What people with high uric acid should eat and what to abstain is a problem that gets a lot of attention. Because diet directly affects the concentration of uric acid in the blood and progression of a number of related diseases such as gout, kidney stones, high blood pressure, …
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What should people with high uric acid eat?
Uric acid (C5H5N5O3) is a product of protein (purine) metabolism in foods. Normally, uric acid will be eliminated through the kidneys and only exist in a certain amount in the blood. However, if you eat too much protein or your kidneys’ ability to eliminate, the amount of uric acid in your blood may increase.
Increasing uric acid to a certain threshold will trigger an acute flare of gout pain – a chronic inflammatory arthritis associated with metabolic disorders. In addition, high uric acid also causes many complications to the kidneys, other secretory organs, blood pressure, physiological functions, … Therefore, people with high uric acid levels need to conduct treatment measures. and take care to stabilize uric acid in the blood.
One of the simple ways to lower blood uric acid is to consume healthy foods. According to experts, some foods have the ability to reduce the formation and increase uric acid excretion by the kidneys naturally.
Therefore, people with high uric acid should supplement the following foods:
1. Green vegetables – Good food for people with high uric acid
Green vegetables are a group of foods rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. This is one of the best foods for people with high uric acid levels. Regular green vegetable supplementation helps alkaline urine and increase uric acid excretion through the kidneys.
In addition, the content of vitamins and minerals in this food group also promotes metabolism, limits uric acid production and supports the regulation of uric acid levels in the blood. In addition, green vegetables also contain antioxidants that protect the body, destroy free radicals and help reduce the inflammatory response caused by gout – arthritis that occurs due to excessive hyperuricemia.
2. Fruits help control blood uric acid
Similar to green vegetables, fruits are a group of foods rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. The nutritional components in this food group work to increase the renal excretion of uric acid, help regulate the concentration of uric acid in the blood and prevent acute gout flare-ups.
As is known, increased uric acid in the blood also affects kidney function and causes high blood pressure. However, if you add fruit regularly, the fiber and antioxidants in this food have the ability to clean the lumen, regulate blood pressure and reduce the effect of hyperuricemia on the cardiovascular system.
Some recent studies show that vitamin C in fruits also has the effect of increasing uric acid excretion through the kidneys and improving the function of the secretory organs. Experiments on patients with increased blood uric acid levels found that supplementing with 500mg of vitamin C per day for 2 months can stabilize blood uric acid, control gout pain, and some related diseases.
In addition, vitamin C also helps strengthen the immune system, improve health and fight aging. Supplementing with fruits rich in vitamin C on a regular basis keeps the body healthier and increases the ability to withstand the pain of gout. Besides vitamin C, fresh fruits also contain many antioxidants that can reduce inflammation such as bromelain, quercetin, flavonoid, …
According to experts, people with high uric acid should eat fruits rich in vitamins and minerals such as cherries, pineapple, grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, strawberries, … Avoid fruits containing too much acid or too much. Sugar such as ripe mango, durian, cane, toad, tamarind, … These fruits can affect the stomach and raise blood sugar – especially in the middle-aged and the elderly.
3. Yogurt – Good food for people with high uric acid
When uric acid levels rise, many fear that supplementing with cow’s milk may increase blood acidity and trigger gout flare-ups. To control this, you can replace it with yogurt. This food provides the body with many essential ingredients such as vitamin D, lactic acid, protein and trace elements. Besides, yogurt also contains many beneficial bacteria (probiotics) that are able to regulate digestive activities and support renal excretion.
In addition, some studies also show that orotic acid in this food has the effect of reducing the activity of reuptake and increasing uric acid excretion through excretion. Therefore, people with high uric acid should add yogurt to the diet to control uric acid levels in the blood and prevent the progression of gout.
In addition, this food also contains lactalbumin and casein that can reduce pain inflammation caused by gout. It is also one of the most nutritious and low-purine foods.
