Can you eat fish with gout

In this brief guide, we will address the query, “can you eat fish without gout?” We will also discuss what gout is about, how it can affect our health, and what you can eat if you have this condition.

Can you eat fish with gout?

No, you cannot eat fish with gout. It is not advisable to consume fish when you have gout, as fish exhibits high purine levels. Some other seafood like oysters, lobster, or crabs can be consumed moderately as they exhibit high purine levels as well.

As purine metabolization leads to uric acid production, which is present in the patient’s blood as little crystals, it is better to avoid consuming a lot of food with high purine levels.

What is gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis that causes severe pain in people with it. Gout occurs when in our bloodstream are high levels of uric acid, which will cause crystals formation that will be accumulated around joints causing severe pain.

This disease also causes severe swelling in the areas where uric acid is accumulated. Gout can be treated with medication and its symptoms can be controlled with a special diet and changes in lifestyle. 

How is uric acid produced?

Whenever we consume food with purine on it, its metabolization leads to uric acid production, as it is the final compound of the pathway. This only happens in humans, because other mammals exhibit an enzyme that helps to break down uric acid into allantoin, which will be excreted through urine.

What are purines and why are they important?

Purines act as blocks for DNA, and are needed to produce RNA as well; so they have a major role in genetic information. But purines also have several functions, such as interfering with the modulation of energy metabolism.

All of our cells require a certain amount of purines to grow, reproduce and survive. The human body produces purines naturally, and you can also obtain them from food. Even though they have important functions, high purine levels can lead to unwanted side effects.

First of all, as your purine intake is high, so will the uric acid levels, which will eventually turn into crystals that build up in the joints and the surrounding tissues.  

What are the gout-related symptoms?

If you suffer from gout, then you may have already experienced the so-called gout attacks. These attacks are extremely painful and can take place all of sudden. Some of the symptoms you may experience when these attacks occur are:

  • Stiffness
  • Severe pain
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Extreme warmth around the affected joints

These gout attacks can be extended to a week or two, which may seem forever for people who have experienced them. 

How often can gout attacks occur?

It may be different for each person, some people may experience frequent attacks, while some others may wait for years to experience another episode. Between gout attacks, people may exhibit no symptoms at all.

Can diet affect gout symptoms?

Yes, if you are eating too many purines when you have gout, then you are much more likely to suffer a gout attack due to the increased levels of uric acid, caused by purines breaking down.

People with gout need to be well aware of what they are eating, if they are not careful enough, then their symptoms may worsen and gout attacks can occur more often.

It is always advisable to visit your doctor to fully understand the disease you have and the symptoms that cause it, also, you need to get a specific diet that meets all your nutritional needs while keeping your purine levels low.

If you want to learn more about this subject, please click here.

What can you eat when you have gout?

You always need to look for food located in the low-purine category, which are foods with less than 100 mg of total purines per 100-gram serving. Some recommended foods to eat when you have gout are:

  • Eggs.
  • Water.
  • Lean meat.
  • Poultry.
  • Low-fat dairy.
  • Fruits.
  • Vegetables.
  • Whole grains.
  • Japanese eel.

As you may have noticed, the Japanese eel is a fish, which means that there might exist some low-purine seafood that you can consume with gout without any risk of a gout attack.

What foods should you avoid with gout?

On the other hand, some foods may cause gout attacks, as their purine levels tend to be higher, or because they may exhibit high calories, that are related to weight gaining and can stress joints. Some of these forbidden foods are:

  • High-fructose corn syrup
  • Glandular meats, like liver, or kidney
  • Red meat
  • Tuna
  • Sardines
  • Shellfish

Other FAQs about Fish that you may be interested in.

Can you eat fish with Rigor mortis

Can you eat fish with diverticulitis

Can you eat fish with milk

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we have addressed the query, “can you eat fish without gout?” We have also discussed other queries related to the subject at hand, that may be important to know to fully understand this condition. 

Hope you found this blog useful. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Citations

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26316329/#:~:text=In%20humans%20the%20final%20compound,emerging%20roles%20in%20human%20disease.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gout-diet/art-20048524

https://www.healthcentral.com/slideshow/what-to-eat-with-gout

https://www.healthline.com/health/foods-to-avoid-with-gout#fish-and-seafood

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