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Non Veg And Uric Acid Uric acid is a chemical that is produced in one’s body when the body is unable to break down certain substances that are known as purines. Usually, majority of the uric acid will get dissolved in ones blood and then travel to the kidneys from where it is then finally passed out of the body via urine. One of effective and simplest ways of ensuring that the uric acid levels are reduced in the body is to reduce the consumption of foods that are rich in purines. In fact many a time, non veg and uric acid or non veg and purines tend to go hand in hand as a result of which most doctors will recommend that patients suffering from high levels of uric acid should include more vegetarians foods in their daily diet. Meat and uric acid are synonymous especially meats such as lamb, beef, venison, mutton and even sea food tend to have high amounts of purines.
Instead those who have to consume some amount of meat should replace these red meats which other meats such as turkey, chicken or even duck which do not have as many purines. However to avoid the complications that arise on account of high amounts of uric acid in the blood one should eat all meats very rarely as far as possible. Non veg and uric acid go hand in hand mostly because of the cell or nuclear protein content of non veg food which results in an increase in the levels of uric acid in the blood.
Similarly there are also certain vegetables that are known to have high purine content and that contribute to a rise in the levels of uric acid in the blood. These vegetables are spinach, cauliflower, mushrooms, peas and dried beans. Some of the foods that are low in purines and can be safely consumed by those who are diagnosed by high levels of uric acid include flax, olive oil, dark berries, tofu and so on.
Foods like bacon pork, and organ meats should be strictly avoided on account of their high purine content. In addition to following a diet that is not rich in purines one should also ensure that they follow a balanced diet, drink plenty of fresh drinking water at all time and also get some exercise in the form of walks, jogging and so on. It has been consumed that non veg and gout also tend to follow each other because gout is a medical condition that is caused on the elevation of the levels of uric acid in the body.
Those suffering from gout should also monitor their weight because weight also plays an important role in aggravating the symptoms of gout since the more weight one gains the more stress is put on the joints thereby causing more pain. Gout is basically one of the most painful forms of arthritis wherein the levels of uric acid reach beyond the desired levels on account of the regular consumption of foods that are high in purines.
Causes of Uric Acid: Uric acid is the chemical the body creates when it fails to break down substances called purines. Most uric acid dissolves in the blood and travels to the kidneys and then passes out in urine. If your body produces too much uric acid or does not get rid of it, you can get very ill. Hperuricemia is the medical term for very high levels of uric acid in the body. Obesity is linked to high levels of uric acid in the blood. Another cause could be if the kidneys are damaged due to acute nephritis or some other infection. Other diseases like leukemia, cyanotic congenital heart diseases, polycythaemia, and psoriasis could also give rise to high levels of uric acid. Certain drugs have also been found to be responsible in causing the blood uric acid levels to rise. Research has shown that diets rich in purines and high protein cause gout (a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid).
Diet for Uric Acid: One simple but effective way of reducing the levels of uric acid is by reducing the amount of purines in a daily diet. A uric acid diet is low in purine foods and hence helps to regulate uric acid levels in the body. Most patients are recommended to include more vegetarian foods in their diet. Non vegetarian foods, including sea food, add to the uric acid in the blood because of their cell/nuclear protein content. Foods to Avoid Uric Acid: Uric acid foods to avoid are red meats such as beef, lamb, venison, mutton and replace them with white meats like duck, turkey, or chicken. These do not contain as many purines but should be eaten only occasionally. Bacon should be avoided completely. Seafood is also high in uric acid and is often difficult to replace in a diet plan. Substitute it with tofu or chicken once again. Other foods that are high in purine are pork, heart, liver, kidneys, mussels, sweetbreads, sardines, herrings, scallops, mackerels, anchovies. Mushroom, spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, dried beans, and peas have a high purine content too. Foods that are moderately high in purines are grouse, veal, salmon, turkey, partridge, trout, goose, pheasant and haddock. Drinks such as beer, lager and ale should also be avoided as they contain yeast and are high in uric acid. Replace them with spirit mixes, cocktails or cider. Bread should be avoided too and substituted with other carbohydrates such as rice or potatoes. Unpolished rice is a better option as compared to white polished rice. Beneficial foods include dark berries, tofu, flax, olive oil, and nuts.
Avoiding foods rich in purines is only one way to reduce uric acid levels in the blood. It is essential to maintain a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, exercise, and take prescribed medication to keep uric acid under control.
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