Food Hospital - No Purines Diet

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Food Hospital - No Purines Diet

Purines are natural chemicals that occur within the genes of plants and animals and are found within virtually all foods. When they are broken down they form uric acid that is usually excreted by the kidneys in a healthy person.

A diet high in certain purines can raise the risk factor of Gout. Gout is a type of arthritis that affects around 1% of men in the UK (women can get it too but men are 3-4 times more likely to be affected). It occurs when crystals form in the joints, caused by unusually high levels of uric acid in the body. It can make the joints extremely painful and inflamed.

Foods that have high purine content include red meats, seafood, liver and kidneys. Some vegetables such as peas, beans, lentils, mushrooms, spinach, oatmeal and cauliflower are also purine rich, however current evidence suggests that vegetable purines can increase the risk of gout.