Recently, many people around me have developed gout. Most people know that gout is caused by elevated uric acid levels, which is due to consuming high-purine foods in large quantities, with seafood being a food category high in purines. Many seafood lovers may suffer from gout, experiencing redness, swelling, and pain in the joints, often being awakened by pain during sleep. However, some gout patients have expressed that they don’t particularly enjoy seafood, so how did they develop gout? In reality, high-purine foods not only include seafood but also some commonly encountered foods in daily life, which are all high in purines, so caution should be exercised when consuming them.
Four types of high-purine foods have been identified—common ones, see if you consume them frequently:
First type of food, fish roe
Many people tend to ask fish vendors for some fish roe when buying fish at the fish market, believing that fish roe is the “eggs” of the fish, non-hatched baby fish brimming with concentrated nutrients, which can enhance bodily nutrition when consumed. However, this notion is somewhat biased. Fish roe found inside the fish’s belly is actually the eggs of female fish, not unhatched baby fish, yet its nutritional value is undeniable, containing proteins, vitamins, and minerals beneficial for the body.
What most people are unaware of is that every 100 grams of fish roe can contain 150-800mg of purine, constituting a high-purine food. Excessive consumption can lead to an elevation of blood uric acid levels, highly predisposing individuals to gout, and for those already suffering from gout, consuming fish roe will only exacerbate the condition.
Second type of food, bone broth
As winter sets in, with the climate turning colder, people tend to focus on supplementing their diet more. Having a bowl of piping hot bone broth can rejuvenate the spirit and body. Given the common belief that one should consume what they lack to compensate, many individuals think that drinking bone broth can supplement calcium, but in reality, the calcium-boosting effects of bone broth are not significant. On the contrary, bone broth contains high purine content, excessive consumption of which can lead to increased uric acid levels, heightening the risk of gout. Therefore, moderation in bone broth consumption is advised.
Third type of food, pork
Pork is a common ingredient in daily meals, added to various dishes for its delectable taste, tempting individuals to enjoy multiple servings with bowls of rice. While pork indeed offers substantial nutritional value, such as rich iron, protein, and some fats, what many fail to realize is that every 100 grams of pork can contain 75mg-150mg of purine, also classifying it as a high-purine food, easily triggering gout. Hence, moderation in pork consumption is important.
Fourth type of food, spinach
Spinach is a seasonal vegetable rich in folate, capable of supplementing body nutrition. However, spinach also contains oxalic acid, which upon entering the body can impede uric acid excretion, causing an elevation in uric acid levels and exacerbating gout symptoms. Therefore, individuals with hyperuricemia should consume spinach in moderation, while those with gout should avoid it entirely.
Once diagnosed with gout, one should refrain from consuming the aforementioned four types of foods, as they are detrimental to disease control. Individuals with gout should focus on treatment and follow three essential steps to effectively alleviate bodily pain:
1. Proper use of painkillers. Gout attacks can be intensely painful, for which one should have pain relief medication on hand, yet it’s crucial not to overdose, as it could strain the liver.
2. Apply cold packs to the affected areas. Gout-induced joint redness and swelling can be alleviated by applying ice packs enclosed in gauze bags, helping constrict blood vessels and reduce pain.
3. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, as it aids in metabolism, facilitates uric acid elimination, and relieves gout symptoms.
