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Diet for Uric Acid Patient

I am a uric acid patient i.e my uric acid level keeps fluctuating. i wanted to know what kind of food should i eat to keep it at a normal level all the time.
(March 7, 2012)

Does coffee lower uric acid levels in the blood?


When you suffer from gout or hyperuricemia (high levels of uric acid) it’s very likely that you’ve been told to be cautious with your diet. Choosing between foods, that would have once taken you a moment, now seems to take an eternity, as you agonize over the risks and benefits of each ingredient. Skip the pork chops and beef rolls and choose low uric acid foods like tossed salads with cabbage, parsley and green leafy vegetables. Gulp down large glasses of orange and sweet lime juice or a fresh banana milkshake. Sauté soy chunks…they serve as a good substitute for meat.


Following a uric acid reduction diet will help you make your way to a healthier, more energetic life!

With conflicting information from various sources - some saying that coffee’s good for hyperuricemia and others saying it’s bad; you’re at the end of your tether and are probably ready to toss out your diet plans. Before you give up or decide to make any drastic changes to your diet, it may be a good idea to make sure if the food or ingredient in question, like coffee, is actually bad for you.

So here it is! There is no conclusive research or study to prove coffee’s beneficial effect on uric acid levels. However, the June 2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research published an article about a large scale study examining the relationship between levels of uric acid and the amount of coffee consumed. The study concluded that high consumption of coffee did result in lowered levels of uric acid, but this change was not brought about by caffeine. Something other than caffeine was found to have caused it. Another study conducted by the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada based on the U.S. Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, reported similar results. While the increased consumption of coffee may lower uric acid levels, it could aggravate or even cause other unrelated health problems. This is why coffee does not appear on most lists of uric acid foods.

Does green tea help lower uric acid levels in the blood?


Green tea is often recommended for a wide variety of ailments including weight loss, better bowel function, prevention of heart diseases, and even as protection from certain cancers. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have concluded that green tea can even increase bone mineral density. In addition to all these health benefits, there is also a definite link between green tea and uric acid levels. Consume green tea on a regular basis to control hyperuricemia (high uric acid levels) and lower your risk of developing gout. A diet chart for uric acid patients is a must as it helps the individual choose recipes and meals that will not cause a flare-up. 
 
There are certain enzymes in our body that support the creation of uric acid in the blood and this causes an increase in blood uric acid levels. So how can green tea reduce uric acid levels? Green tea contains a group of natural chemicals called catechins that have antioxidant properties. When you have a glass of fresh Green tea, the catechins in your tea slow down the effects of just those enzymes and so the production of uric acid is reduced. If you suffer from hyperuricemia, make sure you sip on green tea and stay hydrated throughout the day as dehydration can cause an increase in the concentration of uric acid in the blood.

It is possible to control hyperuricemia through the consumption of green tea. While it may be easy to find a readymade diet chart for uric acid patients, it would be best to consult your doctor before you make any changes to your daily diet. Do not ignore high uric acid levels in the blood as this can lead to severe kidney problems, high blood pressure, heart diseases, and gout. Go slow on red meats and protein rich foods, and instead feast on green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits. Adding papaya cubes to a glass of cool green tea could increase the benefits of your health drink… and make it yummier!

Which fruits and vegetables lower uric acid?


Now that you’ve learnt about your hyperuricemia you’ve become fastidious about the food you consume. No shepherd’s pie over the weekends, and no steaks to gorge on at the dinner table with your pals. Red meats feature high on the list of foods to avoid for uric acid. The breakdown of purines in the body impacts the level of uric acid in the blood, and the resultant hyperuricemia causes kidney problems and gout. If you are overweight, try your best to shed the excess pounds and get in shape. This will enable the kidneys to eliminate uric acid and also reduce the production of uric acid in the body.

Some of the foods high in uric acid which you need to avoid include:

  • Fish like anchovies, mackerel, shellfish, sardines, herring
  • Meats like beef, mutton, pork
  • Avoid eating products including brewer’s yeast and baker’s yeast
  • Avoid alcohol; it restricts the elimination of uric acid from the body
  • Skip vegetables like spinach and asparagus that have high purine levels

Once you know what foods and vegetables are high in uric acid, you will need to find low uric acid foods that you should include as part of your uric acid diet plan.

  • Cherries, strawberries, and blueberries have anti-inflammatory properties so include them in your uric acid diet.
  • Raspberries, corn and bran are high fiber foods that can help improve bowel movement, and promote the elimination of uric acid through stools.
  • Lemonade with no sugar mixed in, is beneficial for those suffering from hyperuricemia. Lemons contain vitamin C, which disintegrates uric acid and forces it out of the body through urine.
  • Low fat dairy products promote kidney health.
  • Tomatoes, broccoli, and cucumbers are some of the veggies that you need to start including in your meals.

Are tomatoes, beans and peanuts high in uric acid?


When your doctor first informed you that you have increased uric acid levels, you probably realized the need for changes to your dietary habits. As you begin to ponder over the foods you can and cannot eat, despair begins to set in as you realize that you may just have to give up on a lot of those foods that you love to eat. You start to go through a quick checklist “is there uric acid in tomatoes, bean sprouts, peanuts…?” Well, let’s see if all these foods are bad for uric acid problems!

  • Tomatoes: Tomatoes are one of the best vegetables that you could have for lowering uric acid. Tomato by nature is alkaline and when it is exposed to the blood stream it increases the alkalinity of the blood. Eat fresh tomatoes and not processed ones and avoid over eating.
  • Beans sprouts: Consuming bean sprouts when you are suffering with high uric acid levels is a bad idea! Beans are rich in proteins which increase the purine levels, leading to high uric acid levels.
  • Peanuts: Peanuts have a low purine content and so you can consume peanuts in moderation.

It is also necessary to keep a check on the amount of food that you consume rather than just the food types.

References:

  1. http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Gout?open
  2. http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/uric-acid/tab/test
Submitted by N on March 7, 2012 at 12:21

 

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