Gout is one disease that is primarily affected by the foods you eat. That makes it something you will need to closely monitor during the holidays when food is all around and most of it isn’t good for gout sufferers.
The truth about holiday food
Everyone knows holiday food isn’t healthy but most don’t want to have strict diets around the holidays. What fun would that be? Yet, those who have gout need to be aware because certain foods will trigger sudden attacks.
Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid buildup is brought by foods high in purines. The two things that have high purine content are meats and alcohol. Those are the two things most prevalent on holiday menus.
Holiday foods to avoid
You can’t avoid all things on the holiday meal but choosing what to include on your menu becomes important. Red meat has the highest level of purines so that shouldn’t be a featured item. Many may think poultry and fish are fine but they aren’t as good as you would think. Shellfish and organ meats are particularly high in purines.
Alcohol should be completely avoided. Research shows drinking more than one beverage within 24 hours
raises the risk of a gout attack by 36%.
What to substitute
You do want to have a good holiday meal. That is part of the holidays. It can happen if you plan good food substitutions.
Charcuterie boards offer a host of different foods from which to choose so you can pick through the best
options for gout and still have a full plate. Some items to pick from include cheeses, and nuts like almonds and walnuts. Pineapples, dried tart cherries, and avocados are also good options
Chicken and duck are two good meat options instead of ham and steak. Vegetables that are loaded with Vitamin C are best. That includes tomatoes, carrots, onions, and peppers. They are good in fiber too.
Desserts are tricky but you are lucky here because cherry cheesecake is good for those with gout.
Conclusion
Those with gout can’t take time off from their attack management. You must remain vigilant in monitoring your diet and getting exercise. This is important to avoid sudden gout attacks that could ruin your entire holiday season.
