What Causes High Uric Acid and How to Reduce It

What is uric acid?

Uric acid refers to the waste product found in blood. It is formed when the blood breaks down chemicals called purines. Most uric acid dissolves in the blood, panes through the kidneys, and leaves the body in urine. Foods high in purines can increase uric acid in the body.

What causes high uric acid?

Factors that may cause high uric acid levels in your blood include:

• Diuretics (water retention relievers)
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Genetic (inherited tendencies)
• Immune-suppressing drugs
• Niacin or Vitamin B-3
• Obesity
• Psoriasis

Normal values in blood

The normal uric acid levels in the blood differ based on gender and are given in the table below.

How to lower uric acid

You can lower uric acid naturally by keeping your diet in check and following certain tips which are explained below.

Foods to eat (low purine)

• Fruits: All fruits are generally fine for gout. Cherries may even help prevent attacks by lowing uric acid levels and reducing inflammation.
• Vegetables: All vegetables are fine including potatoes, peas, mushrooms, and dark green leafy vegetables.
• Legumes: All legumes are fine, including lentils, beans, soybeans, and tofu.
• Nuts:  All nuts and seeds
• Whole grain: Those include oats, brown rice, and barky.
• Dairy products: All dairy is safe, but low-fat dairy appears to be especially beneficial.
• Eggs
• Beverages: Coffee, tea, and green tea.
• Herbs and spices: All herbs and spices.
• Plants–based oils: Including canola, coconuts, olive, and flax oils.

Foods you can eat in moderation

They contain a moderate amount of purine, which a considered to be 100 – 200 mg per 100 grams, thus eating too much then may trigger a gout attack.

• Meat: These include chicken, beef, pork, and lamb, other fish fresh or canned salmon generally contains lower levels of purines than most other fish.
• Whole grains: Whole grains bran, oat bran, whole meal bread.

Foods to avoid (high purine)

• All organ meats: Liver, kidney, brain, etc.
• Sugary beverages: Especially fruit juices and sugary sodas.
• Added sugars: Honey, agave nectar, and high fructose corn syrup.
• Yeasts: Nutritional yeast, Brower yeast, other yeast, and supplements.
• Seafood
• Vegetables: Cauliflower, spinach, peas

Tips for reduced uric acid levels and gout

• Watch your weight
• Eat fresh fruit, vegetables whole wheat products, and some pulses ( high in purine ) every day.
• Keep an eye on the purine content of food, and avoid offal, shellfish such as sardines in oil.
• Eat no more than 100 grams of meat, sausages, fish, and poultry a day.
• Drink alcohol only occasionally, and it affects the elimination of uric acid.
• Eat low-fat food, the consumption of high-fat foods encourages weight gain.
• Drink at least two liters of low-calorie fluids a day.