In this article, we will discuss about high purine foods. Do you know that alcohol and foods rich in purines are known to be involved in the symptoms of gout? Below we have listed some of the high purine foods that may increase the risk of developing gout. But before that, let us know about purines.
Purines are vital substances essential for the production of amino acids in the body. These are the basic building blocks of the human body. Purines can be found in many foods, and in different amounts. Purines are broken down into uric acid, which is a waste product, usually excreted with urine. It is a compound which is present naturally in a variety of plant- and animal-based foods. Consuming purine rich diet increases the levels of uric acid in the body. If there is excessive uric acid in the blood, people can develop a condition known as Hyperuricemia.
Hyperuricemia is the initial phase of gout. Gout is a rheumatic disease in which excess uric acid develops into small, needle-like crystals in the soft tissues and joints. Hyperuricemia can occur if your kidneys are not able to excrete uric acid properly. Such condition is responsible for kidney stones or gout.
If you’re thinking to lower the production of uric acid in your body, you’ll want to limit foods that are high in purines. This is because such foods will force your body to produce more uric acid, which in turn can lead to gout attack. Consulting with your doctor about the best ways to treat and manage your gout is a good idea. Plus, this list will give you some insight on what to avoid in your meal.
List of High Purine Foods:
1.) Sunflower Seeds as a Rich Purine Food
Sunflower seeds would make an excellent snack, but it can’t be is case to prevent gout as they are high in purines. Remember that a serving of sunflower seeds is only 1/3rd of what is mentioned below. So you’ll be getting 1/3rd of the purines. But it is still adding to your collective total, which can cause problems if other mid-range purine foods are also consumed.
- 100 grams of sunflower seeds contain 143 milligrams of Purines with 584 calories.
2.) Sardines as one of the High Purine Foods
Sardines are another food to exclude when you’re trying to prevent gout. Although, this salty fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids, but they’re also rich in purines, Sardines are likely to activate a reaction if consumed in anything resembling a decent amount. This food is not an ingredient which is used a lot in typical recipes, so it’s not that hard to avoid it.
- 100 grams of Sardines provide 480 milligrams of Purine with 208 calories.
3.) Organ Meats as one of the High Purine Foods
Organ meats are the one that you’ll surely want to avoid, as they have some of the highest purine levels across the list. So while these foods may be a great source of Minerals and Vitamins like Iron, Potassium, and Magnesium, it’s just not worth the risk because of the high levels of purines they contain. Such organ meats include hearts, livers, spleens and other parts from a variety of animals.
- 100 grams of organ meat contain 444-773 milligrams with a very high calorie count.
4.) Duck as a Food High in Purine
Duck is not a very common food for most of the American families, but still it shows up on many restaurant menus, often with a luring description. You’ll want to neglect it though, so that you don’t end up suffering with the purines it includes. One of the dangerous facts about gout is that you can’t be sure of what will cause an attack. So it’s best to play it safe and reduce or keep a distance from the foods you’re unsure of. Duck is one such food.
- 100 grams of duck have 138 milligrams of Purines with 337 calories.
5.) Beef as one of the High Purine Foods
Beef is a quite harder to give up as it shows up on most of the restaurant menus. Also, almost every supermarket offers a huge variety of different sizes of raw beef. While it is not as purine-loaded as organ meats or sardines are, beef still ranks quite high, and if consumed in large quantities, it can cause a problem for those prone to gout attack. Consult with your doctor to see if beef is OK for you or not.
- 100 grams of beef contain 110-133 milligrams of Purine with a lot of calorie counts.
6.) Chicken High in Purines
Chicken may be among the most difficult foods to keep off of your plate because of being so prevalent in our society. It’s the top most-consumed meat in America. So, if you’re trying to lower the amount of purines you take in, you’ll have to make a hard decision as to whether or not you can avoid chicken. It includes more purines than what beef have. But, it does not contain as much as several fish.
- 100 grams of chicken include 175 milligrams of Purines with 172 calories.
7.) Fish as a Food Rich in Purines
With so many varieties of fish, it’s difficult to judge exactly what sort of purines, they contain, but almost each variety is quite high. Some of the worst culprits are herring, anchovies and perch, with other fish having lower amount, but are still higher than your average food. To play it safe you should avoid all fish unless your doctor has specifically suggested one that you can have.
- 100 grams of fish include about 110-345 milligrams of Purines with various calorie counts.
8.) Lamb as Food High in Uric Acid
Similar to other meats listed here, lamb is high in both purine and protein, giving a double warning sign to those who are looking to prevent their gout flare ups. Although, lamb is not among the most commonly eaten meats in the US, but it is available in plenty at most of the grocery stores and butchers. Also, many restaurants include it in their international list. Lamb contains more purines than beef does. Therefore, it’s best to avoid it completely.
- 100 grams of lamb include 182 milligrams with 283 calories.
9.) Turkey as Rich Source of Purine
Turkey is found almost everywhere in the world of sandwiches and deli meats. So it can be quite difficult to avoid the temptation if you’re a great turkey fan. But unluckily it comes with a high purines, which make it a bane for gout sufferers. It has a little less purines than chicken, but still, both contain higher than average. Discuss with your doctor to see what exactly you should eat and what you should incorporate.
- 100 grams of turkey have 150 milligrams of Purines with 104 calories.
10.) Shrimp as a Rich Source of Purine
Shrimp is among the most commonly eaten shellfish. It ranks only behind the fish in the seafood category as most extensively available. This can cause a problem because shrimp can find its way into menu items which don’t openly list it. For example, the spring rolls or fried rice at a Chinese joint may include shrimp, but you won’t know it until you start eating it. So It’s always best to check when you are in doubt at a food joint.
- 100 grams of shrimp have 147 milligrams Purines with 106 calories.