empty calories’.

Can I drink alcohol?

Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of developing gout and can bring on a sudden attack if you are already a gout sufferer. Alcohol can raise the level of uric acid in the blood in a number of ways and so trigger a gout attack.

Should I drink lots of water?

Yes, drinking fluids reduces the likelihood of crystals forming in the kidneys. As a general rule, drinking 1.5 liters of fluid is recommended. All drinks, except alcohol, count towards your fluid intake, including caffeine-containing drinks such as tea and coffee. Caffeine can act as a mild diuretic, which means it causes you to pass urine more often. Caffeine itself may have no direct influence on the risk of developing gout, as research has shown that coffee intake, but not tea, may in some people be associated with slightly lower blood levels of uric acid than those drinking the same volumes of tea.

To be continued...

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