Purine is a substance that exists in the human body, mainly in the form of purine nucleotides, playing a very important role in energy supply, metabolic regulation, and coenzyme composition.
Purine is an organic compound and a necessary nutrient for the human body. Under normal circumstances, purines are oxidized in the human body to form uric acid, which is then excreted through the kidneys without causing any harm to the body.
However, if there is abnormal purine metabolism in the body, or if there is abnormal uric acid excretion, leading to high levels of uric acid, it can be harmful to health. High levels of uric acid can lead to the accumulation of crystals in the body, which can trigger gout. Therefore, for gout patients and elderly people with weak kidney function, it is advisable to reduce the intake of high-purine foods.
Top 10 purine-rich foods:
1. Whitebait skin; with purine content exceeding 3000 mg per 100 grams, ranking 1st on the “purine list”.
2. Dried small fish; with purine content of approximately 1300 mg per 100 grams, ranking 2nd on the “purine list”.
3. Animal spleens; including pig, cow, and sheep spleens, with purine content ranging from 500 to 800 mg per 100 grams, hence advisable to consume in moderation.
4. Yeast-containing foods, with purine content exceeding 500 mg per 100 grams.
5. Pig hearts; with purine content exceeding 500 mg per 100 grams.
6. Animal livers; with beef liver having the highest purine content, approaching 500 mg per 100 grams.
7. Rich meat soups; including beef, poultry, and fish soups, with highly concentrated broth having purine content approaching 500 mg per 100 grams.
8. Pig stomachs, cow stomachs, pig lungs; with purine content exceeding 400 mg per 100 grams.
9. Pacific sauries, sardines, mackerels, whitebaits, catfish, etc.; with purine content of about 350 mg per 100 grams.
10. Tunas, snakehead fish, grass carps, crucian carps, shellfish, etc., with purine content of about 250 mg per 100 grams.
For healthy elderly individuals, it is advisable to limit the intake of high-purine foods and avoid them as much as possible for those with high uric acid levels.
In addition to the listed meat, fish, and bean products, which generally contain around 150 mg of purine per 100 grams, any product containing more than 150 mg of purine per 100 grams is considered a high-purine food and should be avoided by gout patients. Elderly individuals need to be mindful of their consumption and not overindulge.
Furthermore, after beans are processed into tofu or soy milk, the purine content is generally reduced by half, making them safe for consumption.
In addition to controlling purine intake in food, individuals with high uric acid levels are advised against consuming alcohol, as it can affect the body’s metabolism of purine substances and excretion of uric acid.
Regular physical exercise, adequate hydration, maintaining good sleep patterns, avoiding excessive fatigue, and maintaining a positive attitude also help in the metabolism of purine substances and excretion of uric acid in the body.
A healthy body benefits from good lifestyle habits, including proper dietary control, regulating sleep patterns, staying active, maintaining a positive outlook, rather than relying solely on certain health products or medications.
Particularly for elderly individuals, if facing health issues, it is advisable to seek medical advice from reputable hospitals and avoid blindly following unverified remedies or rumors.
