Gout Diet Menu

Did You Know?

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey carried out during the year 2007 - 2008, 8.3 million Americans were reported to have suffered from gout at least once; out of which 6.1 million were men and 2.2 million were women.
Gout is a form of arthritis which is caused due to a condition called hyperuricemia. In hyperuricemia, a person has high levels of uric acid in his bloodstream. Uric acid is nothing but a chemical produced by the body after the purine in the body is broken down. Thus, it is normal for the body to produce uric acid.

But what happens in some cases is that the body starts producing more uric acid than usual. This acid then starts forming crystals which deposit around the joints. This causes acute joint inflammation. Although gout mostly affects the joint of the big toe, it can also affect other joints like feet, ankles, hands, elbows, wrists and knees. Men are known to be more susceptible to gout as compared to women.

Purine is found in huge quantities in foods like meat, seafood and alcohol. Consuming purine can further worsen an existing gout condition. Therefore, patients are required to switch to a diet that includes low-purine foods. Here are a few sample menus to help you figure out what you can eat when suffering from gout.

Gout Diet Plans
Plan 1

Breakfast

• 2 eggs (any style) with 2 slices of whole wheat bread
• A glass of low-fat milk/cocoa/coffee

Mid-morning

• 2 slices of cornbread
• A glass of orange juice

Lunch

• Green salad
• 1 cup cooked beans/lentils/peas
• 1 cup whole-wheat macaroni

Mid-afternoon

• 2 cups popcorn
• A banana

Dinner

• A vegetable salad made with carrots, broccoli and cauliflower
• 2 - 3 oz small portion lean meat with basmati rice

Plan 2

Breakfast

• Whole-wheat toast with trans-fat-free margarine
• A cup of tea/coffee

Mid-morning

• 2-3 pieces of cream crackers
• A glass of strawberry juice

Lunch

• Green salad
• Vegetable soup
• 1 sandwich made up of whole-wheat bread, olive oil-based spread, a slice of lean meat, lettuce and tomato slices
• A pear

Mid-afternoon

• 1 whole-wheat muffin with fresh dark berries

Dinner

• Vegetable salad with low-fat dressing
• 1 cup steamed vegetables
• 2 to 3 ounces of salmon

Plan 3

Breakfast

• A bowl of oatmeal cereal topped with fresh fruit
• 1 glass low-fat milk
• 2 slices of whole-wheat bread with peanut butter spread

Mid-morning

• A handful of mixed nuts and a glass of lime juice

Lunch

• 1 cup tomato soup
• 1 cup boiled pulses
• 1 serving plain rice or 1 sandwich

Mid-afternoon

• A cup of coffee/cocoa with tortilla chips

Dinner

• Vegetable salad made with carrots, cauliflower and celery
• 2 medium-sized potatoes/sweet potatoes (baked or boiled)
• 1 serving whole-wheat pasta

Recipes
Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients

• 8 tomatoes
• 5 basil leaves, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 pinch red pepper powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure

• Boil the tomatoes in a large pot.
• Drain the water and cool the tomatoes. Peel off the skin.
• Cut the tomatoes and remove their seeds. Put them in a blender and make a pulp. Put the blender aside for further use.
• Take a saucepan. Stir fry the chopped onion in olive oil for about 4 - 5 minutes until it is golden brown in color. Add the crushed garlic and cook for another minute.
• Now add the tomato pulp in the pan.
• Cook on a medium flame for 20 minutes.
• Put the mixture back into the blender and make a smooth puree.
• Put the puree in the saucepan.
• Add the chopped basil leaves, milk and red pepper. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Parmesan Cheese Noodles

Ingredients

• onion, grated
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup sour cream
• 6 oz. egg noodles, cooked
• 3 tbsp. Italian parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• tsp. garlic powder

Procedure

• Preheat the oven to 350 F
• Mix the cottage cheese, sour cream and onion in a bowl.
• Put the Worcestershire sauce, add salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the mixture in a casserole. Add noodles.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
• Bake for 45 minutes. Serve hot.

Baked Chicken Breast

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breast halves, boneless and skinless
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• cup low-fat yogurt
• cup basil, chopped
• 2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 tsp. cornstarch

Procedure

• Preheat oven to 400 F.
• Put the chicken breast halves in a baking dish.
• Mix the basil, yogurt and cornstarch, and spread it over the chicken.
• Add the bread crumbs with the Parmesan cheese.
• Sprinkle this mixture on the chicken.
• Bake for 45 minutes. Serve hot.

USEFUL TIPS
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. It helps to flush out the uric acid crystals from the body.
Consuming berries like blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, elderberries lower the uric acid level in the blood due to their high cyanidin content. Try consuming a few berries at least once a day.
Consuming olive oil, nuts and oily fish also helps in reducing inflammation.
Incorporate healthy carbs like fruits, veggies, legumes and whole-grains in your diet.
Obesity has always been associated with the complication of gout. Therefore, try maintaining a healthy body weight.
Consumption of alcohol interferes with the elimination of uric acid. Thus, alcohol should be completely avoided.
Consumption of meat increases the risk of gout attacks. Therefore, foods like red meat, organ meat, herring, anchovies, mackerel, fatty fish; which are high in purine should be completely avoided. Substitute it with lean, skinless meat (limited up to 6 ounces a day).
Disclaimer: The above Buzzle article is solely for informative purposes and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject. Always consult a dietitian/nutritionist before following any diet plan.