I have gout. What types of food can I eat and not eat?

Question

I have gout. What types of food can I eat and not eat?

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:

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.