Pt Health Life – Uric acid is a product from purine metabolism in the body. For most people, uric acid is beneficial because it acts as an antioxidant and maintains blood vessel health.
But when the kidneys weaken, excess uric acid can exist in the body and circulate in the blood, increasing uric acid levels in the blood causing a form of arthritis called gout. To control uric acid, below is a list of recommended dietary changes to be made.
1. Foods that need to be supplemented
Increase potassium in the diet: Potassium contains citrate which has the ability to neutralize uric acid and hinder urate crystal formation. Urate crystals that collect around joints can cause severe joint pain. Bananas are known to be one of the best sources of potassium. Avocados, oranges and watermelon all contain potassium and nutrients that are beneficial to the body. Also add more vegetables to your diet such as beans, squash, carrots, potatoes and artichokes.
Need to drink more water: Water is essential to keep the kidneys working well. Water helps clean the digestive system faster and reduces the amount of uric acid produced. Water also helps detoxify the body. To avoid excess uric acid, drink 10 to 12 glasses of filtered water every day. If you don’t like drinking too much water, you can replace it with a few glasses of fruit juice including cucumber, watermelon, orange, strawberry, mango, kiwi, orange juice, and lemon.
Add foods rich in quercetin: The antioxidant quercetin helps reduce inflammation caused by high uric acid levels. People who experience stomach pain or other symptoms due to high acid levels may consider increasing foods containing quercetin. Quercetin is easily absorbed into the body and can be found in a number of everyday foods including apples, green and black tea, onions, garlic, cabbage, broccoli and dark green leafy vegetables. Additionally, you may choose to take a quercetin supplement with the recommended dose being 250mg, up to four times per day.
2. What foods should be avoided?
Foods rich in purine: High levels of purine in the body increase uric acid production. If your uric acid levels are increased, you need to avoid foods rich in purine. Mainly includes red meats such as beef, veal and all kinds of animal organs. Some vegetables are also high in purines such as mushrooms, peas, asparagus, cauliflower and spinach. Finally, avoid seafood such as scallops, sardines, salmon, fish eggs, mackerel and anchovies.
Alcohol: Drinking alcohol will contribute to dehydration, making it difficult for the body to excrete uric acid. Alcoholic beverages are also a source of purine, which causes the body to produce more uric acid and contributes to acute gout attacks.
Artificial fructose drinks: Pre-packaged fruit juices, soft drinks and many other flavored drinks use artificial fructose sweeteners. The body’s increased breakdown and reduced levels of artificial fructose can lead to overproduction of uric acid.
Consuming a lot of salt: Too much sodium from salt is never good for the body, increasing blood pressure and uric acid levels. Increase your intake of low-sodium foods and avoid adding sodium in the form of table salt to your meals.
Fried foods: Oxidized frying oil is not good for the digestive system and there are many trans fats in your fried foods. Try to eat fresh food at home instead of buying pre-made items that are often fried.
Refined carbohydrates: To control uric acid, you need to reduce refined starchy foods. The body converts carbohydrates into sugar to provide energy. Some refined carbohydrates can contribute to increased uric acid, which can lead to insulin resistance and result in hyperglycemia and obesity.
Besides nutrition, a number of medications will be prescribed by your doctor to prevent the production and elimination of uric acid. However, side effects for all uric acid-lowering medications can include risk of kidney stones, stomach pain, rash, and nausea.
