It is important to know that we need purine in the body. Purines are what help to make up the chemical structure of our genes. When purines are broken down in the body, they form a substance called uric acid, which is an antioxidant that helps prevent blood vessel damage.
To avoid complications of gout, below are list of gout causing foods that are high in purines. Eating these foods in moderation will help to prevent the onset of gout, as well as prevent recurring gout attacks.
Foods with high concentration of purines include (up to 1,000 mg per 3.5 ounce portions)
- Anchovies
- Sardines
- Brain meat
- Liver and kidneys
- Beans and Legumes
- Sweetbreads
Foods with moderately high to high purine levels (5-100 mg per 3.5 ounce serving)
- Asparagus
- Bacon
- Beef
- Bluefish
- Bouillon
- Calf tongue
- Carp
- Cauliflower
- Chicken
- Codfish
- Crab
- Duck
- Goose
- Halibut
- Ham
- Lamb
- Lobster
- Mushrooms
- Mutton
- Oatmeal
- Oysters
- Perch
- Pork
- Rabbit
- Salmon
- Sheep
- Shellfish
- Snapper
- Spinach
- Tripe
- Trout
- Tuna
- Turkey
- Veal
- Venison
It is not that these foods are unhealthy. As a matter of fact most all of these foods are. The problem lies in the fact that they are high in purines, which can be detrimental to those who are afflicted with gout. These foods may be eaten, they just need to be eaten in moderation.
Our bodies naturally have purines already, and it is the over production of the uric acid, which is the product of purines when they are broken down or metabolized. Uric acid is then excreted by the kidneys, which lowers the uric acid levels in the blood.
If your physician has put you on a low purine diet, follow your doctor's recommendations and eat healthy.
by Barb Hicks, RN
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