Gout Crystals: What Are They and What to Do About Them

What Foods Are Purines Found In?

Uric acid levels can be raised by purine molecules, which can be created in the body or consumed through high-purine meals. Excess uric acid can form uric acid crystals, which can pile up in soft tissues and joints, producing gout symptoms.

Dietary management focuses on lowering uric acid levels in the body and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. A low-purine diet has long been advised as the key dietary change. Although it is impossible to totally avoid purines, try to keep them to a minimum. Let’s take a look at some of the most purine-rich foods to avoid!

Foods That Are High in Purines

Alcoholic beverages are high in purine. Yes, all of them! Anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels, codfish, scallops, trout, and haddock have the highest purine levels among the fish, seafood, and shellfish available.

Some meats, such as bacon, turkey, veal, and venison, as well as organ meats such as liver are also high in purines.

Foods With Moderate Purine Levels

Luckily not all seafood and meat have high levels of purines. Some have moderate levels and can be enjoyed in moderation. Some examples of meat with moderate purine levels include beef, chicken, duck, pork, and ham. If you’re craving seafood, crab, lobster, oysters, and shrimp are examples of shellfish with moderate purine levels.