Diet for gout is an integral part of complex therapy. If pharmacological medications help relieve pain, then it is possible to avoid another attack only by eating properly and balanced. Nutritionists recommend eliminating foods with purines from your diet. These are fatty meats, rich broths, and some types of vegetables. Correcting the weekly menu will allow you to achieve stable remission and lead an active lifestyle.
Basic principles of diet for gout
Gout is characterized by the accumulation of uric acid salt crystals in the joints and kidneys. They irritate their structures, provoking the development of severe inflammation. In order for the crystals to dissolve and be evacuated from the body naturally, an alkaline environment is required. That is, you should eat foods that, after breaking down, would increase the pH to 6-8. At the same time, it is necessary to limit the intake of purines. It is due to a violation of the regulation of their metabolism in the body that the concentration of uric acid increases.
After the diagnosis is made, the patient is referred to a nutritionist. He develops an approximate menu taking into account the severity of gout, the degree of damage to the joints and (or) kidneys. The doctor must give recommendations regarding diet:
- you need to eat often (5-7 times a day), but in small portions;
- Food should be baked, simmered in a small amount of water, steamed;
- in the absence of contraindications, you must drink at least 2.5 liters of liquid.
In the vast majority of cases, the impetus for the development of gout was the consumption of fatty foods in combination with alcohol. It is not surprising that it is predominantly overweight men who suffer from it. Nutritionists advise them to limit the energy consumption of the daily menu to 2000-2500 kilocalories. This will help you lose weight, reduce the load on sore joints, and improve your overall health.
Contraindications
The vegetable is contraindicated for gout with concomitant pathologies:
- Tendency to allergic reactions.
- Kidney diseases.
- Acute period of joint disease.
- Stomach ulcer.
- Increased acidity.
- High blood pressure (blood pressure).
Patients with gout should not forget that tomatoes can be eaten stewed, steamed, or boiled. If you have gout, you cannot eat pickled, soaked, or salted tomatoes, so as not to provoke an attack of the disease.
Authorized Products
Vegetables are great for alkalizing the body. You should diversify your diet with white cabbage, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, and potatoes. There are still debates about eating eggplant for gout. Some nutritionists categorically prohibit eating dishes made from them if you have gout. But most doctors insist on their use, including Pevzner. This is a therapist, one of the organizers of the Institute of Nutrition in Moscow. It was he who developed diet No. 6 for gout. The list of permitted products also includes:
- almost all berries except raspberries, cranberries, grapes. Red, black and white currants, gooseberries, and blueberries are especially useful;
- fruits of sweet and sour varieties with a high fiber content. Nutritionists advise snacking on an apple, pear, orange, a couple of plums or apricots between meals;
- wholemeal pasta;
- cereal porridges - buckwheat, millet, corn, oatmeal, wheat;
- lean meats - turkey, chicken, rabbit, lamb, veal;
- boiled sea and river fish (without broth!);
- eggs, but no more than one daily;
- dried whole grain and white bread;
- any low-fat fermented milk products - cottage cheese, unsalted cheeses, Varenets, fermented baked milk, kefir, ayran.
For gout patients, the list of sweets is very limited. It consists mainly of natural marmalade, apple or other fruit marshmallows, and marshmallows. You can slightly sweeten porridge with honey or jam, but only with your doctor's permission.
When not to eat tomatoes
In some cases, it is forbidden to eat tomatoes if you have gout. Such a product should be avoided by gout sufferers who have contraindications to it. We are talking about the following pathological conditions:
- Formation of stones in the gall bladder.
- Impaired kidney function.
- Digestive system disorder.
- Individual intolerance to tomatoes.
- Pancreatitis.
- Stable high blood pressure.
If a patient with gout intends to introduce tomatoes into his diet on a permanent basis, he must discuss this with his doctor, who is preparing a diet for him.
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Prohibited Products
For patients with gout, rich meat and fish broths, as well as soups based on them, are strictly prohibited. When cooked, they accumulate a huge amount of purine bases. Consuming even 100 ml of broth is highly likely to provoke another relapse of the disease. What else should be completely excluded from your diet:
- offal, fatty and lean red meat - pork, beef, lamb;
- fatty sea and river fish - herring, salmon, mackerel;
- seafood and red caviar;
- homemade and factory-made marinades, pickles and other preserves;
- seasonings and sauces - horseradish, mustard, black and allspice, mayonnaise, ketchup;
- cheeses rich in salt and spices,
- chocolate and other desserts with cocoa, sweet and savory pastries, protein, butter and custard;
- sorrel, spinach.
Nutritionists recommend not consuming or significantly limiting mushrooms in the daily menu. This is also true for asparagus, celery, radishes, bell peppers, cauliflower, legumes, and pasta.
Prevention
The disease recedes if you introduce some rules into life. Therefore, special attention should be paid to preventive measures. It is necessary to lead an active lifestyle. Special gymnastics for joints is very useful and effective. Performing daily exercises will improve metabolic processes and also reduce congestion. You should watch your weight.
