The Role of Diet
There's a common belief that poor diet “causes” gout. Some people may even feel that gout is something they brought on themselves by overindulging in certain foods or by drinking alcohol.
In truth, anyone who has hyperuricemia—consistently high levels of uric acid in the blood—is at risk of having a gout attack. Although it's true that certain foods and alcoholic beverages add to your body's pool of uric acid, these are two among many factors related to hyperuricemia.
You may hear that eating or avoiding certain foods is the “key ” to managing gout. In reality, the way your body processes uric acid is much more important than diet.
No one can predict when an attack might occur for someone with hyperuricemia. It may be triggered by something you eat or drink, or it may be triggered by certain medicines, the presence of an illness, stressful events, or some other factor. Many times, it may be difficult to say what triggered a specific attack. Having your healthcare provider measure your uric acid levels may help predict your chances of having a future attack.
If you think that diet acts as a trigger for your gout attacks, changing your diet may help. However, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider about choosing the right plan for you. Despite what many people may think about “low-purine” diets, they may not have a very large impact on the level of uric acid in the blood. Your healthcare provider may decide that a more realistic approach for you is to maintain a healthy balanced diet, avoiding foods that are high in purines.
If you're overweight or obese, you should discuss weight management with your healthcare provider since obesity is one of several conditions commonly associated with gout.