Gout or gouty arthritis is a metabolic disorder of the uric acid metabolism. Gout is caused due to deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints and soft tissue. This type of arthritis is often linked to the diet of the patient. Therefore, food restriction plays a very crucial role in the management of gout.
 

Gouty arthritis is accompanied by severe pain and swelling in the small joints. Usually arthritis due to gout starts at the ankle or the big toe and spreads to other joints. The symptoms in gouty arthritis are painful swelling of the small joints, which recurs in attacks after some time. Recurrence of gouty arthritis may cause permanent damage to the joint.

People suffering from high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, lipid disorders, and kidney disease are at more risk of developing gouty arthritis. Gout is generally diagnosed by looking at the symptoms and ascertaining the blood uric acid levels by some investigations. Sometimes, a fluid taken from the joint affected with gouty arthritis is examined under microscope to find the urate crystals.
 

Along with treatment with drugs, doctors recommend severe dietary restrictions for gout patients. A diet rich in protein is generally recommended to be avoided in gout. In gout, cheese, soybean, red meat, and other high protein food are avoided. A nonvegetarian diet is generally high in uric acid content, and not fit for consumption in gout. It is also advised to avoid some medicines like aspirin and diuretics in gout. Too much alcohol and soft drinks should also be avoided while treating for gout as they may raise the blood uric acid levels.
 

Foods rich in vitamin C are good for gout patients. Obesity is linked with the risk of gout; hence, a diet low in calories and high fiber foods need to be incorporated. These foods help in reducing the risk of gouty arthritis. Purine-rich diet items like beef, fish, pork, and poultry meat are avoided in gouty arthritis. In vegetarian diets, spinach, cauliflower, mushrooms, and beans are to be avoided for gouty arthritis. Including plenty of fluids in diet is a good idea to avoid gouty attacks. A diet rich in carbohydrates is recommended for gout. There is no need to avoid foods that are low in purine content. Food like fruits, green vegetables, buttermilk, chocolate, and nuts fall in the same category and can be taken safely.