Humans can be said to be at the top of the food chain, not only eating vegetables, fruits, grains, and soybeans, but also various birds and animals. There is a joke online saying, “Humans have climbed to the top of the food chain not to eat vegetarian food, right?” So, whenever there are guests at home, during holidays, various chicken, duck, goose, and even game dishes will always appear on the table, making the period around the holidays a frequent time for high uric acid levels.
High uric acid can cause joint pain, ranging from discomfort to inability to walk properly or even get out of bed. When uric acid reaches a certain level, it can lead to uremia, which is a costly disease that requires luck for treatment. The treatment costs are also high, and having uremia is undoubtedly a huge blow to the family. However, we can pay attention to our dietary habits in daily life to prevent it. To avoid high uric acid, it is necessary to avoid high-purine foods. So, what are the foods high in purines?
High-Purine Food 1 – Slow-cooked Soup
People in Guangdong may not eat rice during meals, but they cannot skip the soup. They especially enjoy slow-cooked stock, where the flavors of the ingredients are absorbed into the soup due to prolonged simmering. However, during long periods of cooking, the purines in the bones used for the stock dissolve into the soup. Drinking slow-cooked soup frequently significantly increases the body’s purine levels, which can overload the kidneys and affect health. Therefore, for our health, it’s better to drink soups that are not cooked for a long time.
High-Purine Food 2 – Tea
Some may argue that drinking more tea is beneficial for digestion. While drinking tea indirectly benefits the body, excessive consumption should be avoided as tea also contains purines. Some people may find that drinking too much tea affects their sleep as it stimulates the nervous system, making it more active and increasing the likelihood of gout. Along with tea, beverages also have high purine content, so it’s advisable to drink them in moderation.
High-Purine Food 3 – Animal Offal
Although animal offal can provide essential iron to the body, it also contains high cholesterol. Therefore, adults should consume animal offal sparingly. Animal offal has a high purine content, which, when consumed excessively, can lower metabolism, making it difficult to digest, leading to the accumulation of purines in the body. This can elevate uric acid levels and potentially strain the kidneys, causing uremia. Hence, it’s recommended to limit the consumption of animal offal.
High-Purine Food 4 – Legumes
Legumes are rich in quality plant protein, and consuming moderate amounts of bean products such as tofu, dried tofu, and soy milk can be beneficial. However, excessive consumption, especially of processed and pickled legumes, can lead to kidney functional failure due to high purine content in pickled foods, resulting in impaired kidney function. Therefore, it’s advisable to consume them in moderation.
Above are the four high-purine foods that you should be cautious of consuming in your daily life!
