A high uric acid level, or hyperuricemia, is an excess of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is produced during the breakdown of purines, which are found in some foods and are also formed by your body during normal metabolic functions.
Once produced, uric acid is transported into the bloodstream and passes through the kidneys, where most of it is filtered into the urine. If this elimination process does not occur efficiently, uric acid levels can accumulate over time and lead to gout attacks or the development of kidney stones.
Here are some practical tips for controlling high uric acid levels:
- Reduce foods rich in purines. Game, poultry, cured meats, fatty meats, red meat, offal, liver, bacon, trout, tuna, sardines, anchovies, mussels and herring, dairy products, excess alcohol, sugary drinks.
- Consume foods low in purines. Majority of fresh fruits and vegetables, favoring those in season. Cereals, pasta and rice (the starch in carbohydrates helps eliminate uric acid). Low-fat dairy products (yogurt, cottage cheese). Legumes to be consumed in moderation
- Pursue a healthy body weight. Overweight and obesity promote uricemia and the occurrence of gout.
- Take vitamin C regularly. A meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials found that vitamin C significantly reduced blood uric acid levels
- Eat the cherries. Some research suggests that cherries may reduce the risk of gout attacks, particularly in people with a previous history of the disease. A study of 633 people with gout found that eating cherries for 2 days reduced the risk of a gout attack by 35 percent compared with not eating cherries
Do you have high uric acid and want to find a dietary and supplement strategy to control uricemia? Contact me for a free initial consultation