Foods to avoid when you have gout

Gout is linked with urate crystals forming in and around joints. Organ meats and some seafood contain concentrated purines, which the body converts into uric acid. Alcohol can make urate harder to clear, and sweetened drinks can increase uric acid production. A flare is not proof that one recent meal caused it, because urate levels and other triggers build over time. People also differ in which foods affect their symptoms.

Start by removing sweetened drinks and reducing alcohol, then review portion sizes of meat and seafood. Use vegetables, grains, beans, and suitable dairy foods to add variety. Keep hydrated unless a clinician has prescribed a fluid restriction. A gradual weight-management plan may help, while crash dieting or fasting can aggravate urate changes. Continue prescribed medicines and ask before using supplements or herbal products.

A sudden hot, red, swollen joint needs medical advice, especially when this is your first episode. Seek urgent care if pain is accompanied by fever, chills, marked weakness, or redness moving beyond the joint. Arrange follow-up for frequent attacks, persistent swelling, or possible kidney stone symptoms such as severe side pain or blood in urine.

Ask how your urate level and kidney function guide food choices, whether your medicines affect gout, and what to do at the first sign of a flare.