What Foods Increase Uric Acid

Many seafood is high in purines, the main trigger for an elevated uric acid level and cause gout according to a study by the American College of Rheumatology^[1], as it increases risk by up to 51%. For this reason they should only be eaten in moderation if you suffer from high uric acid. Most notable in this food group:

• Shrimps, prawns, lobster.
• Crabs.
• Scallops, oysters, clams, mussels.

These products, fresh, canned or smoked, increase uric acid in the blood.

Not only seafood products increase uric acid, other animal proteins may also increase its levels. Cerain foods contain BHA preservative chemical, which prevents food from oxidation and can be a dangerous human carcinogen. It is advisable to avoid eating:

• Liver, kidney, heart, brains and guts of beef, chicken or pork. These should be eliminated from the diet because they are high in purines.
• Red meat like beef or lamb. Chicken and turkey should be eaten in moderation.
• Game birds should also be eaten sporadically and highly limited.
• Cold-water fish such as sardines, tuna, anchovies,herring, mackerel, scallops or salmon.
• Similarly the consumption of sausages and fatty cured meat like chorizo should be minimal. You should replace these with lighter alternatives such as turkey breast or chicken

Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas or beans are known for their purine content, so their intake should be limited to only once or twice a week if you have high uric acid.

Other vegetables that should be eaten in moderation are asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach, radishes and leeks. There is question whether tomato is good for gout, due to the accumulation of urate crystals that tomato is said to trigger. However, there is no proven link between the increase in uric acid levels and the consumption of tomato.

Other foods that increases uric acid and should be avoided are:

• All kinds of alcoholic beverages, especially beer and wine.
• Carbonated beverages, sugar-laden soft drinks and packaged juices.
• Avoid cooking with brewer's yeast. In the same way, you should reduce the amount of oatmeal and wheat bran in your diet.
• Many people ask themselves if paneer is good for uric acid. Like most cheeses, paneer contains purines, which is why you should eat this ingredient sparingly.
• Bakery products, biscuits and sweets which increase uric acid.
• Foods that are high in cream and dairy such as ice creams, cakes, cheese sauce.
• Dehydrated foods like soup sachets and gravy.

Given that it is a long list of ingredients that increase uric acid in the human body, it is worth knowing what foods can lower it and are allowed in the sufferer's diet. Take a look at these articles to discover them:

• Foods that are good for lowering uric acid
• Fruits that lower uric acid
• Good vegetables to lower uric acid

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to What Foods Increase Uric Acid, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.

• Taking care of our diet is fundamental to avoid the increase of uric acid, this way we'll stay healthy.
• It's especially important to limit the amount of purin rich food, as they are the most harmful, increasing the levels of uric acid.