How Eating Too Much Meat Can Give You Gout

Gout -- a painful type of arthritis that affects your toes, feet and ankles -- can often feel like it comes on suddenly for no real reason. Gout pain can keep you from working and functioning in daily life, but how can you prevent it if it shows up out of nowhere? 

It may be surprising to some, but gout does have a cause despite its sudden appearance -- purines. What may come as more of a shock is that you invite these purines into your body when you eat certain types of food, such as meat.

What Are Purines and How Do They Cause Gout?

Purine is a natural chemical found in both the human body and in food. When purines break down in the body, they produce a waste product called uric acid. Most uric acid is cleaned out of your blood by your kidneys and excreted in urine. However, if you have high levels of purines in your body, your kidneys might not be up to the task of filtering it all out. Once uric acid builds up in the blood, it can crystallise in your joints. This is what causes gout.

What Does Meat Have to Do with It?

Different foods contain different levels of purine. A diet predominantly made up of high-purine foods gives you an increased risk of gout. Just a few days of ingesting too many purines can drastically increase your chances. A study at Boston University showed that the risk grew by 40% if purine intake went from 1 gram to 1.75 grams over 2 days. One of the most high-purine foods is meat. The meats highest in purines are organ meats like liver, sweetbreads, heart, spleen and lungs. Beef, chicken, duck, ham, lamb, horse, pork, veal and venison aren't as high in purines as organs, but too much of them can still lead to uric acid buildup. By making meat a bigger part of your diet than it should be, you're putting yourself at a greater risk of recurring gout.

How Can You Prevent Gout?

Simply put, reducing the amount of meat in your diet can help you prevent gout. Reducing other high-purine foods like seafood, beer, liquor, asparagus, dried  beans, mushrooms, peas and spinach can also be helpful. Remember, adult men only need 52 to 64 grams of protein per day and adult women only need 37 to 46 grams. It's important to fulfill your daily requirements, but there's no need to go over them. You can also diversify your protein intake with low-purine proteins like eggs, nuts and peanut butter. Plenty of other delicious foods like bread, pasta, rice, tea, coffee, low-fat cheese, fruit, juice, low-fat milk and most vegetables are all low in purines.

What If You Still Get Gout?

If you already have gout and you find it recurring frequently, it's a good idea to see your podiatrist. A podiatrist will be able to advise you on how to relieve gout pain and show you further ways to prevent gout. They'll also be able to guide you on and provide you with the most comfortable shoes to wear during a gout flare-up. You may also need painkillers and medication to reduce uric acid production; you can get these from a primary care doctor of a podiatrist endorsed to prescribe medication.