| If you have a gout attack, coffee may be | | | | prevent a gout attack, but it's still important to |
| beneficial, but to more effectively treat gout and | | | | remain healthy by making sure you're feeding |
| stop it from occurring, you need to learn how to | | | | your body a balanced diet. A balanced diet for |
| successfully stick with gout reducing diets. The | | | | gout - according to the American Medical |
| following are 5 different tips on how you can | | | | Association - is one that is: |
| create a diet plan that will work for you: | | | | Low in protein - it is recommended that as much |
| Tip 1 - Know what foods to avoid and what | | | | as 15% of calorie intake be from sources such as |
| foods to welcome into your diet. The goal of any | | | | soy, poultry and lean meats, while a maximum of |
| gout prevention diet is to stay away from foods | | | | 30% of calories should be from fat. |
| that increase uric acid levels, which increase your | | | | High in complex carbohydrates (I.E. fruits, |
| risk of a gout attack, and stick with those that | | | | vegetables and whole grains) |
| keep uric acid levels under control. Make a list of | | | | As a general rule of thumb, it's a good idea to eat |
| foods to avoid, as well as a list of friendly foods, | | | | more frequent and smaller meals than fewer |
| and keep these lists posted on your fridge, and in | | | | larger meals. This will not only help you better |
| your organizer/planner, so you'll never be without | | | | digest your food; it also allows you to limit your |
| them come mealtime, and when making an | | | | portion sizes. This way, you can ensure that the |
| effective grocery list. Below are two brief lists: | | | | protein portion of your meal is always the |
| Foods to avoid: | | | | smallest. |
| - All alcoholic beverages | | | | Tip 3 - Plan your meals ahead of time - Planning |
| - Yeast | | | | your meals helps to strengthen your will power |
| - Red meat | | | | when it comes to making food choices. By |
| - Organ meat (hearts, kidneys, liver, etc.) | | | | planning your meals ahead of time, you will avoid |
| - Turkey | | | | giving into your craving for purine-rich foods, |
| - Meat extracts | | | | which is more likely to occur when you are |
| - Gravies | | | | hungry and haven't thought about what you are |
| - Anchovies, | | | | going to eat. For this reason, it is very important |
| - Fish roes | | | | that you take the time to prepare yourself a |
| - Herring, | | | | lunch/dinner for work ahead of time, so you don't |
| - Mussels | | | | continuously eat out, as most restaurants don't |
| - Scallops | | | | offer menus with meals that prevent a gout |
| - Legumes (peas, dried beans, etc.) | | | | attack.Tip 4 -Know how to make substitutions |
| - Spinach | | | | when eating out - Everyone eats out from time |
| - Asparagus | | | | to time, and just because you are prone to gout |
| - Cauliflower | | | | shouldn't stop you from this enjoyment. Of |
| - Mushrooms | | | | course, this doesn't mean you should indulge in |
| - Sweetbreads | | | | any food offered on the menu. When it comes to |
| Beneficial foods: | | | | eating out, you need to learn how to substitute |
| - Complex carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, | | | | food to save yourself from a gout attack, while |
| cereal, etc.) | | | | still tantalising your taste buds. Here are a few |
| - Dark berries (black berries, blueberries, | | | | suggestions: |
| raspberries, etc.) | | | | Appetizer - Instead of mussels try garlic bread or |
| - Cherries | | | | a veggie salad (Note: make sure to eliminate any |
| - Bananas | | | | veggies that are not conducive to a gout diet) |
| - Oranges | | | | Entrée - Instead of steak have salmon |
| - Pineapple | | | | with rice or a vegetarian dish |
| - Tomatoes | | | | Dessert - Instead of cappuccino and cheesecake, |
| - Kale | | | | go for a cup of tea/coffee and a fruit bowl |
| - Parsley | | | | Tip 5 - Create and discover different gout recipes |
| - Tofu | | | | - Eating the same foods over and over again, or |
| - Salmon | | | | preparing meals the same way, becomes |
| - Flax and flax oil | | | | extremely boring and downright depressing after |
| - Olive oil | | | | awhile. The last thing you want to do is not look |
| - Water | | | | forward to eating, because skipping meals or |
| - Fruit juices | | | | reverting back to an unhealthy and purine-rich diet |
| - Coffee/tea | | | | will only bring back the gout attack. Take some |
| Tip 2 - Eat a balanced diet - Knowing what foods | | | | time to look into gout reducing diets and recipes |
| to limit and increase in your diet will help to | | | | or started creating some of your own recipes. |