Foods That Raise Uric Acid Levels
Hyperuricemia is a condition in which the levels of uric acid in the body are abnormally high. Uric acid is a waste product produced during the metabolism of purine, a substance found in certain foods. However, elevated uric-acid levels are usually not just a matter of what you eat, but are affected also by the rate at which the body produces uric acid and the efficiency with which it disposes of the substance in the urine.
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Health Significance
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Elevated uric-acid levels, in and of themselves, may cause no symptoms at all. However, hyperuricemia eventually can lead to kidney stones and even kidney failure and is considered a warning sign of heart disease, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. According to MayoClinic.com, doctors are uncertain whether high uric-acid levels have any role in causing these three conditions or are simply a sign of impending problems.
Gout
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Perhaps the most common consequence of hyperuricemia is gout, a painful form of arthritis in which uric-acid crystals accumulate in certain joints. Although almost any joint can be affected, one of gout's prime targets seems to be the joints of the toe. The telltale signs of gout, according to MedlinePlus, are joints that are red and swollen, hot to the touch, stiff and extremely painful.
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High-Purine Foods
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Although hyperuricemia is not simply a matter of diet, certain foods contribute to the problem and should be avoided if you are diagnosed with high uric acid levels. Start by eliminating high-purine foods from your diet. These include anchovies; herring; mackerel; sardines; scallops; meat extracts; game meats, such as venison; and organ meats, such as brain, kidneys, liver and so-called sweetbreads, which are defined as the edible glands of an animal. Although these foods are highest in purines, they can be found in smaller amounts in all fish, meats and poultry, so eat no more than 4 to 6 oz. a day of meat, fish or poultry.
Other Foods to Avoid
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HealthCastle.com recommends that the following vegetable and grain products also be eaten in moderation: asparagus, cauliflower, dried beans and peas, lentils, mushrooms, oatmeal, spinach, and wheat bran and wheat germ.
Alcohol
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Alcohol can exacerbate the problem of hyperuricemia because it interferes with the body's excretion of excess amounts of uric acid. If you are diagnosed with hyperuricemia or, worse yet, are suffering from a specific illness or condition related to elevated uric-acid levels, avoid alcohol altogether or keep the amount that you drink to a bare minimum.
Treatment
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If you are diagnosed with abnormally high levels of uric acid, your doctor can prescribe medications that will help your body dispose of it more efficiently. He can also prescribe drugs to address the immediate pain and inflammation of gout if that's the way you discover that you are hyperuricemic. And you can do your part by avoiding foods that aggravate the problem and eliminating or minimizing your alcohol consumption.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of thebittenword.com
