Vinegar is acidic, so when consumed, it will turn into uric acid, many people think. In fact, this is a misunderstanding. The so-called uric acid is not the acidity we commonly feel, but a metabolic product of the human body, not a real acid.
There is a substance called purine in the food we eat, which is metabolized in the liver, and the metabolic product is called uric acid. Therefore, an excessive amount of uric acid is produced due to excessive breakdown in the liver. The main reason for the excessive production of uric acid is not only eating foods high in purines but also problems with the liver’s metabolic function.
In fact, vinegar is an alkaline food. The classification of food acidity and alkalinity is not based on taste but on whether the metabolic product after entering the human body is acidic or alkaline. The metabolic product of vinegar is alkaline, so it belongs to alkaline foods and does not increase uric acid. Moreover, vinegar can help maintain the body in a weak alkaline state, which is beneficial for resisting bacterial infections and inhibiting the generation of cancer cells.
Foods related to high uric acid are not necessarily acidic foods, but rather foods with high purine content, such as seafood, animal offal, soy products, and meat products. Modern people consume these types of foods more than before, leading to an increasing number of individuals with hyperuricemia and gout.
Furthermore, it is important to note that dietary factors account for only 20% of the reasons for elevated uric acid levels. The main reasons are excessive production of uric acid by the liver and inadequate excretion by the kidneys, indicating a problem in the body’s uric acid metabolism. Current medications for high uric acid work by inhibiting uric acid production in the liver and promoting uric acid excretion by the kidneys, but they may also cause certain damage to the liver and kidneys. Therefore, lifestyle changes are encouraged for treatment.
Understanding these principles reveals the prevention methods for uric acid. Firstly, maintain a balanced diet, then engage in regular physical activity, improve overall fitness, and sustain normal liver function to fundamentally prevent hyperuricemia.
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