It is recommended to give up bad habits. Alcohol, especially beer, and nicotine increase uric acid levels.
You need to be careful when taking certain medications, such as aspirin. It is recommended to consult with specialists before taking any medications.
To prevent exacerbation, it is recommended to constantly monitor the acid level.
A balanced diet plays a special role in maintaining health. With the help of a special diet, especially if there is a violation of the kidneys, you can restore metabolic processes, thereby reducing the risks of exacerbation of gout.
It is important to consult a doctor if there are any suspicious signs. Timely diagnosis of the disease is the key to the success of treatment and preventive measures. Delaying the process leads to frequent exacerbations, as well as to the mandatory use of medications, which can often lead to serious complications.
Features of nutrition for gout
A special diet is prescribed by a specialist depending on the characteristics of your health condition.
If you have gout, it is recommended to drink as much fluid as possible, at least 2 liters of water. Mineral waters are useful, as well as juices that create an alkaline environment in the body. Eating should be regular. You should not overeat or feel hungry. This may cause worsening pain. Food should be tasty, varied, rich in vitamins and microelements. Once a week, it is advisable to arrange fasting days, limiting yourself only to liquids.
Among the products, preference should be given to fruits, vegetables, and dairy dishes. Eating meat is prohibited; it can be replaced with dietary chicken or turkey. However, they are recommended to be consumed every two days on the third or less often. It is necessary to avoid fatty and fried foods. Cottage cheese is very useful; you can include low-fat varieties of cheese in your diet. The use of onions and garlic is not contraindicated, but it is not recommended to abuse them. Food should be unsalted and well cooked. Carbonated drinks, coffee, tea are prohibited.
Read also: Gout how to treat it
Prohibited foods include flour products, mushrooms, canned food, pepper, mustard, smoked meats, and viburnum.
During the acute phases of the disease, the diet becomes more strict. During these periods, you must forget about fish, meat, butter. You need to eat more carrots, potatoes, and drink kefir.
Grapes, beets, celery, cranberries, rose hips, and bananas are beneficial.
The presence of concomitant diseases of the stomach, liver, kidneys, pancreas, as well as allergies, can significantly adjust the diet. Therefore, before starting treatment, you should be prepared for the fact that consultation with several specialists may be required.
Is it possible to eat tomatoes for gout or not?
Tomatoes are a herbaceous plant native to South America. They are grown almost all over the world and can be found on any table. Due to their composition and taste, they are called “golden apples”.
Tomatoes contain a huge amount of vitamins, micro and macroelements, organic acids, lycopene, etc. They fight malignant cells, participate in the regulation of metabolic processes, have a positive effect on heart function, lower blood pressure, kill microbes, and normalize vision. Tomatoes have a beneficial effect on brain function, improving memory. They can increase vitality and improve mood.
Tomatoes or tomato juice are used for the prevention and treatment of stomach diseases and colds. Their properties improve the condition of the skin, veins, and promote wound healing.
However, consumption of this healthy vegetable or its juice can cause liver disease, allergic reactions, the appearance of urolithiasis, and exacerbation of joint inflammation. The fact is that tomatoes contain oxalic acid, which can disrupt water-salt metabolism, which, in the presence of other risk factors, can provoke an exacerbation.
For a long time, the question of whether it is possible to eat tomatoes with gout remains not fully resolved. There are two points of view.
According to one opinion of experts, tomatoes or tomato juice are very healthy, and the content of oxalic acid is so small that it cannot harm. Therefore, you should not exclude them from your diet. You just need to limit your intake to 2-3 vegetables per week.
Other doctors are of the opinion that it is better not to take risks.
In any case, during an exacerbation of gout, eating tomatoes is definitely prohibited, so as not to worsen the condition. In other cases, they are guided by the individual reaction of the body.
It is better to decide together with a specialist to eat tomatoes for gout or to abstain. One way or another, much depends on the severity and aggressiveness of the disease. One thing is clear: eating red vegetables carries a certain, even minimal, risk to health.
About gout
Gout is a disease that begins as a result of metabolic disorders . It can be triggered by fatty foods in large quantities and alcohol. Tissues and organs accumulate urates, which causes the body to function worse.
The onset of the disease can be assumed if the following signs are present:
- Sleep disorders;
- Unreasonable irritability;
- Frequent mood changes.
Since these signs are similar to those observed during stress and depression, many people with gout do not try to suspect it. Before an exacerbation of arthritis, severe headaches, vomiting, and problems with bowel movements often begin. The patient may lose consciousness.
At the beginning of the disease, the joints of the legs and arms are affected, inflammation begins, and the skin in their area becomes reddish-blue.
If left untreated, the disease becomes chronic.
The main cause of gout is an incorrect attitude to nutrition. Therefore, it is worth taking care to select a suitable diet.