4. People with high uric acid should drink coffee
Coffee is a high-caffeine beverage with the ability to excite nerves and create a feeling of elation and alertness. In addition, coffee also has many benefits for people with high uric acid levels. Recent studies show that caffeine, polyphenols and some minerals in this drink can break down purines, reducing uric acid formation thereby helping to regulate the uric acid index in the blood.
Besides, the antioxidants in coffee also help the kidneys increase uric acid excretion ability. It can be seen that coffee both affects the formation process and interferes with uric acid excretion activity in the body. However, currently, there is still a lot of controversy surrounding the issue of coffee reducing uric acid in the blood. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before adding this drink to your diet.
5. Cocoa, pure chocolate
Cocoa and pure chocolate both contain Theobromine alkaloids – ingredients that have been shown to effectively regulate blood pressure and increase uric acid excretion from the body. In addition, this food also contains a rich content of antioxidants (polyphenols). The polyphenols in cocoa have been shown to regulate blood pressure, control blood sugar and aid in reducing inflammation.
Therefore, you can include cocoa and pure chocolate in your diet to control uric acid in your blood and regulate blood sugar and blood pressure levels. In addition, the antioxidants in this food group also help slow down the aging process, protect liver and kidney function and improve the skeletal system.
Note: Pure cocoa and chocolate should be used. Avoid products that have been adulterated and contain high levels of milk and sugar. These products only contain about 5 – 10% cocoa and are low in antioxidants.
6. Green Tea – Good food for people with high uric acid concentration
Green tea is one of the foods that is good for people with high uric acid levels in the blood. The antioxidants in tea such as EGCG, polypheno, flavonoid, gallocatechin, … have anti-inflammatory properties and reduce swelling and pain caused by gout (usually occurs in the big toe joint). In addition, vitamins and minerals in tea leaves also help the kidneys increase the ability to excrete and remove excess uric acid from the body.
In addition to its ability to control blood uric acid, green tea also has many health benefits such as weight control, blood sugar regulation, blood pressure and memory enhancement. Besides, calcium, magnesium and fluoride in tea leaves are involved in the regeneration and production of bone tissue.
7. Natural oils
Natural oils are high in fatty acids, minerals and antioxidants. Some studies show that adding certain oils to the diet can lubricate the joint, reduce gout red inflammation and aid in controlling uric acid levels in the blood.
Natural oils with proven effects in blood uric acid control:
- Olive Oil : Olive oil is a healthy oil that contains a rich amount of unsaturated fatty acids, minerals and antioxidants. The polyphenols in this oil such as oleupropein, lignan, oleocanthal, … have the effect of reducing inflammation and swelling pain in the joint. Using olive oil as an alternative to animal oils can control blood uric acid levels, aid weight loss, and prevent gout progression.
- Coconut Oil: The lauric acid in coconut oil has the ability to increase uric acid excretion. Therefore, you can add coconut oil to your diet to control uric acid levels in your blood. In addition to lauric acid, coconut oil also contains many healthy ingredients such as antioxidants (vitamin E, phenol, phytosterol), vitamins, minerals, … Therefore, adding coconut oil to your diet can improve. health, boosts the immune system, and supports blood uric acid control.
- Flaxseed Oil : Flaxseed oil contains an abundance of Omega 3 along with protein and essential minerals. Adding this oil to your diet can clean your blood vessels, prevent atherosclerosis and control blood pressure levels. Although they have no effect on uric acid clearance, the antioxidants in flaxseed oil are capable of reducing excess uric acid formation.
8. People with high uric acid concentration should drink enough water
The kidneys are the organs that remove internal uric acid from the body. So to ensure uric acid is completely purified, need to drink enough 2 liters of water / day. However, it should be divided into several times a day to avoid putting pressure on the kidneys and other muscles through excretion. In addition, drinking enough water also helps regulate blood pressure and increase metabolism.
