Gout is caused due to over secretion of uric acid, resulted from the breakdown of purines. Purines are naturally occurring substances that are present in the body cells as well as in some foods. If purine intake is reduced, there will be less production of uric acid, thus helping in alleviating the condition. Hence, low purine diet is recommended for the gout patients in order to relieve the painful symptoms.
Foods to Avoid
Seafood, red meat, and meat derived from organs such as liver and kidney should be avoided, as they are rich source of purines. Some people ask whether tomato is good for gout or not. Well, fresh tomato and other veggies are good for the anti gout diet, but not the processed tomato juice, soup, and sauce. The concern is about the processing of foods. So, as far as the vegetables and fruits are in their natural state, they are healthy for gout patients. Of course, there are some food items that should be eliminated from the low purine diet. Examples of the same are asparagus, cauliflower, beans, lentils, and mushrooms.
Recipes for Gout Patients
Foods that contain low amounts of purine include green vegetables (except some), fruits, and fruit juices. All types of berries (especially those dark-colored ones), milk, and milk products can be incorporated in the gout diet. In fact, dark berries are used for relieving gout pain in the natural way. Take a note of the high purine foods and exclude them from the diet. In case of confusion, one should consult a qualified physician about the ingredients that are beneficial for the treatment of gout. Following are some of the easy-to-cook and delicious low purine recipes that a gout patient can try out at home for serving a healthy meal.
Rice and Vermicelli Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup rice (wash and rinsed)
cup vermicelli (broken into pieces)
2 cups boiling water
4 tablespoons butter
teaspoon ground black pepper
teaspoon ground cinnamon
Salt as per taste
Procedure
This recipe is best for serving with vegetable dishes. For preparation, preheat a frying pan and melt the butter. Once butter is melted completely, saut the vermicelli over medium heat. Stir often and fry till they turn golden brown. Add the rinsed rice, stir well and add salt, pepper, and boiling water. Bring the mixture to a boil temperature and cook for about 15 minutes in medium heat. Turn off the heat and leave the mixture with its lid on for further 20 minutes. Doing so will allow to cook the rice and vermicelli well. Transfer it on platters, sprinkle with cinnamon and serve with a vegetable dish.
Cheese Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
4 cups cooked pasta
4 tablespoons butter
pound cheddar cheese (thinly sliced)
1 large-sized onion (finely chopped)
1 cups milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Procedure
In a frying pan, melt butter and saut onion in medium flame. Add the remaining ingredients, macaroni, milk, salt, and pepper. Stir well the mixture and transfer it to a lightly greased casserole. Sprinkle the sliced cheese evenly on top of the mixture. Bake the casserole without covering its lid for about 35 - 40 minutes at 375 F. Remove the casserole when the mixture is cooked properly. Transfer into platter and serve hot.
Macaroni and Tomato Salad
Ingredients
4 medium-sized tomatoes (cut into inch cubes)
3 cups cooked macaroni
2 cloves garlic (minced)
cup finely chopped basil leaves
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
Salt and pepper as per taste
Procedure
In a mixing bowl, combine cooked macaroni, tomato pieces, and chopped basil leaves. Take another salad bowl and mix the remaining ingredients, minced garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir well all the ingredients to mix thoroughly. Then stir in macaroni and tomato mixture in the salad bowl. Toss the mixture well, keep in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes, and serve.
These are some of the low purine diet gout recipes that are healthy for gout patients. You can alter the ingredients or substitute with low purine foods and try your culinary skills to try a different recipe. As for the items to be avoided in the gout diet, majority of the protein containing foods are also rich in purines. And besides adopting a low purine diet, drinking adequate amounts of water is suggested to get rid of uric acid crystals. So, try to adopt these simple dietary modifications for effective management of gout symptoms.
