Foods That Cause Gout

Gout usually affects men over the age of 40, but many post-menopausal women are also afflicted.

Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid as a result of excess purines in the diet. Purines are mainly found in meat and certain seafoods.

The good news is that gout can be prevented and relieved naturally without resorting to controversial and harmful NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and other pain relievers.

The key is to take the first incidence of gout pain as a wakeup call and make the necessary changes in your diet and lifestyle.

Begin by cutting way back on seafood and fatty meat in your diet. The latest research shows that people who eat the most meat and seafood had a 50% greater risk of getting gout. In fact, gout risk is increased by 21% with each serving of beef, lamb or pork.

However, not all purine foods cause gout flare-ups. For example, chicken, grains, fruits and vegetables were found to be free of risk. Even vegetables such as asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, peas and beans, which are relatively high in purines, produce no risk of gout.

Alcohol, on the other hand, was found to be a major cause of gout. Alcohol, particularly beer, is a double edged sword for gout sufferers. It both raises uric acid levels and interferes with uric acid removal.

The researchers from Harvard recommend a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy and lots of water to flush out uric acid. They also recommended supplementing with omega 3 fish oil, which is a very effective natural anti-inflammatory agent, for both gout prevention and pain relief.