List of Foods to Avoid with Gout and High Uric Acid

The first line of treatment of gout is removing the causes and correcting the diet. So, here we will discuss the foods to avoid gout.

Gout is a disease of joints that results in arthritis or inflammation in the joints. It causes severe pain, tenderness, and joint swelling. Generally, it affects the base of the toe. Some experience hotness or burning sensation in joints.

The basic principle to avoid foods in gout or high uric acid is to stop eating salty, sour, spicy and fried foodstuff in excess. These food items aggravate the gout attack. These may also become a great hindrance to prevent a reduction in uric acid in the blood.

1. Do not eat food when you don’t feel appetite. Only eat a meal when you really feel appetite and your body is demanding for the food.
2. Avoid eating animal foods including pork, beef, meat, shellfish, etc.
3. Stop eating pulses and legumes, especially Black Grams, also called Urad beans, horse gram (also known as kulthi dal), kidney beans (also called Rajma) and chickpea. You must not eat these 4 pulses to reduce symptoms of gouty arthritis.
4. You should also stop taking curd or yogurt, all types of vinegar, buttermilk, and alcohol.
5. Avoid taking any medicine that contains alcohol content or in which alcohol is used as a base.
6. Don’t eat foods which are not compatible with each other. For example, you should not eat citrus and sour fruits along with milk. In addition, also avoid eating salt or salty foodstuffs along with milk.
7. You should not eat beans along with fruits and milk products including milk, cheese, and yogurt. Avoid eating legumes along with fish, meat and eggs.

Avoid Eating Food with Gout

You should not eat the following foods if you suffer from gout or hyperuricemia (high uric acid).

1. Refined Sugars.
2. Artificial Sweeteners.
3. Refined Oils (all).
4. All meat products.
5. All types of Bread.
6. White Rice.
7. Alcohol.
8. All Soy products.
9. Canned Food products.

Avoid Fruits in Gout

There is no fruit, which you should avoid in gout. However, the following fruits should be eaten in moderation.

1. Kiwi.
2. Dried Apricot.
3. Dried Figs.
4. Rhubarb.
5. Lemons.
6. Cranberries
7. Persimmons
8. Apples (unripe)

Avoid Vegetables in Gout

Mushrooms, Cauliflower and Spinach are three vegetables, which are not suitable for patients with gout. You should take the following vegetables in moderation (within a limit):

• Peas.
• Asparagus.

Avoid Juice & Beverages in Gout

You should not consume the following beverages and juices in gout.

• Canned Juices and prepacked juice.
• Alcoholic drinks.
• Fizzy drinks.

Cereals, Grains & Pseudocereal

• Oats.
• Cereals with high sugar content.
• Yeast Bread of grains.

Legumes

• Urad Beans (Black Grams).
• Horse Gram (Kulthi Dal).
• Kidney Beans (Rajma).
• Chickpea.

Nuts & Seeds

• Chia
• Popcorn (salted and butter)
• Pumpkin
• Sesame
• Tahini

Oils & Fats

Avoid all oils and fats except cow’s ghee, coconut oil, and avocado.

Dairy Products

Avoid the following dairy products:

• Powdered milk.
• Yogurt.
• Salted butter.
• Sour cream.
• Sour buttermilk.
• Hard cheese.
• Ice cream.

Animal Foods (Meat, Seafood & Eggs)

Avoid following meat and egg products in gout.

• Anchovies
• Beef
• Cod
• Haddock
• Herring
• Lamb
• Meat-based gravies
• Mussels
• Offal
• Pork
• Roe (Fish Eggs)
• Sardines
• Scallops and Lobster
• Shellfish
• Shrimp
• Trout

Lifestyle Changes

1. Don’t sleep during the day. Sleeping during daytime is very harmful if you suffer from gout or elevated uric acid. Stop doing right away.
2. Maintain inner peace. Do meditation and stop getting irritated and angry. For handling these emotions, you should shift your attention to more positive things. Whenever you feel you are angry, say to brain stop and look at this. As you divert the attention of the naughty child to prevent injury, you should also divert your attention in a similar way. It helps to prevent aggravation of Vata and Pitta dosha in your body and stops aggravation of gouty attack.
3. Take proper sleep at night. You should sleep for at least 8 to 9 hours at night. Yes, 8-9 hours. Forget all other recommendations about sleep. Don’t wake at night. It will deteriorate your health and aggravate gout attack.

Note: Above list of foods to avoid with gout is based on ayurvedic diet principles.