Dietary Restrictions for Gout

Gout is a very painful type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals build up in the joints. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that excess uric acid can occur when there are too many purines in the blood. Purines are substances that are byproducts of the digestion of protein, which is why gout attacks are most often related to food.

Limit Animal Protein

Animal protein meats are considered high-purine foods. The World's Healthiest Foods website, produced by the George Mateljan Foundation, says that purines are found in every cell throughout the body, and when cells die, the purines from the cells are broken down into uric acid. While uric acid is needed to protect blood vessels, an excess can form crystals, which can lodge in the kidneys, tendons and joints. When uric acid accumulates in the joints, it can cause gout. If you are suffering with gout or gout symptoms, restrict your intake of animal proteins. High-purine items include organ meats, red meat, fatty fish, veal, turkey, mutton, bacon, goose and pheasant. Other meat proteins also have purines, although to a lesser degree. If you have severe problems with gout, you should ask doctor whether you should avoid all animal protein.

Limit Sugars

Sugars, particularly fructose, have been associated with the risk of developing gout, kidney stones and increased triglyceride levels. According to the June 2009 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition," while high levels of fructose can lead to gout, the small amounts of fructose found in fresh fruits such as apples and berries is not of concern. What is of concern, according to the Mayo Clinic, are products that contain high fructose corn syrup, such as sweetened beverages, processed pastries and candy.

Limit Alcohol

The Mayo Clinic reports that alcohol can interfere with the proper elimination of uric acid from the body. Beer in particular can trigger gout attacks. According to the August 2009 issue of "Biomedical Chromatography," all types of beer, even beer with low alcohol content, contain a significant amount of purines. Researchers from the Department of Analytical Chemistry at Teikyo University in Kanagawa, Japan, led by K. Kaneko, tested levels of purines in all types of alcohol. While beer contained the most, the researchers concluded that people should avoid excess alcohol.

Limit Caffeine

People all over the world consume caffeine in energy drinks, carbonated beverages, coffee and tea and even chocolate. Caffeine belongs to the purine family, so it scientists say it might increase your risk of a gout attack. Watch out for chocolates, soda, caffeinated beverages and tea. However, while caffeine can raise purine levels, there is good news for coffee lovers. Researchers at the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada in Vancouver found that coffee consumption actually lowered the risk of gout by decreasing uric acid levels. Their study, published in the May 25, 2007, issue of "Arthritis and Rheumatism," reports that while coffee lowered uric acid levels, tea did not. That implies there are other phytochemicals in coffee that help work to lower the risk of gout.