diet in gout

Gout is a painful, rheumatic disease. Diet plays a major role in this. That said, if you have gout, there's a lot you can do with the right diet to improve symptoms and improve your health.

This is because the cause of gout is mostly a disturbance of the uric acid metabolism. This leads to an excess of uric acid, which is deposited in the joints. Since uric acid is formed from purines, the impact of diet on gout becomes clear. Our body does not produce the largest proportion of purines itself, but we absorb them from the diet.

If purines, which are in the food, do not even get into the body, but are broken down beforehand, the uric acid level drops. Therefore, a low-purine diet is best for gout. 

Gout: a painful rheumatic disease

Gout occurs when there is too high a concentration of uric acid in the blood. As a result, sharp and pointy uric acid crystals form, which can damage the joints and cause inflammation. There is a hereditary predisposition to gout, but there is also a great deal that individuals can do themselves to minimize the risk of developing the disease or the severity of gout.

In recent years, the importance of diet in gout has become increasingly evident and experts and professional societies are therefore clearly in favor of putting more focus on nutrition. It plays a crucial role in the well-being of gout patients.

Transparent ready meals - nutrition with the Löwenanteil

As a matter of principle, we are transparent when it comes to our ready meals. We are sports fans ourselves and like to ensure a balanced diet, which we want to make more accessible. We know that there is not always time to cook for yourself. That's why we have developed ready meals, together with a top organic chef, that are designed to support a healthy diet. The dishes taste as if they were homemade and can be combined wonderfully with rice as a side dish. Feel free to take a look around in our range. We also have delicious vegan dishes!

prevention of gout

Even if there is no predisposition, there is a great deal that can be done to prevent it.  

overweight

Obesity is an important factor that promotes gout. You should therefore make sure that you maintain or get your ideal weight.

change in diet

It is advisable to optimize the diet as a gout patient. You will find out how in the next section.  

play sports and exercise

As with many other diseases, sport is an important factor in prevention. It doesn't have to be a competitive sport. Regular exercise is enough to prevent gout and at the same time do something for the weight.

No alcohol

Avoiding alcohol is also recommended because alcohol consumption contributes to gout.

Which foods are less suitable for gout?

Foods that contain excess uric acid should be avoided. In general, gout patients are recommended to eat meat or sausage a maximum of 2 or 3 times a week – or even better, to avoid it altogether. Foods such as fish and seafood also contain a lot of uric acid.

But even plant-based foods must not be consumed without hesitation. People who suffer from gout should not eat artichokes, broccoli, spinach, red cabbage and corn too often.

Too much fructose can also cause problems. Fruit juices, sweet fruit and of course all finished products that contain sugar are recommended in moderation rather than in bulk: fruit yoghurt, dressings, sauces, etc.

In general, sugar is not a good idea - regardless of whether it is fructose or household sugar. Unfortunately, sweets are not ideal and should only be consumed once in a while.

On the other hand, offal, skin of pork and poultry, sprats, anchovies and sardines are not allowed at all.

Which foods are low in uric acid?

Milk, yoghurt and cheese provide little uric acid and can be consumed without any problems. Plenty of vegetables, potatoes, salads and grain products are also recommended. Eggs are also allowed from time to time.  

What lowers uric acid levels?

There are also foods that do not increase uric acid levels, but on the contrary lower them.

For example, tart cherries are known to have a positive effect on gout and can even be eaten as a first aid food during a gout attack.

Another option is yoghurt with lots of cucumber and garlic - actually tsatsiki.  

Drink a lot!

Anyone suffering from gout should drink as much as possible. Because uric acid is excreted with the urine, a function that is disturbed in gout patients anyway. Therefore, fluid is important to support this process. Amounts of mostly 2 liters per day are recommended, ideally unsweetened teas or juice spritzers.

  

FAQ

Which foods contain purines?

Meat, sausage, anchovies, artichokes and offal are particularly high in purines.  

At what level of uric acid does one speak of gout?

If the uric acid content in the blood is more than 6.5 mg/dl, hyperuricemia is present, i.e. too much uric acid in the blood.

Do more men or more women get gout?

Gout affects significantly more men than women in Germany.

What diet triggers gout?

Gout is triggered by an unbalanced diet with lots of meat, sausage and excessive alcohol consumption. Obesity is also a risk factor for the occurrence of the disease.

What are purines?

These are substances in food that occur in every cell and are important for genetic material and the construction of new cells.

What is the upper limit of daily purine intake?

The upper limit is 500 milligrams. During a gout attack, the amount should be reduced to 200 milligrams.