A low purine diet should be taken into account in the treatment of gout. Purine is a substance found in muscle tissue of animals such as meat and fish, which is broken down by the body and converted into uric acid. Once there, it is filtered by the kidneys and excreted through urination. Most people do this without problem, but some may have difficulty getting rid of excess uric acid, due to lack of efficacy in their system or a diet too rich in purines. When this happens, the uric acid crystallizes in joints, usually the big toe, but also the knees, ankles and fingers, and gout occurs.

Gout attacks are sudden and painful, leaving patients surprised, looking at his big toe inflamed and hypersensitive with apprehension. Walking is impossible and even the touch of a bed sheet can send it to the roof. Gout is a form of arthritis that affects 5% of people with arthritis and it is most painful. There is nothing mysterious about the gout, knowledge of symptoms and main causes of this painful condition are common, and indeed it has been recorded for centuries and is traditionally associated with the indulgence of the meat and alcohol.

Today, it is simply associated with being a little overweight and a tendency to diabetes. The most important aspect of an approach to fight against the gout should be restructuring your diet with a low purine diet. Since most foods high in purines proteins are also important, you may be tempted to think that a poor diet low in protein should be the key to overcoming gout. But this is not the case, while meat, poultry, fish and seafood should be avoided; it is not the case for dairy products low in fat such as skim milk, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, powders of high quality protein such as whey powder and so on. The yogurt is an exception because its fermentation bacteria make high purine.

Another important source of protein is low purine egg white, not yellow. As with any rice protein food, pasta, and low-fiber bread or refined are the main sources of carbohydrates, while whole grains contains a higher number of purines. Foods to avoid are meat of all kinds, especially red meat, all seafood, meat extracts, meat and yeast. Alcohol should also be avoided, particularly with regard to beer.