Not only does it help reduce the concentration of uric acid in the blood, but drinking enough water also helps prevent uric acid stones (urate stones) – one of the common complications caused by hyperuricemia in the long term. To avoid accumulation of uric acid along with minerals in the urine, it is recommended to drink enough 2 – 2.5 liters of water. If possible, water with an alkaline pH should be used to reduce the acidity of the urine, thereby reducing the risk of stones forming in the kidneys and bladder.
High uric acid should abstain from what to eat?
As mentioned, uric acid is a product of purine nuclear metabolism found in protein-rich foods. So to control uric acid levels in your blood, you should limit certain foods high in purines. In addition, for the process of uric acid excretion to take place smoothly, it is necessary to avoid adding foods that interrupt the kidneys’ excretion.
Here are some foods and drinks to limit when your blood uric acid levels rise:
1. Foods high in purines
Purines are heterocyclic organic compounds found in all foods – including plants. When tolerated in the body, the amount of purines will be degraded and converted to uric acid. Forming too much uric acid can increase blood levels, leading to gout and a number of related diseases.
Therefore, to control uric acid levels in your blood, you should diet foods high in purines such as:
- Red meat and offal
- Animal fat, fast food
- Seafood such as crab, crab, shrimp, squid, …
- Some vegetables and beans such as soybeans, red beans, mushrooms, asparagus, … also contain high levels of purines
Eating foods high in purines can cause your body to produce more uric acid and make gout worse. Therefore, you should limit your intake of these foods to control the progression of the disease. Instead, should replace with foods rich in protein but not too high in purines such as fish, pork, chicken, …
2. Salt – Spices should be abstained
Salt works to balance electrolytes, limit cramps and prevent low blood pressure. However, people with high uric acid levels should limit the amount of salt tolerated each day to avoid affecting the progression of the disease.
Studies show that eating too much salt increases the amount of albumin excreted in the urine, thereby disrupting the renal uric acid clearance. The amount of uric acid will be reabsorbed into the bloodstream and cause many serious effects. In addition, the habit of eating a lot of salt also increases the risk of kidney stones and bladder stones.
3. Alcohol
Alcohol is not the direct cause of hyperuricemia like high-purine foods. However, regular consumption of these drinks may cause the kidneys to reduce uric acid excretion. This is because alcoholic beverages produce lactic acid. When lactic acid increases, kidneys will prioritize digging into this acid, leading to the accumulation of uric acid in the blood.
Regular use of alcohol also causes kidney function to decline, leading to a state that uric acid is not completely excreted and accumulates in the body. In addition, some of the ingredients in these drinks also increase the level of pain inflammation in the injured joint.
In addition, you also need to limit foods high in sugar, processed foods, high in flavoring, preservatives and should avoid tobacco use. Abstaining from certain drinks and foods helps to minimize uric acid formation, thereby maintaining stable blood uric acid levels and assisting in controlling the progression of gout.
Some note when eating
Unlike healthy people, people with high uric acid levels need to follow a strict diet to lower blood uric acid and control the progression of gout. In addition to grasping the foods and drinks that should be supplemented and abstained, you need to pay attention to the following issues:
- There should be a variety of foods in the daily diet so that the body is fully provided with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, … Avoid excessive diet that causes the body to lose weight, lose weight and reduce the ability to resistance.
- Most cases of hyperuricemia are associated with overweight – obesity. If you are overweight, you should build a scientific diet and exercise regularly to control weight, reduce excess fat and support uric acid lowering.
- Eat and drink on time and with enough meals. Limit skipping meals or overeating. Also, avoid eating too late and get active right after eating.
- Hyperuricemia can cause gout, kidney stones and increase the risk of medical diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes … In case you have many conditions at the same time, you should talk to your doctor to advice on specific diet formulation.
The article answers the question What should people with high uric acid eat and what to abstain from? Hopefully, through the above information, readers can develop a suitable diet to control blood uric acid and progression of the disease. For more specific advice on this issue, it is advisable to conduct an examination and talk directly with a specialist.
