A diet low in purines help decrease uric acid levels. Diet is only there to manage the symptoms and stop them from getting wore to be clear. No diet or medicine can reverse the condition, it only manages. But maintaining a healthier lifestyle paired with healthy diet reduces he incidence of gout attacks and also the joint damage caused by high uric acid levels.
There is an ongoing debate that whether potatoes are good for gout patients or not. Potato is a starchy vegetable which is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, polyphenols and certain vitamins which were thought to be lifesaving in early times due to there ability to prevent infections and diseases.
Potatoes are low in purines which is the reason for uric acid build up in blood stream. Purine is a compound found in various fruits and vegetables which when broken down produces uric acid as by product. This uric acid accumulates in the blood stream and causes gout. So, the diet should be low in purines if you are suffering from gout.
WHAT IS GOUT
Gout is condition which is painful form of arthritis which occurs due to higher levels of uric acid due to its abnormal deposition in blood. Main factors include poor lifestyle, genetic variations, and poor dietary choices.
Purine is naturally found in body, but its levels increase due to dietary changes. Foods high in purines are responsible for high uric acid levels. These are organ meat, red meat, seafood, green leafy vegetable like asparagus and spinach. Legumes and wheat germ are also considered as high purine and can lead to higher levels of uric acid in body leading to symptoms of gout.
Symptoms of gout include flushing, redness, warmth, swelling and extreme pain around the joints specially weight bearing joints like pelvic, toes and ankles. Gout can be managed by changing the sedentary lifestyle and dietary modifications.
DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR GOUT
A gout diet is aimed at following objectives
- Achieve healthy weight which alleviates the symptoms
- Avoid he trigger foods and lead a good life
- Lower the uric acid in blood stream to reduce joint pain
The general guidelines for someone suffering from gout are
- Aim for healthy weight loss: being overweight or obese worsens your symptoms because the joints are already under stress and when they must carry such large weights, they collapse. You will find it difficult to walk and do daily chores. Reducing weight can be a direct management strategy without even lowering purine rich foods according to some research-based evidence because it lowers the stress on joints.
- Eat complex carbohydrates: Complex carbohydrates are those which release energy slowly in your body and do not spike your glucose in blood. Also, complex carbs reduce inflammation as compared to simple carbs which are leading cause of inflammation in gout. Stay away from processed packaged bakery items, fruit juices, and refined flours.
- Water: Stay hydrated by maintaining good water intake along with other fluids and electrolytes.
- Fats: Reduce the amount of saturated fats in your diet to less than 7%. Foods include red meat, butter, margarine, organ meat and full fat dairy.
- Proteins: Proteins play the main role. Include good protein sources like lean meat, poultry, eggs, and fish. Aim for 120g proteins per day via good lean sources.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant thus helps in lowering uric acid levels to a greater extent. The dose recommended for uric acid is 500mg vit C per day through diet and supplement combined.
- Coffee: As coffee contains polyphenols, drinking it in moderation can lower the uric acid levels. Still further research is needed for validation of results.
FOODS TO EAT
There are certain foods which are helpful in gout. These include
- Wholewheat grains
- Fruits and vegetables
- Lean proteins
- Olive oil and fish oil
- Cherries, blueberries
FOODS TO AVOID
Certain foods need to be avoided
- Frozen foods
- Canned foods
- High fructose foods
- White breads and refined cereals
- Red meats
POTATOES FOR URIC ACID
There may be certain fruits and vegetables that are beneficial in gout and potato is one of them. It has specific benefits for gout:
- Provide Fiber: Potatoes are high in fiber content which means they will help in weight reduction too. Potatoes being low in purines reduces the incidence and severity of gout attacks.
- Promote Excretion: Potatoes help in excessive excretion of urinary waste products thus increasing the amount or uric acid excreted which is previously accumulated in blood.
- Potassium source: Potatoes are naturally high in potassium which is a really important factor in gout. Electrolyte and mineral balance play a vital role in uric acid reduction.
- Neutralize Acid: Potatoes generally exhibit an alkaline nature and is helpful in balancing out the acids. The higher uric acids are neutralized by the alkaline nature of potatoes and thus reduces the symptoms.
- Vitamins and Minerals: They contain magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and polyphenols which are helpful in managing the symptoms of gout.
TYPE OF POTATOES FOR GOUT
The type of potato plays a vital role in gout. White potatoes have a higher glycemic index which may aggravate the symptoms and pians of gout. Sweet potatoes are relatively lower in glycemic index so preferred over white potatoes. White potatoes can flare up if consumed in excessive quantities. While consuming white potatoes be mindful of your plate. Fill your plate with fibrous non starchy vegetables.
Conclusion
Hence to conclude we can say that potatoes are good for uric acid due to their ability to neutralize acidity. Furthermore, they are low in purine which makes it a good choice for gout patients.
