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What are the Foods to Avoid with Gout?

Barbara Bean-Mellinger
Barbara Bean-Mellinger

Knowing what foods to avoid with gout can lessen the severe, painful joint attacks of this form of arthritis. Generally, foods that are high in fat should be avoided overall, as weight gain and high cholesterol can contribute to the attacks. Specific foods to avoid with gout include shellfish, anchovies, herring, asparagus, spinach, cauliflower, mushrooms, kidney beans, peas, lentils, instant oatmeal, beef, pork, lamb, duck, goose, meat gravies, and organ meats such as kidney, liver, brains and sweetbreads.

Gout is caused by excess levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid comes from purines, most of which are made by the body but some of which come from ingested food. It can help to eat foods low in purine, such as tomatoes, cereals, grains, pasta, rice and fruit. While heavily processed instant or quick-cooking oatmeal can be bad for gout, slow-cooking oatmeal such as steel-cut Irish oats can be beneficial in the right quantities.

Full fat dairy products can exacerbate gout.
Full fat dairy products can exacerbate gout.

Certain beverages can also trigger attacks of gout. Beer, hard liquor, and excessive amounts of alcohol in general can bring on an attack. Three or more drinks per day for men and two or more drinks per day for women are enough to cause a gout attack. High fructose corn syrup, which is found in many sodas and fruit juices, has also been known to cause gout in some people. Drinking water can help flush purine and uric acid from the body.

Many types of meat, especially those high in fat can contribute to gout.
Many types of meat, especially those high in fat can contribute to gout.

Other underlying diseases and certain medications can also cause gout. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, leukemia, lymphoma, and hypothyroidism are more prone to the symptoms. Drugs such as low-dose aspirin, diuretics that are often prescribed for high blood pressure, and anti-rejection drugs given after organ transplants can also bring on gout’s painful symptoms.

Sweetbreads.
Sweetbreads.

Along with paying attention to the foods to avoid with gout, exercising more and avoiding obesity can help reduce the likelihood of an attack. Stress is also believed to be a cause of gout, so exercise and other methods of reducing stress can help. People who have a family history of gout have a greater chance of developing it themselves. It is more common in men than in women, although a woman’s chance of developing gout increases after menopause.

People with gout should avoid eating shellfish.
People with gout should avoid eating shellfish.

Once a person has experienced a gout attack, he is more likely to have more frequent and severe attacks in the future. Paying attention to the foods to avoid with gout, taking steps to reduce stress and bringing body weight to an optimal level should help to reduce both the number and severity of gout attacks. Anyone who experiences the symptoms of gout should discuss it with his doctor for further tips and guidance.

Discussion Comments

discographer

I seem to have issues with most of things on the list of foods to avoid with gout. Dairy is particularly troublesome. If I have milk, my gout acts up immediately.

stoneMason

@literally45-- Some people don't respond to foods that cause gout as much as others. So you might want to try a few in moderation to see how well you tolerate them.

I personally cannot have tomatoes at all. Raw or cooked, tomatoes worsen my gout pain and I avoid them like the plague. Alcohol is the other one that I can never tolerate.

As for other foods like vegetables, I have them rarely and in very small amounts. If my gout is under control, which it is with medications, I can have small amounts of spinach and beans from time to time without problems.

Since you are just starting out, take it easy and be careful with what you eat until you figure out what's safe for you.

literally45

That's a very long list of foods to avoid!

I just found out that I have gout in my finger. I'm trying to figure out what's safe for me to eat but there isn't much left from the "foods to avoid" list that I enjoy.

Does anyone else here have gout? What do you usually eat? And what do you definitely avoid?

RationallyMellow

After trying a low purine diet, the gout I experience in my big toe has diminished almost completely. I'd tried various pain medications with little relief, so I'm pleased that the solution was so simple. While it's not always easy to manage my diet, it's nice to know that alleviating my gout symptoms is a fairly simple process.

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    • Full fat dairy products can exacerbate gout.
      Full fat dairy products can exacerbate gout.
    • Many types of meat, especially those high in fat can contribute to gout.
      Many types of meat, especially those high in fat can contribute to gout.
    • Sweetbreads.
      By: NaDi
      Sweetbreads.
    • People with gout should avoid eating shellfish.
      By: M.studio
      People with gout should avoid eating shellfish.
    • People with gout should avoid eating peas.
      By: sevenk
      People with gout should avoid eating peas.
    • Mushrooms are on the "avoid" list for people with gout.
      By: mbongo
      Mushrooms are on the "avoid" list for people with gout.
    • Individuals suffering with gout should avoid aspirin, as the medication can worsen gout symptoms.
      By: blueskies9
      Individuals suffering with gout should avoid aspirin, as the medication can worsen gout symptoms.
    • Gout is more prevalent among men, who should eat plenty of tomatoes, grains, and other foods low in purine.
      By: Halfpoint
      Gout is more prevalent among men, who should eat plenty of tomatoes, grains, and other foods low in purine.
    • Those with gout should avoid eating sardines, because they are rich in purine.
      By: Picture Partners
      Those with gout should avoid eating sardines, because they are rich in purine.