Gout: Changing your diet
What are purines and uric acid?
Purines are chemical compounds that are broken down into uric acid. High levels of uric acid can cause gout attacks.
Most purines are made by the body, but some come from foods. Eating foods that have a lot of purines can raise uric acid levels in the body, which may make your gout worse.
Foods that are very high in purines include:
- Organ meats, such as liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, and brains.
- Meats, including bacon, beef, pork, and lamb.
- Game meats.
- Any other meats in large amounts.
- Anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, and scallops.
- Gravy.
- Legumes, such as dried beans and dried peas.
- Beer.
Test Your Knowledge
Continue to
Why might you want to follow an eating plan for gout?
Return to
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: July 24, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology | |
 | ||