Uric Acid Diet Chart: 4 Best Foods High in Uric Acid

What is Uric Acid?

Uric acid is what remains in the food digestion cycle after all the food has been absorbed by the body. The surplus uric acid is filtered by the kidneys and excreted through the urine passage. In case the body fails at throwing out the excess uric acid, it begins to deposit itself by way of solid crystals in our joints. This condition is referred to as gout and can often be painful. Excessive production of uric acid in the body or its inability to be excreted from the system adequately may result in higher-than-normal levels of uric acid in the blood.

What Causes High Uric Acid?

Let us begin by understanding the primary reasons responsible for elevating the normal levels of uric acid in the blood. Listed below are some of them:

• Overconsumption of alcohol
• Hypothyroidism
• Genetic factors
• Psoriasis
• Immunosuppressants
• Obesity
• A diet rich in purine like liver or meat, sardines, peas, mushrooms, and dried beans
• Diuretic medicines Tumor lysis syndrome that facilitates the quicker release of cells into the bloodstream, particularly in diseases like cancer or during chemotherapy

Does Uric Acid cause the formation of gout?

Uric acid generally does not show any symptoms and goes unnoticed for several years even if it increases to a high level. They may show as gout years later with permanently increased levels. When uric acid levels increase continuously, they form crystals, which usually get collected in the large toe, the kidneys, tendon sheaths, bursae, and ear cartilage. If remain untreated, they cause severe pain and swelling in the areas in the form of gout attacks. However, with the right measures and a balanced diet, you can prevent such conditions. 

How to detect a Gout?

To detect gout, you must check the level of uric acid through a blood test. Men are more likely to develop gout as compared to women. The likelihood of developing gout increases in females when they reach the menopause age. After menopause, the production of estrogen in women stops, which works as a protective layer against gout. Fasting for longer durations as well as eating too much red meat and drinking excessive alcohol may also lead to developing uric acid levels.

Normal levels of Uric Acid in the blood:

Men – 3.5 to 7.0 mg/dl

Women – 2.5 to 5.7 mg/dl

How Can a Uric Acid Diet Chart Help with Gout?

Patients suffering from chronic gout are generally prescribed medications, sometimes for a long term, to keep their condition in healthy check. However, a simpler and perhaps healthier alternative to medicines for gout is eating a diet that is low in fat, which can help in reducing the severity of the problem and provide faster relief from its symptoms. The sections below outline the correct diet for a uric acid patient.

Foods High in Uric Acid Chart

The first step to controlling and also preventing the condition of higher uric acid in the body or gout is to avoid overconsumption of certain food items that increase uric acid levels in the blood. Here we list out some of the common foods that are best avoided in the uric acid diet menu:

• Some fish varieties, particularly mackerel, sardine, and roe
• Some fruits and vegetables such as chikoo or mud apples, custard apples, green peas, cauliflowers, brinjals, spinach, French beans, and mushrooms
• Red meat, minced meat, organ meat, shellfish, and meat extracts
• Whole pulses such as rajma, chole, chana, and Masur dal

Foods to be Included in Uric Acid Diet Chart

We discussed above why patients with high uric acid should control food intake, particularly of some items that can cause more harm than good. Now let us look at some foods that must be included in your diet that can help control and even minimise the symptoms of uric acid:

• Vitamin-C-rich fruits and vegetables like oranges, lemon, red cabbage, potato, and red bell pepper
• Pineapple rich in bromelain
• Banana
• Dairy products with a low-fat content like low-fat curd or yoghurt and skimmed milk
• Celery, parsley, cabbage
• Foods with complex carbohydrates such as cereals and other items prepared with whole wheat, including bread
• Cherries, red berries, blueberries, strawberries

Diet Chart for Uric Acid Patients

Given below is a sample diet chart to be followed for uric acid patients. You may make modifications to this as per your taste and preference, or in consultation with a doctor/nutritionist. This uric acid control diet chart is for indicative purposes only.

Meal of the Day	Food Item
Breakfast	Rice idli/rice dosa with sambhar / bajra roti / corn flakes with toned/skimmed milk / vegetable upma / parantha with green chutney / Uttapam with sambhar / whole wheat bread sandwich
Mid-day snack	Any fruit of your choice – pear, orange, muskmelon, guava, banana, pineapple
Lunch	Brown rice with rasam / jowar roti with any vegetable of your choice – mooli sabzi, bottle gourd, ivy gourd, potato brinjal sabzi, capsicum
Evening snack	Green tea with biscuit
Dinner	Jowar/bajra roti with ladyfinger/cauliflower sabzi / ridge gourd / tinda / raw banana sabzi

10 Tips to Regulate Uric Acid Levels in the Body

Here are some more quick tips to deal with uric acid issues in the body by ensuring that you follow a controlled diet. Food can play a vital and helpful role in regulating the levels of uric acid in your body. If we can take care of what we eat, uric acid and gout can be controlled and prevented to a large extent.

1. Drink plenty of fluids. It helps dilute the urine.
2. Limit the number of unhealthy fats consumed. It prevents the proper excretion of uric acid.
3. Limit intake of alcohol.
4. Avoid taking extra salt with food. Also, add limited salt while preparing food. Avoid adding salt while preparing rice or adding it to Atta while preparing the dough.
5. Limit processed food or food with preservatives, such as chips, bakery items, and fried food.
6. Avoid eating tomatoes with your meals if you have high uric acid. Also avoid curd, chat masala, and pepper powder. Don’t sprinkle lime juice or vinegar over salads or meals.
7. Avoid salted nuts, pickles, papads, and salted biscuits.
8. Eat small portions during the day than 3 heavy meals.
9. Include moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. It may be cycling, walking, swimming, or any other sport of your choice.
10. Avoid carbonated beverages like sodas and soft drinks. Senior Citizen Health Insurance from PayBima

What are some do’s and don’ts to control Uric Acid?

Do’s	Don’ts
Add vegetables to each meal you eat	Don’t drink cold drinks, sweets, cakes, donuts, chips, and   other packed food items.
Drink plenty of water all through the day	Don’t skip a meal and don’t snack between meals
Consume food in small portions	Eat slowly and chew each bite well
Exercise 30 minutes to 1 hour every day – include brisk   walking and cycling	Don’t pick food from the supermarket without consideration
Be aware of what you eat and what you buy for grocery	Don’t consume more than 2-3 pieces of fruit in a day

Uric Acid treatment

High Uric Acid levels can be controlled by changing your eating habits and diet. However, if changes in diet don’t reduce the level of uric acid, you will have to take medication. Medicines will reduce the production of uric acid or may help eliminate uric acid from the kidneys. Gout attacks can be treated through medicines as well. Further, you may use cold compresses for significant and quick relief.