Diets That Reduce Uric Acid
Uric acid has been shown to cause many detrimental effects and illnesses, including gout and kidney stones. While many people have high levels of uric acid in their body and never develop these conditions, those who do suffer from either gout or kidney stones can reduce the symptoms by lowing uric acid; and to do this they need to change their diet. Uric acid itself is not actually found in our diet, but is instead created as a bi-product when our body breaks down the ‘purines’ which are in many foods. Thus diets to reduce uric acid will include less purines than a regular diet and avoid foods that contain them.
Foods that contain purines are mostly meats such, such as beef, chicken, bacon, turkey, ham and others. Particularly red meats are bad for their levels of purines and other ingredients that metabolise in uric acid. Thus a diet to reduce uric acid will often be similar to vegetarian diets, though to begin with you can get away with eliminating just the red meats from your diet and seeing if that alleviates some of the symptoms. Remember that proteins and fats are important to our body for rebuilding tissue and keeping our skin, hair, teeth and bones healthy so it is important that you get these from somewhere. Alternative sources of protein include beans and protein shakes, while you can get your essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals from other supplements.
Meanwhile other foods have been found to counter the effects of uric acid in the body and to relieve the symptoms of gout and kidney stones in this way. These then also play an important role in diets to reduce uric acid. In particular, folic acid (also known as vitamin B9) has been shown to help combat high levels of uric acid. This can then be taken as a supplement (and is included in many multivitamins as well as in medication for gout), or as part of your diet. Foods said to combat uric acid include sour cherries, while some believe that celery can have positive effects. Taking the supplement directly however will show the quickest and most reliable results.
As such then, to reduce uric acid and thereby alleviate the symptoms of gout, a diet high in vitamin B9, that cuts out red meats should have some positive effect. Failing this, try cutting out all meet. Always be sure to discuss diets to reduce uric acid with your doctor before embarking on them.