Living

How to prevent gout attacks

Gout occurs when there are high levels of uric acid in the blood. This can cause crystals of uric acid to settle in the joints. As uric acid levels accumulate with the breakdown of foods containing purine, it’s important to reduce the intake of foods high in purine.

Foods high in purine – Restrict your intake

• Asparagus, cauliflower, mushroom
• Oatmeal
• Wheat bran and wheat germ
• Red meat

Food highest in purine - Abstain completely if possible

Meat extracts

• Broths, meat stocks and gravies
• Chicken essence
• Bak kut teh

Certain fish or shellfish

• Salmon, herring, mackerel, prawn
• Anchovies (ikan bilis), sardines, fish roe
• Cockles, mussels, scallops

Certain fruits and vegetables

• Spinach, peas, carrots
• Strawberries (& strawberry jam)
• Durian, tomato & tomato sauce

Beans and legumes

• Beancurd, soya bean drink
• Peanuts, bean cake, moon cake

All internal organs of animals and birds

• Liver, kidney, brain

If you’re at risk for gout, you should also reduce your consumption of alcoholic beverages. “It’s also important to drink adequate water to help flush out the uric acid, unless you have some contra-indication,” says Dr Tan York Kiat.