If a person suffers from painful gout symptoms, then there are some foods they can avoid to stop further aggravating the condition.

When excess uric acid (hyperuricemia) accumulates in any of the joints in the body and crystallizes, it is called gout. Purines are compounds broken down by the kidneys to produce uric acid. So, avoid or reduce the intake of foods that contain purine. Remember that a change in diet is not a solution for gout, but it can help alleviate symptoms to a great extent. Here are six foods one must avoid if they have gout.

Meat
Certain meats have high purine content and can worsen gout symptoms. So avoid them in all forms. Examples of purine-rich meat include all kinds of organ meat like sweetbread, liver, kidney, heart, and brain, game meat like bison, rabbit, venison, turkey, quail, and pheasant, fish and seafood like lobster, shrimp, scallops, sardines, squid, herring, oyster, crab, haddock, mackerel, lobster, anchovies, and trout. Also, bacon, beef, pork, lamb, goose, and meat-based bouillon, gravies, and broth are high in purines. Too much consumption of red meat results in increased production of uric acid and its slower elimination too, thus causing painful arthritis or gout.

Alcohol
Increased alcohol consumption is directly proportional to the severity of gout. And, irrespective of which alcoholic beverage one consumes, be it beer or grain liquors like whiskey and vodka, it increases the possibility of recurrence of gout attacks. All types of alcohol are high in purine content and hence inflates the amount of uric acid in the body. Additionally, the excretion of uric acid from the body is also slowed down by alcohol. Alcohol worsens gout symptoms, and that too, within a short span after consumption. Heavy alcohol consumption is known to trigger gout symptoms even at lesser uric acid buildup levels.

Sugar
Even naturally found fructose in honey and fruits is broken down into purines in the body. Concentrated high fructose corn syrup chemically made in laboratories for human consumption is added to many foods. Fructose gets metabolized differently than glucose in the body. Hence, soda, packaged fruit juices, bakery goods, sweetened cereals, and everything else containing fructose is terrible if one suffers from gout. Studies suggest that people who drink more sugary sodas are at a higher risk of developing gout than those who refrain from such sugars.

Whole grains
Surprisingly, unlike for most other illnesses that suggest increased consumption of whole grains over the refined white variety, gout patients must stay away from whole wheat bread and pasta because they worsen a person’s symptoms. It is because whole grains contain more purine than refined carbs.

Vegetables and fruits
There are some vegetables and fruits that contain purine, and when one has gout flare-ups, it is best to eat these in moderation. Purine present in vegetables and fruits like asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, spinach, peas, apples, pears, prunes, avocados, peaches, grapes, pineapples, plums, and dates is low in quantity. It does not cause as much pain as red meat and other sources, it is best to be wary of them, and reduce portion sizes if one already suffers from painful gout.

Dairy and lentils
Full-fat dairy products like milk and cheese are high in purine and can aggravate gout symptoms. So is the case with kidney and fava beans too. So if one is used to eating full-fat dairy and lentils and beans many times a week for their nutritional value, it is best to reduce their intake.