What Are the Dos and Donts for Gout Patients in Daily Life and Diet Management?

Gout, a disease closely related to the body's metabolism, is difficult to cure. Once it occurs in daily life, patients with gout will experience severe pain in their joints, which is difficult to alleviate. To avoid joint pain, it is important to pay attention to one's diet and avoid high-purine foods. At the same time, one can increase the intake of calcium and protein-rich foods.

1. Encourage the intake of soy products: Soy foods are rich in protein, isoflavones, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The consumption of soy foods is not associated with blood uric acid levels, hyperuricemia, or gout. Five intervention studies have found that although soy protein may increase blood uric acid levels, the clinical impact of this increase is negligible compared to the average intake among Asians. A recent domestic study found that a high-protein diet containing soybeans significantly reduced blood uric acid levels in patients with hyperuricemia after three months.

2. Encourage the intake of low-fat milk and yogurt: Both short-term and long-term consumption of dairy products, especially skim milk and low-calorie yogurt, can reduce uric acid levels. Additionally, glycomacropeptide and G600 in milk have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help reduce acute gout attacks by mitigating the inflammatory response caused by monosodium urate crystals in the joints.

3. Encourage the consumption of vegetables and fruits: The intake of vegetables and fruits rich in purines does not increase blood uric acid levels. A diet primarily consisting of vegetables can lower uric acid levels, and this effect has been observed even when eating spinach. Cherries, which contain anthocyanins, have uric acid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that can prevent gout attacks.

4. Limit the total intake of protein:

5. Limit the consumption of sugary drinks: It is important to emphasize to gout patients the importance of avoiding or minimizing the intake of sugary drinks and packaged foods such as pastries, desserts, and cold drinks. When cooking, it is advisable to reduce the amount of sugar added and limit the intake of fruits rich in fructose. At the same time, it is crucial to educate the public about the harmful effects of excessive sugar intake on health.