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Brilio.net - Gout sufferers must be very careful in choosing food, because some types of food can worsen health and increase the risk of complications from other diseases. One substance in food that needs to be taken seriously is purine. Purines are compounds that when broken down by the body become uric acid.
Foods that are high in purines, such as red meat, seafood, offal, and alcoholic and caffeinated drinks can cause a buildup of uric acid in the blood. This buildup not only triggers painful gout attacks, but also causes a variety of serious health problems, such as kidney stones, hypertension, and coronary heart disease.
Food restrictions for gout sufferers are also related to the risk of increasing complications from other diseases, such as saturated fat, high salt and sugar content, and so on. Avoiding these foods can prevent more serious symptoms, and help gout sufferers avoid other health problems.
No need to wait any longer, here are 10 dietary restrictions for gout sufferers, reported by brilio.net from various sources, Thursday (23/5).
1. Red meat.
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Red meat, such as beef and lamb, is high in purines. Gout sufferers have problems removing uric acid efficiently from the body. When uric acid accumulates in the blood, it can cause uric acid crystals to stick to the joints, causing the inflammation and pain characteristic of the condition. Apart from being high in purines, red meat is also rich in animal protein.
Excessive consumption of animal protein can increase uric acid production in the body. You should also note that several types of red meat, especially high-fat ones, also contain saturated fat. Too much saturated fat can affect purine metabolism in the body, increasing complications with hypertension and coronary heart disease.
2. Seafood (seafood).
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Seafood such as shellfish, shrimp, sardines and anchovies are taboo for gout sufferers because of their high purine content. Seafood generally contains high purines, ranging from 150-1000 mg per 100 grams. For example, sardines contain 1000 mg, shellfish contain 300 mg, and shrimp contain 175 mg.
Eating seafood with high purine content can increase uric acid levels in the blood significantly. Apart from increasing uric acid production, seafood can also inhibit the excretion of uric acid from the body. The reason is, seafood contains a purine compound called hypoxanthine, which can be converted into uric acid in the body and interfere with the excretion process through the kidneys.
It should also be noted that consuming seafood high in purine can increase the risk and worsen the symptoms of acute gout attacks in gout sufferers. This symptom is characterized by pain, swelling, redness and heat in the joints. Apart from uric acid, consuming seafood that is high in purine can also increase the risk of kidney stone formation.
3. Offal.
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Offal such as liver, kidneys and tripe are taboo for gout sufferers because of their very high purine content. The main reason why offal is taboo for gout sufferers is because offal has a much higher purine content compared to other sources of protein.
Some of these offal contain high purine levels per 100 gram serving. For example, beef liver contains 174 mg, beef kidney contains 118 mg, and beef tripe contains 100 mg. Another reason is that offal also contains compounds that can slow down purine metabolism in the body.
This means that purines from offal will be converted into uric acid more slowly, so that uric acid will accumulate in the blood longer and increase the risk of symptoms. Excessive consumption of offal can also trigger complications from other diseases, such as kidney stones and hypertension.
4. Alcoholic drinks.
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Consuming alcoholic drinks can increase uric acid production in the body. Alcohol interferes with the kidneys' ability to remove uric acid from the body, causing a buildup of uric acid in the blood. Gout sufferers already have difficulty excreting uric acid efficiently, so alcohol consumption can worsen the condition.
Alcohol can also inhibit the excretion of uric acid from the body, because it can interfere with kidney function, which is the main organ responsible for removing uric acid from the body. The combination of increased uric acid production and inhibited excretion can cause uric acid levels in the blood to increase rapidly. As a result, it can trigger an acute gout attack which is characterized by pain, swelling, redness and heat in the joints.
5. Foods high in sugar.
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Foods high in sugar, such as soda, syrup, packaged fruit juice, candy and cakes, are taboo for gout sufferers. The reason is, foods high in sugar cause gout because the fructose content can be converted into uric acid in the body. This fructose metabolism process is processed in the liver which produces uric acid as a byproduct.
By consuming foods high in sugar excessively, it can increase fructose levels in the blood. As a result, it increases uric acid production and has the potential to trigger acute gout attacks. In addition, excessive sugar consumption can increase insulin resistance, which is a condition where the body cannot use insulin effectively to regulate blood sugar levels. Foods high in sugar also have the potential to trigger diabetes.
6. Durian.
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Durian, although famous for its delicious taste and distinctive aroma, is unfortunately a taboo for gout sufferers. The reason is, durian contains quite high amounts of purine, namely around 15 mg per 100 grams. Eating foods high in purines, such as durian, can increase uric acid levels in the blood, triggering severe symptoms.
Durian also contains compounds that can slow down purine metabolism in the body. As a result, uric acid will accumulate in the blood longer and increase the risk. Apart from that, consuming excessive amounts of durian can also trigger the risk of other diseases such as hypertension and heart problems.
7. Spinach.
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Spinach is often considered taboo for gout sufferers for several reasons, one of which is because spinach contains quite high levels of purine. Spinach contains around 57 mg purine per 100 grams, which is high compared to other protein sources. Consuming large amounts of spinach or other dark green leafy vegetables can cause a buildup of purines which can increase uric acid levels in the blood.
Apart from purines, spinach also contains high levels of oxalic acid. Oxalic acid can bind calcium in the body and form crystals. Gout sufferers who also have problems with the formation of crystals in the joints may experience an increased risk if they consume large amounts of spinach.
8. Caffeinated drinks.
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Caffeine in coffee can increase uric acid production in the body. Caffeine can stimulate the activity of the enzyme responsible for converting purines into uric acid. Gout sufferers already have problems removing uric acid from their bodies, so caffeine consumption can worsen health and increase the risk of uric acid buildup.
In addition, caffeine is a diuretic which can cause dehydration by increasing urine production. Dehydration can increase the concentration of uric acid in the blood because there is less urine to dissolve uric acid, thereby triggering an increased risk of gout attacks.
9. Asparagus.
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Asparagus is a food that is high in purine. In 100 grams of asparagus, there are around 24 mg of purine. This amount is relatively high compared to other protein sources. Therefore, excessive consumption of asparagus can increase uric acid levels in the blood, triggering acute gout attacks, as well as making gout symptoms worse.
Apart from purines, asparagus also contains oxalic acid. Oxalic acid can bind calcium in the body and form crystals. The increased risk of crystal formation in the joints also makes gout worse when it recurs.
10. Processed foods.
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Processed foods often contain high levels of salt for the purposes of preservation, flavor enhancement, or product consistency. Excessive salt consumption can cause water retention in the body which in turn can increase blood pressure and worsen the condition of gout sufferers. In addition, processed foods, such as fast food, snacks and canned foods are often high in trans fats and saturated fats.
Trans fats and saturated fats can increase blood cholesterol levels and worsen heart and blood vessel health conditions. These conditions can contribute to inflammation and an increased risk of gout attacks.
(Mgg/Zidan Fajri)
(brl/mal)
