Gout Treatment Foods

Often accompanied by swelling and redness, the arthritic pain of gout can last five to 10 days and can be intense, especially at night. Treatment may include steroids, NSAIDs and other medical intervention. But the foods you eat--and those you avoid--can play a role in keeping gout symptoms at bay.

Dietary Causes of Gout

Gout is brought on by a high levels of uric acid within the blood. Uric acid is formed as purines break down. Purines are found naturally within the body, but they are also present in many foods, such as organ meats, anchovies and mushrooms. The kidneys typically flush out uric acid, but if too much uric acid is present, or if the kidneys simply don't excrete it efficiently, a buildup can result. The acid forms sharp crystals, much like needles, that can cause pain in the joints.

Necessary Dietary Changes

To lower the uric acid content in your blood and possibly ease the symptoms of gout, certain foods should be limited, while others should be incorporated into your diet.
Foods and drinks you should reduce include red meat, seafood and alcohol. High-protein foods, such as red meats, can elevate uric acid levels. Limit your animal protein intake to 5 or 6 oz. of lean meat, poultry or fish per day. Alcohol inhibits the absorption of uric acid, so eliminate or at least reduce how much you drink each day.
Foods and drinks that may lower your level of uric acid and help alleviate your symptoms of gout include low-fat dairy, complex carbohydrates, water, coffee and dark-colored fruits. Dairy products have been found to lower the risk of gout attacks, as have complex carbs like whole-grain breads. Increased water intake helps the kidneys excrete uric acid, and coffee may help lower the uric acid level. Dark-colored fruits like cherries have been linked to easing gout symptoms, although evidence of their healing properties is inconclusive.

Diagnosing Gout

Gout symptoms are often clear, but a clinical diagnosis can rule out other forms of arthritis, as well as other conditions. An analysis of joint fluid and/or blood can measure the level of uric acid and determine whether the symptoms are caused by gout.

Other Causes of Gout

Gout can be triggered and eased by diet, but it may also be tied to other medical conditions. Among them are high blood pressure, narrow arteries, high fat and cholesterol in the blood, and diabetes. Family history also plays a role in a patient's predisposition to gout, and men have a higher risk of gout than women do.

Complications

Gout can flare up frequently--up to several times a year--or it can be an isolated case of symptoms. In advanced cases, urate crystals can form tophi, or small nodules under the skin. While tophi aren't generally painful, they can become swollen during gout attacks. In patients with gout, urate crystals can also form kidney stones after collecting in the urinary tract.