What Foods Should You Eat to Prevent Gouty Arthritis?

The main cause behind gouty arthritis is the buildup of uric acid crystals in your blood, which eventually become deposited in your joints, causing inflammation and pain. One of the main reasons for excess uric acid in your system is eating too much purine-rich food so you will have to adjust your diet in order to avoid gout attacks.

Foods that are rich in purine include organ meats such as liver and kidney as well as certain types of fish such as sardines and salmon. Alcoholic beverages such as beer that are made from yeast also have high purine content. In addition, you should also avoid beverages that are rich in caffeine such as coffee and tea while increasing your intake of water to help cleanse your system of uric acid.

To help treat gouty arthritis, replace high-purine foods in your diet with low-purine ones. Foods which are low in purine include:

• fresh vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage and other leafy greens as well as tomatoes, potatoes and red bell peppers;
• high-fiber and water-rich fruits such as cherries, strawberries, potassium-rich bananas, oranges and pineapples;
• plant-based proteins such as nuts, soy products such as tofu and peanut butter;
• Refined cereals such as brown rice and whole wheat.

In addition, there are some nutritional supplements and nutrients that you need to take more of to help you address gouty arthritis, such as:

• Apple cider vinegar, which helps create a more alkaline environment in your body that contributes to reducing gout attacks.
• Omega 3 fatty acids which can regulate the production of leukotrienes that help control inflammation. Since many Omega 3-rich fish species are also high in purines, you can get this nutrient from plant-based sources such as walnuts and flaxseed.
• Celery seeds can help reduce the amount of uric acid in your blood. Boil one tablespoon of celery seeds in two cups of water to create a tea and then drink half a cup four times a day.
• Cod liver oil is rich in Vitamin A, which can promote healthy kidneys as well as preventing uric acid buildup. Take one teaspoon per day.
• Cherry juice can also be effective in reducing uric acid levels as well as controlling inflammation of the joints. You can also take one teaspoon of cherry juice concentrate without sugar twice a day. Take cherry juice or concentrate consistently for the rest of your life as this will help you manage your uric acid and prevent gouty arthritis attacks.