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Ask the Dietitian is not a substitute for a consultation with a professional
who can inform you of all the facts of your particular situation. We answer
questions in general terms only, to give you information that may
used as a starting point.
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| TOPIC - Gout |
| Question |
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I have been diagnosed with high uric acid levels. A vegetarian diet high in fiber is good
for this condition and for the ensuing possibility of gout. Yet, one of the items that are
high on the list of things to avoid are dried beans and peas. What about fresh, fresh
frozen, or canned peas, green beans, lima beans and other non-dried legumes?
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| Answer |
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Fresh beans and peas, like dried peas and beans, contan a moderate amount of purine and should
be limited to 1-2 servings per day. Since a high protein diet produces high levels of uric acid
(which aggravates the gout), a moderate protein intake is recommended. You can get protein from
other non-meat sources such as low-fat dairy products, eggs and nuts. Limit overall intake to
2-4 servings per day.
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| Question |
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All gout-diet lists I have seen include legumes among the foods high in purines and to be
avoided by gout sufferers. I just saw a website that includes nuts among the list of
acceptable foods for gout. However, peanuts are legumes. Are there nuts that are not
legumes and that are acceptable? Can you tell me if peanuts and peanut butter are high
in purine and therefore to be avoided for a person with gout? Thanks.
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| Answer |
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That is a good question - nutrition information is abundant on the web and often provides
conflicting or confusing information.
Although peanut is technically considered a legume, its purine content is low (less than
50 mg per 100 grams) compared to other more common legumes such as lentils, peas &
beans which has 50-150 mg purine per 100 grams. Thus it would be acceptable for gout
sufferers to include the use of peanut & peanut butter into their diet. However, you
need to keep in mind that nuts & nut butters are high in fat, and should be eaten in
moderation because of that.
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| Question |
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I have gout. Can I drink low fat milk or fresh milk? Is it true that I can only drink
buttermilk, condensed milk and malted milk. What about products that contain soya bean oil?
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| Answer |
The current recommendations does not restrict milk and milk products for person with gout.
You can drink both low fat and fresh milk if you wish.
You should avoid bean products including soya milk, tofu, beansprouts, bean paste, etc.
as they all have fairly high purine content. If the quantity of soya bean oil present is
small, it should not be a problem as the purine content extracted in the oil is small.
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| Question |
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I have gout. What types of food can I eat and not eat?
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| Answer |
Gout is caused by high levels of uric acid in the body. The uric acid forms crystals in
the joints causing pain and inflammation These crystals can also form stones in the kidney
and urinary passages. Painful attacks of gout are brought on by drinking alcohol or eating
foods high in purine. Fifty perent of the uric acid in your body comes from the food you eat,
the other 50% comes from sources within the body.
General guidelines for gout are as follows:
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- Restrict meat/fish/poultry intake to 180 grams per day;
- Avoid alcohol;
- Lose weight if overweight;
- Exercise regularly;
- Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day;
- Eat plenty of fruits & vegetables (except the ones listed below)
- Have more starchy foods like rice, bread, noodles, etc. to fill you up;
- Restrict foods high in purine:
- Organ meats such as liver, kidney, heart, brain, etc.
- Selected fish and shellfish ie. ikan bilis, sardines, mackerel (including selar,
tenggiri & kembong), herring, salmon, fish roe, cockles and mussels
- Meat & yeast extracts such as Bovril, Marmite, Vegemite, essence of chicken,
brewer's and baker's yeast
- Meat soups & stock cubes especially Bak Kut Teh
- Game meat ie. venison, black chicken, pigeon, goose, etc.
- Beans & lentils such as tofu, soya bean, bean fillings, etc.
- Selected vegetables ie. spinach, rhubarb, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms &
peas
- Strawberry, strawberry jam, durian, tomato & tomato products.
If you have severe problems, I recommend that you see a dietitian to give you a full evaluation
and advice you on how to modify your diet. Good luck!
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