Are you familiar with this musculoskeletal disease? Have you ever been diagnosed, but not sure what caused it and how you can prevent it?
3.4 million men are affected by this disease and women who have been through menopause and late in years can be affected but is rare. Gout is a disease that is inherited and perpetuated by environmental factors. The main cause is having too much uric acid in your blood – hyperuricemia. The body does not metabolize this natural product of the breakdown of food. Tophi are nodules under the skin surrounding the joints and are made of urate crystals. This causes arthritic pain, swelling and redness in these small joints.
Health risk factors include:
Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, insulin resistance, and renal insufficiency
Medication risk factors:
Diuretics, low dose aspirin, niacin, chemotherapy drugs, didanoside, cyclosporine, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide
Diet can contribute to this greatly:
Consuming high amounts of alcohol, high intake of meats and seafood and purine containing foods can contribute to “flares” of symptoms.
Please let us know if you have questions or need direction. It is best to see your Primary care physician (PCP) if you suspect you have gout. Also, if you have been diagnosed, please ask your doctor about Allopurinol for prevention and Colchicine during flares to help with symptoms. For patients going through the process, we are now recommending Allopurinol during the pre and post op diets. ***refrain from steroids if you are in the first 3 months post-surgery.
If you are a post bariatric patient, you may ask “What do I do since I need to reach by protein goal every day?”
| Food Group | Foods Low in Purines | Foods Moderate in Purines |
| Beverages | Water, tea, coffee, cocoa | |
| Breads and Cereals | Bread, pasta, rice, cake, cornbread, popcorn | Oatmeal (do not eat more than 2/3 cup uncooked, daily) Wheat bran, wheat germ (do not eat more than 1/4 cup dry, daily) |
| Condiments | Salt, herbs, olives, pickles, relishes, vinegar | |
| Dairy | All dairy foods (low-fat or fat-free types are best) | |
| Fats and Oils | All types, except gravies and sauces made with meat | |
| Fruits | All | |
| Proteins | Eggs, nuts, peanut butter | Meat and Poultry Crab, lobster, oysters and shrimp (limit to 1-2 servings* daily) Dried beans, peas, and lentils (limit to 1 cup cooked daily) |
| Soups | Soups made without meat | Meat- or fish-based soups, broths, or bouillons |
| Vegetables | All vegetables, except those that are moderate in purines | Asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, mushrooms, green peas (do not eat more than 1/2 cup of these vegetables daily) |
| Other Foods | Sugars, sweets, gelatin |
*1 serving = 2-3 ounces (depending on where you are on your weight loss journey. Ask one of the dietitians if you are unsure.) – ****************This information is taken directly from Nutrition Care Manual – Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
