Are you looking for ways to improve your diet but need to know if certain vegetables cause a spike in uric acid? If yes, then this article is a must-read for you! Uric acid is produced inside the body by the breakdown of purines. Purines are nitrogen-containing compounds that are found naturally in the body as well as in certain food products. Though almost all fruits and most of the vegetables are low in purine content, there are some vegetables that are high in these substances. High levels of uric acid present in the body can cause uric acid to form sharp crystal clusters. These crystals can then settle in the joints, resulting in gout, a type of arthritis that causes severe pain. Let us now explore the vegetables that contain high levels of purines, leading to an increase in uric acid.
Vegetables that increase uric acid levels
We’ve listed the different vegetables that are high in purines and can lead to elevated uric acid levels:
- Spinach: Though spinach has many health benefits, it has high purine levels that get converted into uric acid once metabolised. So, its intake should be limited to avoid elevated uric acid levels.
- Tomatoes: Even with low purine content, tomatoes have been found to cause gout flares in people with high uric acid levels. This is known to be associated with a high glutamate content, which can, in turn, increase uric acid levels.
- Dried lentils: While dried lentils have many health benefits, they also contain some amount of purines, which can increase uric acid levels.
- Broccoli and cauliflower: These cruciferous vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and minerals, but they also have high purine levels that can increase uric acid levels in the blood.
- Mushrooms: Mushrooms contain a moderate amount of purines, but their intake should be limited for gout patients.
- Beetroot: Beetroots may not have a lot of purines, but they do have a high oxalate level, which can in turn increase uric acid levels in the blood. Thus, they should be consumed in limitation by gout patients.
- Turnips: Turnips, like beetroot, contain a lot of oxalates. The higher the oxalate level, the higher the uric acid generated in the body.
- Ladyfinger: Okra or ladyfinger is also known to have high oxalate levels, which boost uric acid levels.
Managing Gout: Dietary Tips
When uric acid levels in the blood increase considerably, it causes the formation of crystals. These crystals eventually settle down around one or more joints, causing severe pain. Gout can be easily managed if you take good care of your diet.
Here are a few dietary tips you can follow to manage gout effectively:
- Drink lots of water and other healthy fluids to stay hydrated.
- Include fruits and vegetables in your diet, as they are rich in nutrients and purines. These can help prevent gout symptoms.
- Try to include different varieties of protein in your daily diet. These include lean meats, dairy products, poultry, beans and the like.
- Avoid the consumption of cold and processed foods, red meat and alcohol, as these can increase the uric acid levels in your blood.
- Include foods like cherries and avocados.
- Limit the intake of baked foods, foods rich in sugars and other sugary beverages.