Purines Explained

I will try to explain 'Purines' that I mentioned in my previous blogpost.

Purines are natural substances found in all of the body's cells, and in virtually all foods. The reason for their widespread occurrence is simple: purines provide part of the chemical structure of our genes and the genes of plants and animals. A relatively small number of foods, however, contain concentrated amounts of purines. For the most part, these high-purine foods are also high-protein foods, and they include organ meats like kidney, fish like mackerel, herring, sardines and mussels, and also yeast.

Purines are metabolized into uric acid

When cells die and get recycled, the purines in their genetic material also get broken down. Uric acid is the chemical formed when purines have been broken down completely.

Because uric acid is formed from the breakdown of purines, low-purine diets are often used to help treat conditions like gout in which excessive uric acid is deposited in the tissues of the body.

Gout Diets: Foods to Eat

Dietary restrictions for Gout patients suggest what people should not eat, but what should people eat? What foods will help control gout attacks? The American Medical Association recommends the following dietary guidelines for people with gout, advising them to eat a diet:

high in complex carbohydrates (fiber-rich whole grains, fruits, and vegetables)

low in protein (15% of calories and sources should be soy, lean meats, or poultry)

no more than 30% of calories in fat (with only 10% animal fats)

Recommended Foods To Eat

• Fresh cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and other red-blue berries
• Bananas
• Celery
• Tomatoes
• Vegetables including kale, cabbage, parsley, green-leafy vegetables
• Foods high in bromelain (pineapple)
• Foods high in vitamin C (red cabbage, red bell peppers, tangerines, mandarins, oranges, potatoes)
• Drink fruit juices and purified water (8 glasses of water per day)
• Low-fat dairy products
• Complex carbohydrates (breads, cereals, pasta, rice, as well as aforementioned vegetables and fruits)
• Chocolate, cocoa
• Coffee, tea
• Carbonated beverages
• Essential fatty acids (tuna and salmon, flaxseed, nuts, seeds)
• Tofu, although a legume and made from soybeans, may be a better choice than meat

Foods considered moderately high in purines but which may not raise the risk of gout include: asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, peas, spinach, whole grain breads and cereals, chicken, duck, ham, turkey, kidney and lima beans. It is important to remember that purines are found in all protein foods. All sources of purines should not be eliminated.