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    These 8 foods are health-friendly, but not if your uric acid levels are high

    By NCVC Staff | Published on Sep 22, 2023

    Are you constantly plagued by body pain, swollen legs, or painful joints? It could be a sign of high uric acid levels in your body. This condition not only hampers your productivity but also interrupts your daily chores. Surprisingly, even if you follow a healthy diet, consuming certain foods like pulses and cottage cheese can worsen your health if you have high uric acid levels.

    To help you navigate this issue, we’ve compiled a list of seemingly healthy foods that can actually be detrimental to your well-being. But first, let’s delve into the details of this notorious health problem.

    Everything You Need to Know About High Uric Acid

    According to Harshita Dilawri, a nutritionist and diabetic educator, many people nowadays suffer from uricemia or increased uric acid levels. Uric acid is a natural waste product that is produced when our bodies digest purine-rich foods.

    Purines are chemical compounds composed of carbon and nitrogen atoms that are broken down in the body. However, excessive consumption of purine-rich foods can overwhelm your body’s ability to digest them, resulting in increased uric acid levels.

    Elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream can lead to gout. Hence, it is crucial to monitor your dietary habits to prevent this condition.

    8 Healthy Foods That Are Not Good for People with High Uric Acid

    1. Beverages and Fruit Juices: Beverages high in fructose and sugar can rapidly increase the formation of uric acid, exacerbating gout symptoms. Despite not being high in purine, these drinks are hazardous due to their fructose content, which triggers the body’s cellular processes, leading to increased uric acid levels.

    2. Bread and Rice: Refined carbs, such as white bread, cakes, white rice, sugar, and cookies, should be avoided during gout. Although these foods are not high in purine or fructose, they have a low nutritional value, contributing to higher uric acid levels.

    3. Cookies: Yeasts like nutritional yeast, brewer’s yeast, and other yeast supplements are also recommended to be avoided.

    4. Healthy Snacks: Processed foods like snacks and frozen meals should be avoided if you have gout. They are generally unhealthy and can worsen joint problems associated with gout.

    5. Organ Meats and Wild Game Meats: Offal-based foods like kidneys, liver, and sweetbreads are extremely high in purines. Similarly, game meats such as venison, rabbit, or wild-caught birds should be avoided.

    6. Fish and Seafood: Some types of seafood are high in purines and should be avoided if you follow a gout-friendly diet. However, other seafood varieties with moderate purine levels can be included in your meals, limited to less than 6 ounces per day, as suggested by Harshita Dilawri.

    7. Energy Drinks: Standard table sugar contains fructose, which breaks down into uric acid. Foods and drinks with high sugar content can trigger gout symptoms.

    8. Shellfish: Crab, shrimp, oysters, and other shellfish can cause gout flare-ups. Particularly, roe and milt are high in purines and should be eliminated from your diet if you suffer from gout.

    Remember, the definition of healthy food is not solely based on its content but also depends on your current situation. Therefore, always exercise caution when choosing what to consume.

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