Foods to include in a gout treatment diet
There is a close link between gout and diet, and if you suffer from the condition, it's important to watch what you eat. A diet for gout isn't just about foods that you should avoid; it's also about foods that you should be choosing to help with your condition.
Since gout is a form of arthritis, when you're planning a gout treatment diet, you need to focus on foods that address the build-up of uric acid in your blood. However, since uric acid is a natural waste that occurs with the breakdown of food, this may be easier than it sounds.
Effective Gout Diet Food
While food can't cause gout, eating the wrong things can easily lead to a painful attack. Some effective gout diet food includes things that produce little uric acid in digestion. Some foods to avoid include red meat, seafood, and any food that contains yeast. Fructose, found in many sweet drinks, seems to be another trigger for gout.
However, many of the foods that you need to avoid in order to prevent a gout attack are also rich in vitamins and nutrients, so the better choice may be to simply cut down on these products. You can also eat different types of foods that can reduce the frequency and severity of your gout attacks. A good gout diet includes foods rich in Vitamin C and which are low in fat. For example, many dieticians suggest skim milk can help reduce the inconvenience of gout.
Some Tips for your Gout Treatment Diet
While it's almost impossible to completely prevent gout attacks, you can certainly use your diet to manage your condition.
Controlling your weight is a good way to treat your gout. A healthy weight can reduce the number of gout attacks and may also reduce their severity.
Avoiding alcohol is also important when suffering from gout. Many patients find that alcohol increases the number of gout attacks and may also make them more painful. Some people are able to partake in a glass of wine or two with few ill effects, but it may be better to be safe than sorry and avoid alcohol altogether.
Dehydration can also cause an increase in gout attacks, so drink plenty of water throughout the day.